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Best releases from 2016


As another year came to it’s inevitable end, we, Din Intunerec  staff  decided to make our own top releases from 2016. From the cold icy lands of Sweden all the way to the sun blasted lands of Colombia, from Experimental Metal all the way to Depressive Black Metal and Doom Metal, from Progressive Metal all the way to Ambient Metal and Death Metal we proudly present you our top releases so far. Fair warning as we couldn’t decide how to rank the releases we will only list them and let you decide who it’s most suitable for the majestic number one. I would also like to add that we arranged the bands by alphabet just so it would be easier for you to read it ,so without any more talking let’s get straight to the subject:

Akral Necrosis-Underlight
Akral Necrosis is a band from Bucharest, Romania and this year they totally managed to amaze the Romanian public by releasing one of the best albums this year ,simply titled “Underlight”.Being that they are around the scene for a little while now(8 years) we can assure you that this can be seen on the production and overall quality of the album. We recommend you to check out their album and let us know what do you think!


Alcest-Kodama
I don’t think you guys need any more introduction to this particular band, having more than 15 years of activity ,going from black metal to post metal/shoegaze and counting thousands fans worldwide Alcest released on the 30th of September their new full-length titled “Kodama” through Prophecy Productions. Make sure to check out the album and surely you will be left with a special feeling about it.



Antaeus-Condemnation 
Released on the 18th of November through Norma Evangelium Diaboli by the infamous French band known as Antaeus the album was received with warm by some fans and with hate by the others. While we can all agree that there is a big difference between this release and let’s say their previous one “ Blood Libels” it still stands as a strong album, just depending on who you ask.But we advise you to give it a shot,you will not regret it.



Ars Veneficium-The Reign Of The Infernal King
While this project itself hasn’t been around for a long time ,it’s members had been involved in a number of projects like Eratomania,Lost Inside,Plaag,Wounds that is clearly shown on this album.Released on the 26th of September through Immortal Frost Productions it was an instant hymn of Hell.With a perfect balance of both filth and purity and with a constant barrage of raw strong vocals we can say that this album is one of the best releases this year ,just give it a listen and tell us what you think. 



Behexen-The Poisonous Path
This Finnish satanic trio managed by shock us once again with their latest release, “The Poisonous Path” on the 27th of May through Debur Morti Productions . Some tracks of these album feels like some Inquisition tracks and the fans will surely observe that,but overall this is one hell of a piece.Be sure to check it out!



Bethlehem-Bethlehem
One of the biggest surprises of this year came from the German masters of Bethlehem , one of the most acclaimed albums of this year and one of the most recent ones, being launched on  the 2nd of December through Prophecy Productions it was an instant success. We strongly advise you to listen it and support them.



Blutrina-Looney Fuckin' Grind
Best newcomer from Romania regarding the Death/Grind Metal scene. These crazy guys will surely fill your demand for your daily grind. Make sure to check them out either on Bandcamp or through Loud Rage Music,the label which was used to launch this debut album.



Bölzer-Hero
What an awesome year for this swizz duo with the launch of “Hero” on the 25th of November through Iron Bonehead and a number of live shows( great show at Rites of The Black Mass Fest where we attended), where most fans praised to more clean polished sound than the previous demo and EP’s there is no question that this album is a must listen if you haven’t done it already!


Clouds-Departe
One of the best Doom/Funeral Doom albums this year. Released on the 1st of November it was simply perfect for everyone who enjoys Doom/Fuenral Doom and for the new fans as well.A release depicting strong emotions, a must for Doom or Funeral Doom listeners.



ColdWorld-Autumn 
A true masterpiece by the german master known as Georg Börner,a record that will surely bring you to another universe where pain and life and one and the same thing, where darkness conquers light, where melancholy reigns over all.Released on the 15th of July through Cold Dimensions it stands as a mark for any band involved in the Depressive Metal Scene.Just listen to it and remain numb, it’s as simple as that.



