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Clandestine Cuts Vol. 3 #4 - The Best Demos And EPs From Around The Metal World


Written by: Susan, BloodTears, Nefarious, Abattoir, Boxcar Willy, R'Vannith
Published: 13.05.2013


Clandestine Cuts Volume 3, Issue #4
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 traveler of the metal world, rest a while here. 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 chose your favorite 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 favorite independent metal is recognized each year!


Clandestine Cuts News!

Congratulations to Magrudergrind, grindcore from Vol. 1 #3, who are playing a number of June dates of the Decibel Magazine Tour alongside Cannibal Corpse, Napalm Death, and Immolation. Check out their set!

Prog metallers The Ralph, from Vol. 2 #7, have a new EP coming out soon! Watch their teaser video for Delimited and hear a clip here.


(Think your band has what it takes to be featured in the Cuts? Contact Susan or email Susan @ MetalStorm . net to submit your music.)

In case you're new at this, go back and enjoy our last few issues:

Clandestine Cuts Vol. 2 #8
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 3 #1
Clandestine Cuts Vol. 3 #2
Clandestien Cuts Vol. 3 #3


And now to the new music...




Evilhorse - Cabeza de Vaca
Listen at Bandcamp

Evilhorse is a band from Barcelona, Spain, or what we Portuguese call "nuestros hermanos." They bring forth a dirty and sludgy sound as cold as the rock we see in the EP's cover. Their music has the right balance between galloping heavy riffs and more doomy, slower parts which are very engaging. Combine that with earth-shattering growls and trippy solos and it is the perfect soundtrack for a very solitary journey, whether it is interior or physical. Take it.

by BloodTears





Enmity - Enrapture EP
Listen at Bandcamp

Enmity comes from South Africa and plays a really enjoyable and unique mix. You can hear hardcore and alternative metal with a progressive edge, hints of punk, and well-utlized female backing vocals (which are amazing). Right. I did say "unique." The Enrapture EP is 5 great songs that take you on a journey: musical themes are revisted and developed, and the EP starts and ends with a variation of the same vocal harmony. Yet despite all this prog-talk, the music seems straight-forward and simply fun. The hardcore metal and punk-like aggression is really their key trait, yet it's done in a far more interesting way than anyone else is doing it. Just go enjoy it.

by Susan





Ancient Ascendant - Into The Dark
Listen at Bandcamp

Ancient Ascendant play a form of blackened death metal that incorporates elements of thrash and has an undeniably infectious groove that really does captivate you from the first listen. Dan Swano's name seems to pop up everywhere nowadays when it comes to mixing & mastering albums, but he really adds a nice touch to the production on this EP which compliments the excellent musicianship that is on display throughout the band, not least with Alex Butler's fantastic vocal range as he goes from guttural grows to piercing shrieks. Containing four full tracks (and a minute-long intro to kick things off), the only real negative thing I have to say about this EP is that it is too damn short! Let's hope Ancient Ascendant realize their undoubted potential and release a full length of this quality sometime in the near future.

by Nefarious





00y 18 - Stahlstadt
Listen at Bandcamp

00y 18 is a solo project by a young Austrian multi-instrumentalist, while Stahlstadt is his first official EP release, consisting of three instrumental songs. Predominant ingridients of this stuff are sludge and post-metal, which rounds this release into the nice pumping atmospheric mixture of instrumental sludgy post-metal. Stahlstadt certainly isn't complicated stuff to get into, nevertheless with some improvements that I believe are hidden in this young man's potencial, his music could reach enviably level of quality in the future.

by Abattoir





Enceladus - Time In A Dream
Listen at their Bandcamp

Quick! Grab your axe, get on your dragon and fly towards the sky~~

This whole demo screams "good old power metal fun." Insane, soaring leads that would make Herman Li jealous. Groovy, complex drums and intricate vocal melodies make this demo just a fun listen. The expert combination of musical skill, and soulful execution of the songs, allows the listener to stay interested and focused. The cheese factor here is definitely high, but who doesn't love a little cheese? I know I love it. It goes great with every meal.

