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Clandestine Cuts Vol. 6 Issue #5 - Awesome New Demos and EPs


Written by: Nefarious, Susan, BloodTears, Abattoir
Published: 09.11.2016


Clandestine Cuts Volume 6, Issue #5
The Metal Storm Demo/EP Spotlight

Brand New Independent Metal Lives Here.
Welcome to the Clandestine Cuts!


Is independent, unsigned, and underground metal what you seek? Weary traveller of the metal world, rest here a while. Clandestine Cuts are the best demos and EPs from these bands, the heart and soul of metal music. These musicians are slaves to their passions, and their blood keeps the metal machine alive and turning. Support them with a simple listen, and discover the future.

Metal Storm users: you can vote in the poll below to choose your favourite demo/EP of the issue. The winners each year are nominated in our annual Metal Storm Awards so exercise your rights: this is the one category chosen completely by YOU the readers. Make sure your favourite independent metal is recognized each year!

(Think your band has what it takes to be featured in the Cuts? Email demos@metalstorm.net to submit your music.)

In case you're new at this, go back and enjoy our last few issues:
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 6 #4
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 6 #3
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 6 #2



And now to the new music...




Keychain - Breaking Out
Listen at Soundcloud

Is it possible to take a much-hated genre such as nu metal and do it really, really well? I'm... uh... asking for a friend. Whether you hate nu metal or you don't (it's not my particular cup of tea), there's no denying that Keychain loves playing it, and does it really, really well. Their groove is extraordinary and infectious, and the vocals (singing, yelling, and yes, rapping) are very strong. There's no denying this band's amazing energy and skill. I have no idea what the scene is like for this style nowadays but this EP seems to blend the sound of the nu metal heyday (only waaaay better) with a modern aesthetic. Even with my reservations toward the genre I found myself enjoying this EP and continuing to listen. I mean, uh, my friend did.

by Susan





Beyond Forgiveness - The Ferryman's Shore
Listen at Bandcamp

Just the other day I was lamenting how Todesbonden had not released an album in far too long. Then, Beyond Forgiveness drops out of the sky playing a very similar style of equally beautiful metal. Ask and ye shall receive! Sweeping melodies sung by an angelically light and airy-soprano voice are at the forefront of these rich orchestrations, supported strongly by metal music and some occasional growled vocals. The formula is certainly there, and this band is treading a path on which many before them have failed. But fail they do not! What has traditionally been dubbed "gothic symphonic" metal in the past is today given a lovely progeny with this debut. There is certainly room for growth and improvement, so join me in a ritual dance in which we ask the metal gods to summon an LP from this group, showing even more of what they can do.

by Susan





Third Island - Dusk
Listen at Bandcamp

People should be listening to Third Island. Their debut EP, Dusk, is certainly worthy of praise. The trio from Ireland presents three long mammoth songs on this debut release and all of them are worth the sonic journey, which explores nightmares and sleep disorders. It takes me back to when I started listening to Isis and Pelican and discovering the "post-metal" genre. There is also a doom metal and shoegaze tinge and influence in terms of the atmosphere and vocals. Consequently, the music is grey and gloomy, like the photograph on the cover, as it should be.

by BloodTears





Devil Electric - The Gods Below
Listen at Bandcamp

Hailing from Melbourne, Australia, Devil Electric are a four piece metal band combining elements of Doom, stoner & Hard Rock. Their debut EP The Gods Below is an ode to the sounds of old, yet doesn't feel rehashed or stale in the slightest. Pierina O'Brien's brilliant vocals are paired with heavy yet groovy riffs, pounding drums & decent production. Clocking in at just under 21 minutes spread across 4 tracks, there isn't a dull moment to be heard on the entire EP. The Gods Below shows a consistently high level of quality throughout that very few bands can boast of, which is mightily impressive when you consider this is their ever first release!