Dark Funeral- Where Shadows Forever Reign
Another craft from the Swedish masters of Black Metal,Dark Funeral came in full force with this new full length,  having a new vocalist, Heljarmadr , who is also responsible for projects such as Grá, Cursed 13 and Domgård, they really proved us once again that they really are The ineffable Kings of Swedish Black Metal.Being released on the 3rd of June through Century Media Records this album holds the place as one of the most well received albums of this year.


Furia-Księżyc Milczy Luty
Hailing from the pagan lands of Poland, Furia took by surprise the Black Metal scene with their latest release, a well balanced release between raw Black Metal and Avantgarde elements in the vein of Deathspell Omega.It was brought through Pagan Records on the 14th of November and it was instantly very well received by the public.



Grave Miasma-Endless Pilgrimage 
Previously known as Goat Molestör, standing as one of the best Black Metal acts from UK, Grave Miasma released upon us their new album on the 6th of May through Sepulchral Voice Records and what a blast it was indeed.Just give it a try you won’t regret it.



Harakiri for the sky - III: Trauma
This Austrian duo has been around for a while on the Post Rock/Black Metal scene and they amazed us by their newest release, taking the vibe created by bands such as Alcest or Amesoeurs and adding to it Black Metal riffs and tones this band surely deserves it’s place among projects such as Der Weg Einer Freiheit or Agrypnie.Released by Art of Propaganda on the 22th of July.



Hteththemeth – Best Worst Case Scenario
Another band from our country to feature on this top is none other than the unhuman Avant-Garde metallers of Hteththemeth,oone of the best metal acts from Romania.Best Worst Case Scenario was launched on the 1st of April and it became an instant must listen.Check them out!



Inquisition-Bloodshed Across the Empyrean Altar Beyond the Celestial Zenith
Even if very little of the music here is surprising to any fan, it's probably the most encompassing experience I've yet heard from this band. Of course, most debates around this album will resort to the love-or-hate traits they've had from the start. Detractors be damned in hellfire: Dagon's voice sounds even more foreboding now than ever, and the pair have drawn from an ever-deeper depth of atmosphere.



Katatonia- The Fall of Hearts
This band clearly needs no introduction… After more than 25 years of full activity and after the extraordinary success with Dead End Kings in 2012, they released a new awesome album called "The Fall of Hearts". The tenth studio album was released on May 20, 2016.


Netherbird- The grander voyage
Released on the 28th of October through Black Lodge Records, you will be instantly amazed both by the art of this album and it’s melodic riffs will surely take you on a dreaming journey.



Neurosis – Fires Within Fires
While it didn’t seem outstanding to me, it’s a good listen for the fans of Neurosis.



Oathbreaker – Rheia
Oathbreaker is one of the most interesting bands reunited under Amenra’s Church of Ra collective. Unlike the previous 2 albums, the vocalist Caro Tanghe makes more use of clean vocals, not just growls. Their music is a highly innovative mixture of black metal with elements of hardcore, crust punk, post metal to name a few.



October Tide-Winged Waltz
With more than 22 years of activity, October Tide is one of the best melodic doom metal bands. After the extraordinary success with “Tunnel of no light” in 2013, 3 years later “Winged Waltz” was again in top. 


Oranssi Pazuzu – Värähtelijä
A surreal fusion of black metal and psychedelia.



Skuggsjá - Skuggsjá: A Piece for Mind & Mirror
The band is a collaboration between Enslaved and Wardruna, started in 2014 with the aim to commemorate the 200th anniversary of the Norvegian constitution. The band’s name translates as “mirror” in Old Norse, and their release represents a perfect blend between traditional Norse instruments and the brutal riffs and drumming, Enslaved style.


Subrosa – For This We Fought the Battle of Ages
Inspired by the dystopic novel We, by Yevgeny Zamyatin. It’s a solid doom/sludge album, with haunting female vocal and violin passages.