Anywho, any power metal fan will eat this up. Even the "hardly listen to," "It's not heavy enough" metal fans will love this.

by BoxCar Willy





Red Rebel Patriots - Dominion
Listen at Reverb Nation

The first thing you'll notice about Red Rebel Patriots is their ability to unify technical guitar work with catchy vocals. They list Mastodon as an influence and while you can hear it in their sound their technical edge gives them their own character. There is some neat fast paced riffing going on here and lead vocalist Ash Baker has a very listenable style which works quite well when placed in the context of equally impressive drums and bass. Plenty of hooks will keep you coming back to this promising EP.

by R'Vannith







Poll

What's your favorite new release this issue?

Login or register to vote. Results are hidden




Comments

Comments: 14   Visited by: 168 users
13.05.2013 - 12:17
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
I vote for Benfica girls album better then others
Box Car was chosen also good ome, but I vote for Benfica
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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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13.05.2013 - 13:43
Cynic Metalhead
Paisa Vich Nasha
I checked Ancient Ascendant as it has some thrash elements in it and the record sounds really really good.

Well, need some more thrash.
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13.05.2013 - 17:03
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Written by Bad English on 13.05.2013 at 12:17

I vote for Benfica girls album better then others
Box Car was chosen also good ome, but I vote for Benfica


Glad to see some love for Evilhorse. Too bad Benfica is losing the championship this year, again...
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Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.


My Instagram
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13.05.2013 - 17:28
Bad English
Tage Westerlund
Written by BloodTears on 13.05.2013 at 17:03

Written by Bad English on 13.05.2013 at 12:17

I vote for Benfica girls album better then others
Box Car was chosen also good ome, but I vote for Benfica


Glad to see some love for Evilhorse. Too bad Benfica is losing the championship this year, again...


I like band and I hate modern football, its all about money ;(
----
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
Loading...
13.05.2013 - 20:54
patty7999

Glad to see Enceladus here Awesome new band !!!
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13.05.2013 - 21:22
YessiAcosta

Enceladus definitely a band of many talents! Listen to this and you will fly with the best of musical beasts! Take a listen and vote for them now or forever be missing out on some real power metal ear satisfying melodies!
\m/
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15.05.2013 - 03:48
oshgar

I enjoyed Enmity quite a bit. Definitely unique and awesome blend of hardcore/prog-metal riffs/female vocals, never heard anything like it. I hope to hear some more from them soon.
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15.05.2013 - 04:06
Druss

Finding it very difficult to choose between Evilhorse's and Ancient Ascendant's EPs, both excellant imo. Honourable mention as well to 00y 18's one as well, seemed fairly simply laid out, but entertained me nonetheless. Shame it couldn't've been longer.
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15.05.2013 - 05:37
Susan
Smeghead
Written by oshgar on 15.05.2013 at 03:48

I enjoyed Enmity quite a bit. Definitely unique and awesome blend of hardcore/prog-metal riffs/female vocals, never heard anything like it. I hope to hear some more from them soon.


"never heard anything like it" = my thoughts exactly!
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"A life all mine
Is what I choose
At the end of my days"
--The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
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21.05.2013 - 15:27
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Ancient Ascendant without a doubt. Man, they have so well structured riffs. Credit goes also to Evilhorse and Red Rebel Patriots. I tried to get into Enmity but I just found it annoying.
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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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22.05.2013 - 13:24
BloodTears
ANA-thema
Ancient Ascendant is pretty amazing, I have to say.
----
Written by BloodTears on 19.08.2011 at 18:29

Like you could kiss my ass.


My Instagram
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26.06.2013 - 03:35
Susan
Smeghead
Written by Guest on 26.06.2013 at 02:18

Not sure why Ancient Ascendant was included, but a band like that can only have this thumb: :thumb:

Went with Red Rebel Patriots.


What thumb?
----
"A life all mine
Is what I choose
At the end of my days"
--The Gathering "A Life All Mine" from Souvenirs
Loading...
26.06.2013 - 12:03
X-Ray Rod
Skandino
Written by Susan on 26.06.2013 at 03:35
What thumb?

He probably means a thumb down because they already have a full length from 2011. I understand that.

About quality... I think they are great but still.
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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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04.08.2013 - 18:34
NocturnalStalker
Metal Addict
This time the choice was an easy one because I know Evilhorse for some time (through one friend from Barcelona) and love their music. Red Rebel Patriots is also a nice band, but still didn't impress me much.
Anyway, thanks to BloodTears for putting Evilhorse in this issue.
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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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