The Metal Storm Demo/EP Spotlight
Brand New Independent Metal Lives Here.
Welcome to the Clandestine Cuts!
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!
(Do you think your band has what it takes to be featured in the Cuts? Email demos at metalstorm dot net to submit your music.)
In case you're new to this, go back and enjoy our last few issues:
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 16 #4
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 15 #3
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 16 #2
And now to the new music...
Pineland Moor - Pineland Moor (Finland)
[Alternative Metal]
From Lahti, Finland, comes a quartet formed by three brothers and their childhood friend, and, from the first notes of the opening song "Resistance", it is quite obvious that they are all experienced musicians. The band plays something that can be classified as ‘alternative metal’ for lack of a better term. Their music is very focused on melody with plenty of hooks and catchy choruses, and the four songs of this EP showcase different attributes, be it cinematic, hard rocking, progressive or anthemic. The music is energetic, vibrant and colourful (like the cover art), with the synths providing extra layers to the memorable guitar riffs and the versatile vocals. At times Pineland Moor’s self-titled debut sounds like Devin Townsend, Steven Wilson, and Def Leppard jamming together, which, as expected, is very pleasant to the ears.
by nikarg
Krigsvard - Celestial Redemption (Greece)
[Melodic Black Metal]
Krigsvard is a one-man black metal project based in Patras, Greece, masterminded by the young talented multi-instrumentalist Spellforger (Christos Stamatopoulos). This is the project's mighty epic debut EP, Celestial Redemption, featuring three outstanding songs brimming with majestic, infectious melodies and an enchanting atmosphere, offering atmospheric and melodic black metal in its truest and purest form. From beautiful acoustic strings to ferociously melodic tremolos and soaring solos, the guitar work is exceptional. The rhythm is more than competent, guided by thundering drums and powerful bass, whilst the dungeon synths add an extraordinary atmospheric layer, and the demonic shrieks, although sparsely featured, are fitting and well performed. The production is undeniably raw, authentic, and old-school but surprisingly clear and of a high-quality standard, considering the fact it's only a one-man project debut. Krigsvard is a remarkable and exciting prospect that any fan of traditional melodic black and/or epic atmospheric black metal should certainly be keeping a close eye on in the future.
by AndyMetalFreak
Among Phantoms - Remnants (Denmark)
[Groove Metal | Metalcore]
Among Phantoms hail from Denmark and their Remnants EP deals with themes like absence, phantoms of the past, lingering memories, and is as bleak as the cover. The band sounds like a very well-oiled machine. Their audio palette is aggressive grooves, melodic inclinations, commanding and piercing harsh vocals, and plenty of catchy hooks. The guitar riffs and drum work are very effective and engaging, building a sound of desolation. The pinnacle of the EP is the faster-tempo song "Insignificance" where all these elements combine perfectly. You can expect heavy groovy riffs, well-built songs and a metalcore and melodeath influence.
by BloodTears
Disarmer - The Truth Of Hate (USA)
[Beatdown | Deathcore]
Namaste, my friend. If you're only one minor inconvenience away from slamming your fist through drywall, Disarmer may just be your kind of downtempo mindfulness. The next twelve glorious minutes are a guided meditative spa experience through spine-snapping heaviness, chugs as thick and nasty as congealed sewage and vocals capable of raising your blood pressure to medically fascinating levels. Think of this EP as a musical cup of hot jasmine tea that’s been spiked with approximately two liters of energy drink. Picture hot-stone therapy. Now imagine the stones are cinder blocks being hurled directly at the forehead of whatever mouthbreathing idiot most deserves immediate karmic rectification for ruining your entire goddamn day. Enlightenment arrives. Kumba-fucking-ya.
by Thryce
Cinerea - To Ground Myself In The Present (Germany)
[Sludge Metal | Post-Metal]
Coming 2 and a half years after their self-titled debut EP, Cinerea delve into the multifaceted complexities of depression with their second EP, To Ground Myself In The Present. The darkness of the theme is matched by the bleakness of the music; Cinerea frequently play slow, lumbering sludge/post-metal, with cracks of light creeping through in the form of lighter guitar lines but also ugliness coming through in the form of subtle dissonance. There are also surges in speed, a blackened/punky current coursing through the gloom. Dividing the record in two is also an exhibition in noise ambient in the form of “To Fight Against The Tide”, an eerie, disorienting lull before lurching back into mire. Also of particular note is 12-minute post-metal closer “Prefácio”, a much more melodic, dynamic and melancholic effort than the preceding tracks that offers the pretense of healing and respite before ultimately plunging into even more desperate pain.
by musclassia
Yarn - Fabric Sessions (Germany)
[Stoner Rock/Metal]
“Easy-going” and “intense” are, strictly speaking, opposites, but if you had to describe Yarn’s music in just a few words, it would be hard to avoid either of them. A certain laid-back attitude is inherent to the genre, and it wouldn’t be stoner rock if the opening moments of Fabric Sessions didn’t immediately give you the irresistible urge to grab a cold beer and sway along while seeing where the jam session is headed. The aforementioned intensity emerges in different ways: sometimes it’s the compelling, distinctive vocals; sometimes the guitar and bass kick things up a notch; and sometimes the drummer seems to suddenly remember that cymbals can withstand more than just a gentle caress. One way or another, the leisurely head-nodding comes to an end rather quickly, and by the time the third and final track is over, your drink will probably have been spilled. In that sense, the Cologne-based quartet has fully accomplished their mission of delivering a modern stoner rock EP that inspires headbanging, enthusiastic sing-alongs, and plain old rocking out.
by Starvynth