Thenighttimeproject- Thenighttimeproject
A pleasantly nostalgic road for those more familiar with his work in Katatonia, Fredrik Norrman together with Tobias Netzell of In Mourning fame along with Nicklas Hjertton, formerly of Mandylon, formed this awesome band. With plenty of melancholic notes, this album is a masterpiece. 




Trees of Eternity- Hour of Nightingale
This international project has been born in 2009 and featuring members from bands such as October Tide,Wintersun,Swallow the Sun, and their latest release is something truly amazing on the Ambient/Doom Metal scene. 



Terra Tenebrosa – The Reverses
Released through Debemur Morti Productions on the 17th of June it quickly became an instant hookup for any Avant-Garde Metal fan.



UADA- Devoid of Light
Released on the 8th of April through Eisenwald Tonschmiede it has received worldwide acclamations from all Black Metal fans around the world. One of the best releases coming from the USA.


Ulver – ATGCLVLSSCAP
These are not just random letters, but the initials of each 12 signs from the zodiac, from Aries to Pisces. It’s an album born under the sign of live improvisation the band performs, including rearrangements of some songs form Messe I.X-VII-X or Perdition City.



Urfaust – Empty Space Meditation
An album that owes his name, an introspective mix of dark ambient and metal that invites the listener to reflection. A journey within.



Urgehal – Aeons in Sodom
Having as guest vocals emblems such as Nattefrost, Hoest, Nocturno Culto and Niklas Kvarforth among many others it stands as one of the best releases coming from the ice cold lands of Norway.



Void Meditation Cult-Utter the Tongue of the Dead
Merciless attack of pure raw lo-fi black metal from the USA.Be advised this record isn’t suitable for anyone but it stands as one of the best releases on this side of Black Metal.A truly misanthropic masterpiece for the diehard metal fan.


Wardruna - Runaljod – Ragnarök
Released in October 2016 through By Norse Music, closes the trilogy Runaljod, inspired by the 24 ancient runes of the Elder Futhark. The album is an exquisite journey into the Norse mythology , named after the battle that left on two survivors to repopulate the world.


Worm Ouroboros – What Graceless Dawn
Dark, introspective ambient / doom. On a personal note, I first listened to it around Christmas. Delicate and fragile whispers of Lorraine Rath (ex Amber Asylum) and Jessica Way (Barren Harvest), mixed with Aesop Dekker’s (ex Agalloch) drumming. A haunting masterpiece.

Zhrine-Unortheta
After numerous name changes, from Gone Postal to Shrine and finally to it’s current name, Zhrine, the Icelandic Black/Death metallers of Zhrine successfully delivered quite a big surprise with their latest album. Unortheta is an very well produced album conveying a wide array of emotions and soundscapes, we strongly recommend to try it out.



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BATUSHKA + ARKONA (PL) - "European Pilgrimage Part I Tour 2017" -review

Saturday evening, on the 7th of January, I attended the European Pilgrimage Tour with Batushka and Arkona. Both bands are from Poland and the concert has been organised by Live Nation Promotions in Cluj-Napoca Romania. The band's tour has more than 10 dates, and before Cluj they performed in the town of Kosice, Slovakia. The concert was sold out after having a very good presale. In the begining I want to say a few words about the venue. The organizers decided to hold the concert in The Shelter club. In my oppinion, this venue is much too small for such an event when you have more than 300 people attenting at the show. Sadly, the club was not the best solution to organize such a concert. This was the great minus of the event; there were too many people for the small place that the club can offer. The club does not have the perfect angle for the stage. For example, the onlooker who would stand on the right side of the stage, in front of the bar would not have the perfect view of what was happening on the stage.    
The event had open doors at 19:30 and after one hour the first band started to play.

