Negative Voice : "Cold Redrafted"

This Moscow band is not what I thought they were going to be going into this. Hypnotic doom is a black metal/ doom label, and while those genres might have an influence on the end result here, this is more progressive than I anticipated. I like prog metal. There is a weird blend of post-metal with more shredding solos that invoke a more traditional metal back bone, that is also brought out in some of the galloping chugs that crop up here and there. The clean vocals on the second song really push the Katatonia influence in your face. they eventually build into some heavier, but the intricate emotionally charged grooves are on of the album's signatures. The Katatonia thing still colors their sound on "NightMare Everlasting" but is dialed back some even with the clean vocals on what might be considered the chorus. The harsher vocals on "Instant" keep the song which eventually wanders into darker waters from becoming another progressive metal cross over.

"Impasse" finds me having to remind myself about the rule around here that cool riffs alone don't make a good song, as their are plenty of those just not sure what the glue that binds them together is. That is more clearly answered on "Karmic Pattern". When they do hit you with the 'cool riff" it has more dynamic effect here. This is easily the best song on the album. They get heavier and even touch on black metal for " lighthouse", but are quick to also get mired down in Katatonia, influence. The new Katatonia is awesome, so we are good with that album and don't need another. "Draft Life" feels like it is an extension of the previous song. There are some cool sections that crop up, and the harsher vocals help keep them from returning back into the Katatonia thing, but like "Impasse" it is a case of me wondering what is really holding this song together.

Overall this album is a good experience. I really enjoyed "Karmic Pattern". It is one of those things where I am unsure how much of this I will actually get to listen to since I do have the new Katatonia, so if I need that itch scratched it's the album I would more than likely turn to.  But if you are a fan of melo-death and want something new with a progressive slant you can't go wrong here. I'll  round this one up and give this album a 8.5

Volan : " Начало"

These guys are hip hard-core from Russia, meaning hard core for the cool kids not hard-core hip-hop. The first song sounds like Gojira or slowed down Meshuggah that is not trying to fool you with it's time signatures. The vocals are more traditional metal core yelled growled, they are more than likely in their mother tongue, but shouted in such a way, along with being mixed against the wall of guitars, that you can't out what is being said any any event. There is more darkness that creeps into the second song. The drummer is a tasteful beast and the bass player makes himself know by hitting the string with resounding resonance. What goes wrong is the songs bleed into one another, meaning they do not have distinct enough sounds to separate them as they fade into a back ground rumble. The fourth song is more atmospheric, which at this point in the album is a wise move as it helps give a breather.

The bust out of this breather with a more typical hard core pounding ,  in some ways this reminds me of Bloodlet's first album. When it breaks down into more melodic sections the song is more effective, as you do not hear it as heavy until you hear what it sounds like as not being heavy. I know that might be a lot to consider if you just want heavy, but try to keep up. The guitar adding melodies that creep in atop the drums pounding helps make this song actual much instead of sonic rage.By the time I am at the last song, they have begun to run together again for me. The last song is heavy sure, but doesn't bring anything new to the table we have not heard from the previous songs.

These guys are good musicians and have potential. I checked this band out because Dead Air at the Pulpit claimed they were dark and they are, however no body claimed they were the best song writers so no false advertising. I'll give this one a 6.5. If you want very metallic hard-core that let's face it more metal than hard core,  with lyrics and vocals  that are the least of your concerns then this is worth checking out, not the most original, but well done.