Written by:	Nefarious, Susan
Published:	August 05, 2016

Clandestine Cuts Volume 6, Issue #3
The Metal Storm Demo/EP Spotlight



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 #2
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 6 #1
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 5 #4




And now to the new music...

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Mesarthim - Pillars Listen at Bandcamp If there were no vocals, I *may* be inclined to call this "spacey prog," "atmospheric prog with chill electronic elements," or something of that like. But whoa. Enter the (very well done) harsh, raspy, screeched black metal vocals and now we have an entirely new beast Other black metal flairs are present in the music, but the style is only dominant in the vocals. A strange combo? Yes. And yet, not at all. Hail the explorers of metal who find new corners in which we may nest our ears, and new blends to tantalize our palates. This atmospheric record soars and glides through the evil backwoods of a tumultuous cosmos, yet without a care in the world. Mesarthim has released one of the better oxymorons of a metal record to grace my ears in recent time and space. by Susan

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Aleph Null - Endtime Sisters Listen at Bandcamp While many of the great curators of "fuzzed out" psychedelic metals create brilliant musical textures and walls of sound, Aleph Null does all this while remembering to include some rather fine melodies as well. The instrumentation remains simple enough to let the tunes (and bitchin' vocals) shine through, yet dense enough to adequately crush your ears with bass, bass, bass. Each of the four songs on Endtime Sisters has a unique vibe and different story to tell; my favorite is the mesmerizing title track, which plays last and entices me for a repeat listen of the entire record. These Germans have now 3 EPs, 1 LP, and no label; while I'm sure financial/label backing would go far with Aleph Null, it doesn't sound as if they really need it to make excellent music. by Susan

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Highrider - Armageddon Rock Listen at Bandcamp Whatever eye-roll-inducing cliches spring to mind when reading the genre tag "heavy metal," rest assured, that's not what this is. Instead, this is gripping, mesmerizing, dark, serious metal; a dystopian concept record contemplating the downfall of human civilization (how timely). The musical foundation is top-notch, with powerfully gritty vocals, driving and addictive rhythms, and some of the best use of organ I've ever heard. And then the riffing, dude, the riffing. This is one of those debut EPs that gets me truly, truly excited to hear the follow-up. It's evident that Highrider is only showing us a glimpse of what they can do, and that they didn't blow their load here with the only clever songs they had. Armageddon Rock is balls-out amazing, building and growing better with each note; my favorite tracks are the final two, which demand repeated listens of the entire record. by Susan

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An Eater's Curse - An Eater's Curse Listen at Bandcamp Hailing from Texas, USA, An Eater's Curse play a blend of Melodic Death Metal with some Technical Death Metal leanings that is full of energy & aggression. In fact, this self-titled 5 track EP really hits the sweet spot between both sub-genres by being technically proficient & aggressive yet still maintaining a brilliant sense of rhythm & melody throughout. The great musicianship & comparatively complex nature of the songwriting for the genre on display here really helps keep the EP sounding varied & interesting. My only minor criticism of this EP is how it end's so abruptly. But hey, all good things must come to an end right? by Nefarious

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Sva Da Ra - Istok (Исток) Listen at Bandcamp As I was loving the shit out of this incredible record, I was analyzing whether it was right for this article. Somewhere around the half-way mark I realized it was my patriotic duty to Metal Storm that I include it here, among the BEST new metal music. It's Eastern European folk music + metal + some proggy elements and electronic touches. The folk music is the foundation, with the heavy guitars sometimes absent, while other times entangling themselves expertly in either a beautifully supporting or dominating lead role. If you like anything chill that eventually lets loose, or, of course, top-shelf folk musics, then run as fast as you can to Sva Da Ra's Bandcamp for Istok (Исток). This Ukraine-based group, with this debut EP, put out some of the most mesmerizing, dark, and expertly crafted folk I've heard in ages, and lovingly coupled it with our beloved metal. Do not miss this, fans of textured, and labyrinthine musical landscapes. by Susan

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Oak - Oak II Listen at Bandcamp A follow up to last year's debut self-titled EP, Oak II is a seriously impressive 23 minutes of top-notch desert/stoner rock from London quartet Oak. All four tracks on this EP have a fairly different sound to each other, which really helps give the EP a varied & diverse feel. There's just something inherently fun about listening to this record, as the catchy hooks & fuzzy guitar riffs create some seriously infectious yet heavy grooves that lay down a brilliant backdrop for Andy Valiant's impressive vocals. Oak are beginning to show some huge potential & are certainly a band to watch out for in the future. by Nefarious

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