Hailing from Poland, ARKONA opened the concert with a 50 minutes true pagan black metal set list. The band played songs from the new album entitled "Lunaris" released last year in November. The show was very well organised, Arkona had a good sound with powerful songs preaching some old school anti-christian black metal. Arkona prefers to play their songs in Polish being able to express better their pagan and anti-christian messages. The show was composed mainly of tracks from "Lunaris" and "Chaos.Ice.Fire" albums but the band also played some old stuff. Having 4 people on stage and over 20 years of experience, Arkona the "last European heathen Stronghold" had a very powerful show. I have seen this band before and I knew exactly what kind of show they will perform. Pure pagan black metal, no compromises, just playing the old school sound with a very low contact with the audience.
Let’s move to the last band of the evening, the ortodox black metal group BATUSHKA.
Batushka played last year for the first time in Romania at the Dark Boombastic Festival in Alba Iulia. Using all eastern ortodox arsenal, Batushka had on stage candels, frankincense and holy water. The band came out of nowhere with their superb quality album intuitively called Litourgiya. It is very clear to me that behind the masks of the band members there are well known musicians from some cult band, or why not, maybe from more bands. The sound of the show was exactly as on the album, with clear quality guitar riffing and powerful clean and harsh vocals. 

The band had also on stage a small chorus composed of 3 persons. They played their complet album without moving much on stage, only the main singer was doing the actions of the priest blessing from time to time the audience. The complete show was exactly like the Christian ortodox litanies with very much frankincense so that the audience could go blessed back home. The band studied very much the Russian ortodoxism, having very detailed concepts of image, using the chirilic alphabet, having the faceless Virgin Mary Icon on the altar and using very detailed symbols on every object and monkish clothing. Even though Batushka released only one album they are at the moment very well received in the metal scene and I have the assurance that there’s more to come from the band in the future.
The event was „sadly” one typical black metal show, short but very intense. Hope you enjoyed my short description of the event....

review by Bogdan Ciuca

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Press release- Koneskin




Koneskin is set to record the new album from March 5th-7th at Manifatture Musicali Recording Studios, with famed engineer Claudio Cattero. We chose this studio because of its relaxed atmosphere (it's situated in the middle of the Alps) and the pristine quality of the drum sounds. The album, yet untitled, will contained 6 songs. Some of the titles are "The Dark Garden", "Soulan", "They Say". On a curious note and to give a sense of conceptual continuity, the track "Liberty Place" will be part of this album and it was not featured on the previous debut EP, which beared the same name.
We are looking at a late May/early June release date and we are already working on live gigs. I will personally introduce and play a new song to the Romanian audience during my upcoming performance at the next DrumStage Kick The Spring Drum Festival to be held in Bucharest on March 18th.”


Sergio Ponti

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Review Negura Bunget semi-acustic


Presa Pub launched its newest venue with an anniversary event, marking 20 years of activity for the renowned Atmospheric Black Metal Band Negura Bunget. The concert was held on December 19, having Downfall as warming-up.

The new location of the pub/club is rather small, suitable for hosting intimate events. The stage are would require, in my opinion, to be more defined and equipped – I’m particularly aiming at the lack of any lighting fixture. Besides the technical aspect, the place has an appealing old school vibe, even having a motorcycle as a piece of scenery.
Downfall started around the announced hour, with a small ritualistic intro that involved some candles being held by the band members through the audience and in the front of the stage. The band is still young, starting in 2014, and I’d defined them mainly as Raw Black Metal. All but the singer wore some elaborate priest-like costumes, colored in black and red. Strictly from the show point of view, I’d recommend to a band that aims to incorporate such elements in their live show to pay an extra care to all the elements on and around the stage. Small details can sometimes spoil the whole experience. Their music is pretty good for such a young band, I saw them as intro for Vulture Industries a couple of months ago and they didn’t convince me, but this time the energy they put into their songs made an impression on me. Among the songs they performed, I mention: Into the Darkness of Silence, Elizabeth Bathory, Forsaken, Satan’s Son.