by Nefarious





Lord Mountain - Lord Mountain
Listen at Bandcamp

When listening to Lord Mountain's self-titled debut EP, you are instantly transported back in time to the early years of Hard rock & Doom Metal. Yet despite the heavy influence of bands such as Wishbone Ash & Black Sabbath in their sound, the retro 70's styled doom vibe that permeates throughout this record is not just a nostalgic trip down memory lane as the heaviness & unadulterated groove give this EP a fresh & contemporary feel. There are two main factors that set Lord Mountain aside from their peers & turn this EP from 'just another retro record' into something truly remarkable and that is the brilliant twin lead guitar harmonies from the two guitarists as well as the remarkable clean vocals that complement the music perfectly.

by Nefarious





Sisters Of Suffocation - Brutal Queen
Listen at Bandcamp

Sisters Of Suffocation (S.O.S) is an Eindhoven-based all-female death metal band, presenting themselves with their latest 5-track EP Brutal Queen in a very powerful, uncompromising manner. No big secrets, nor groundbreaking. A solidly balanced, straight forward death metal release, with enough variety to keep it all fresh and appealing to your ears. Supported wtih high-level, crushing performance, I can assure you, these "girls" won't waste your precious time with Brutal Queen.

by Abattoir







Poll

What's your favorite new release this issue?

Login or register to vote. Results are hidden




Comments

Comments: 7   Visited by: 89 users
13.11.2016 - 03:05
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Its hard this time
Electric devil is cool , Eire band somehow, even I say its second island, 3th island is between
PSV band, just angela wanabies, so chose is between mountain lord or river styx and Hellenic artwork?
Hmm hard one
Dubai wins my vote
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Life is to short for LOVE, there is many great things to do online !!!

Stormtroopers of Death - ''Speak English or Die''
apos;'
[image]
I better die, because I never will learn speek english, so I choose dieing
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24.11.2016 - 20:07
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
I have to give benefit of doubt to Keychain considering the fact that nu-metal has went horribly low. You sure as hell can learn a lot from them.
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02.12.2016 - 19:50
Migtanteot

Shut up and take my vote! Devil Electric
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05.12.2016 - 19:10
NocturnalStalker
Metal Addict
Many interesting releases this time. But I'll have to go with Third Island, because their doomy post-metal impressed me the most.
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"And we are not who we think we are
We are who we're afraid to be"
- Lux Occulta "The Opening of Eleventh Sephirah"
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11.12.2016 - 23:32
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
I'm gonna go against the stream and vote for Keychain. I was so surprised to hear Nu Metal from this years to be so good and convincing. There is a nostalgic value here but fuck it. It's well done!
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29
Like you could kiss my ass
Written by Milena on 20.06.2012 at 10:49
Rod, let me love you.
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23.12.2016 - 02:29
The Evergreen

Keychain: This is how Nu Metal should be! However, not my cup of tea.
Devil Electric and Lord Mountain: both sound really good, but I like Devil's grooviness, for lack of a better term, more. Vocalist there reminds me of Free Dominguez, one of my all-time favorites.
SoS was well executed, but feels like by the numbers death to me. I really like the guitar tone, though!

I kinda wish cuts were grouped a bit more by genre because certain genres will appeal to me more than others, regardless of technical merit. I know that it is not easy putting any of these together, though, so I try to be objective. The problem with that is when a band like Beyond Forgiveness goes up against Third Island. Third Island deserves some recognition, but my brain finds them bland. Beyond Forgiveness, on the other hand, pushes so many of my buttons that I can't even tell how good they are. I bought their album on the spot, though.
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23.12.2016 - 13:06
Karlabos
Meat and Potatos
Written by The Evergreen on 23.12.2016 at 02:29

I kinda wish cuts were grouped a bit more by genre because certain genres will appeal to me more than others, regardless of technical merit.

The problem, though, is that the artists of the same genre don't often release their cuts in the same month, so there's that...
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"Aah! The cat turned into a cat!"
- Reimu Hakurei
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