Negura Bunget is surely a name that needs no introduction, among the first mentioned when it comes to the finest Romanian Underground. The band has a long history, marked by some controversies, and left us with a landmark Black Metal album, “Om” (2006), and 6 other full-lengths. This autumn, the band launched the album “Zi”, but the event last evening presented song from all their releases in the past 20 years, in a semi-acoustic arrangement. Indeed, they started with songs from their last albums, such as: Brazda da foc, Nametenie, moving on with oldest one right after Dacia Hiperboreana: Norilor, Cunoasterea tacuta, Hora soarelui. While I feel the new album kind of lacks its spark, after 20 years it was a goose bump moment for me to listen to Norilor, live, again. Especially because I was present at  the album launch with video projection, back then. But I am certain the old must blend with the new, and the setlist managed to please new and old fans alike. As to the semi-acoustic arrangement, it felt special and intimate to listen to the traditional instruments in the dark (especially to the flute), but the cymbals were a bit too strong for that space and sometimes covered the other instruments. Perhaps an arrangement with traditional drums only would have been an interesting solution. But since the band stated they only make acoustics once every 50 years, I guess we have long to wait.


This 65th edition of Bucharest Under Moonlight is the last metal concert for 2016, a good outro while we wait for what the next year has prepared for us. Already some big names were announced for the first part of 2017, so we’ll soon be back for more.


review by Ana Maria Codescu 

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FJORD -Portrait for a reflection. Album release. Guests Asemic& Flesh Rodeo


Fjord launched their latest album, Portrait for a Reflection, on December 15 at Fabrica Club, having Flesh Rodeo and Asemic as guests / opening acts. The event was hosted by Final Step Productions, a relatively new name in the underground scene, and it was my first time at one of their concerts, but certainly not the last. Not only they did a good job at organizing this evening, but they already have announced some interesting things for 2017, so I definitely recommend anyone to keep an eye on their future actions.


Back to the gig last Thursday, I arrived at the venue around the announced beginning hour. Fabrica Club is one of the 3 indoor venues where underground events are held on a regular basis, so it naturally became a near and dear place for me. The night started with no unnecessary delays, with Flesh Rodeo. They’re an Alternative Metal act from Bucharest, started in 2008. I had some reserves if Alternative fits well at a Post-Rock event, but the band was quick to convince me through their solid and energetic show. Now I’d say it was just what a good concert needs, a strong beginning. The vocalist, Radu Ursoiu, has a good and expressive presence, constantly moving on stage. As they were performing, the club became half-full and people started to gather around the front row.

Next was Asemic, an Instrumental Progressive band, again from Bucharest. Their performance was a good continuation of what Flesh Rodeo had started, the same energy flowing through their music. The band was maybe more static but communicated to the audience more. One of the things they announced was a line-up change, Tudor Scanteie being replaced with Andrei Alexandru Bogdan on guitar. Also, they said they’re performing a new song (I don’t recall them mentioning the name for it). So we let ourselves sink in the crescent riffs, with their energy dispelled at times through slow-down passages, while we waited for Fjord.
I believe I saw Fjord live twice in the past, in 2015 in Colectiv Club as an opening act for Altar of Plagues, I don’t remember the second occasion. I was rather unimpressed each time, can’t tell why but they seemed dull. Portrait for a Reflection was online for streaming on bandcamp even since September, and I listened to it more than once, so I had the time to form an opinion. It’s a really good album, the band seems to have found a unique and distinctive voice. That is really hard with Post-Rock, a genre that leaves little room for innovation and many bands seem to sound alike. But it’s not the case here, Fjord has become a unique mixture of melancholic and powerful passages, both on the album and on stage. The lights went off, making room for the video projection and enhancing the atmosphere. I felt embraced by a nameless nostalgia, but not fully taken, the strength of the riffs occasionally taking me back on solid ground.
The club was full when Fjord has begun, a rare sight at concerts having only Romanian bands in line-up. Overall it was a pleasant night for everyone, ending with a good add to my CD collection, an album which I recommend to you all.



review by Ana Maria Codescu.


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Review Shadows Over Romania:Dark Funeral/Carach Angren/Syn Ze Sase Tri/Eternal Fire




  So here we are back again into action,this time attending at Shadows Over Romania:Dark Funeral/Carach Angren/Syn Ze Sase Tri/Eternal fire,which took place at Quantic club,Bucharest,organized by Live Nation Promotions.
 First of all I would like to say a couple of things about the venue itself since this was my first visit there. Unlike other venues around Bucharest,Quantic has a separate concert room which is quite big and I really aprreciated the fact that even if there were around 600 peoples at the concert there was plenty of space to move around,the scene if placed so you can view the show from pretty much any angle of the room. Now let's move on to the show itself. The show started with a little bit of a delay,but as soon as the staff let people enter the room the first band on the bill came on stage. What was interesting was that even if Eternal Fire is relatively new and has only played a couple of live shows this year they knew how to do their apperence at the show. As soon as the band came on stage,the vocalist came among the public towards the stage with an quite mystic apperance,going with his lamp through the public and on stage. I have to admit that for me this was the first time I saw this band live so I didn't know what to expect from them but as soon as they started they succeded to hook me up with their melodic black metal songs,filled with keyboard accents that made me feel like in the middle of a pagan ritual,and as I looked around me it seemed that the public was also caught by their chants. 
Now moving on to the next band,the Transylvanian blood stained metal from Syn Ze Sase Tri,a band that has a long history behind it and which came with a brand new line-up to the show. First of all I must say that I had quite some expectiations from them since this isn't the first time I saw them live and each time they really made an outstanding job on the scene.With their shiny leather armor and shining sigils they come on stage displaying the sign of the wolf and they surely delivered a great show even if the sound overall was a little bit too loud on the vocals. Also they did something very special by dedicating one of their songs,Inaripat Si Impietrit,to the victims of Colectiv. To add to the note,the new line-up consists of Corb-vocals/guitar,Suier-vocals,Mos-guitar,Dor-drums and to be honest they raised up to their name even with the sound issues and the new line-up.

 


Moving on it was time for one of the headliners,the dutch tragedy masters,Carach Angren and what a show it was,having a various playlist that consisted both of songs from This is No Fairytale like When Crows Tick On Windows and Two Flies Flew into a Black Sugar Cobweb and from their older releases such as Bitte tötet mich,Sir John and the ending song Bloodstains on the Captain's Log. And one thing that you won't usually see at a symphonic black metal concert is a full size wall of death. Yeap that's right,Carach Angren made the public do a wall of death.Is that something right to do or wrong as the trve kvlt elitists claim? We'll leave that up to you.I really enjoyed the whole stage presence,in which the music and acting were combined wondurfully into something that was out of this world,and beside that I may add that Namtar did an outstanding job  on the drums.




Before I even noticed the show came to an end and now it was time for the swedish satanic madness to come on stage and while people were waiting for them there was quite some action on the stage,the whole crew setting up their gear and stage. As soon as the lights went out and the fog machines turned on Lord Ahriman, Dominator, Heljarmadr, Chaq Mol and Gustaf Hielm came on stage and before we even noticed they started their set with Unchain My Soul. And what an energetic show they did! Unfortunatelly due to the delays and being on a Thursday night people started to leave early but the ones that stayed didn't regreted a single second. Having more than 20 years of experiance the band really shown how to propperly make a black metal concert.With songs such as 666 Voices In My Head,Atrium Regina,Nail Them To The Cross and My Funeral but also with something that couldn't be missed especially here in Romania,Shadows Over Transylvania. Overall in the end it was a great night and show even if it was delayed and the show took place on a Thursday night,so a big hails goes towards Live Nation Promotions for making this possible,also many thanks goes towards the sound team and the venue staff and least but not last to the bands that made this night a special one.

  review by Balent Adrian.

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