Metalcore band Between the Rats and Snakes just released their debut single through all streaming platforms, and we wouldn’t be metalfrom.nl if we let that pass by unnoticed. Between the Rats and Snakes has been very active on instagram and tiktok (who knew that would be a platform to promote metal as well?) so we knew this release was coming. And here it is!
Spiral Down is the first official release by BTRAS and there is not much info to be found on them. So, I’m diving into this track with an open mind. Their acronym sounds a bit like RATM and actually, their single reminds me a bit of RATM as well, at least the first part of the track. The heavy, groovy, almost rap-like vocals are kinda similar. That’s where the similarities end, however. Also, where the metalcore ends apparently. Because the chorus is so much like a heavy metal/heavy rock chorus, it doesn’t fully feel like a metalcore track to me. Even though the verses have that metalcore vocals and vibe to it. I can however feel the energy right through my speakers and I’d love to see them live on stage performing this track.
Spiral Down is a nice introductory track for Between the Rats and Snakes and I’d love to see a full album by these guys, to see what more this band has to offer. Final shout-out to end this review: the tight as drums are done by Pushpa Toekoen, a real powerhouse of a metal lady. There aren’t enough female musicians, let alone drummers (and GOOD drummers are even less!) so to learn BRTAS has this superwoman in their ranks earns them bonus points in my book ^^
ENMA is a progressive metal band with some grunge influences from Tilburg, the Netherlands. The released their album Apathy Awakened during a live show in Little Devil on October 28th. ENMA was founded by guitarist and composer Tom Adams and consists of (ex-)members from Exivious, Our Ouceans, Yama and the New Dominion. These guys know what they’re doing, that’s for sure. They received a Makersfonds bursary for promising artists from the Tilburg municipality for their videoclip of Enigma (see below) which furthermore proves that point. ENMA takes inspiration from other progressive bands like Tool and Haken, but also mix in more straightforward riffs like Alice in Chains, and dark moody atmospheric bits like Katatonia.
Gateway band
First off, let me say to for me, ENMA is more heavy rock/progressive rock than actual metal. On some tracks they go more towards the metal spectrum, but most of it is mid-tempo, not that hard, more into rock/grunge territory. And even the progressiveness is not as clearly defined throughout the whole album. There are definitely some progressive riffs and parts in there, but overall, it’s more straightforward. That makes this album very approachable and listenable for people who are maybe not so much into progressive metal, or metal at all. Maybe see it as a gateway band into metal (we each have our gateway bands, right?)
Apathy Awakened
Apathy Awakened starts off with the track the band received the bursary for, Enigma. Right of the bat the band opens with the vocal harmonies that define their sound. It reminds me of Riverside, although it has an Alter Bridge vibe as well. Nothing too crazy, straight forward riffs, clear vocals. In places the bass gets in some great unexpected riffs, and similar to Riverside, the bass really plays an important part in ENMA’s music.
The next track, Apathy Awakened, has even more of a Riverside vibe with the delays, open chords and full-frontal bass riffs (that may or may not be inspired by The Great Debate – Dream Theater). Here we experience a bit of the ENMA progressive sound as well with the weird timing and multiple layered instruments. Both guitarists show off with tapping riff-off, just before the guitar solo bridge. As for songwriting, again, a pretty classic song, but upped a notch with a bit of weirdness. The song builds up to an epic explosion of sound at 5.30 or so, and this is my favorite part of the track: multiple harmonies all in sync and creating almost a big metal orchestra. Apathy Awakened is probably also the ‘hardest’ track on this album. As I said: ENMA is a gateway band.
Debita Nostra is again more of a classic hardrock song, and has the best vocal harmonies on this album, especially for the verse parts. Most of the vocals on this track are harmonized (and that’s a good thing). You kinda expect a big chorus, but the chorus you get is more of the same as the verse parts, so songwriting for this song is a bit weird. Halfway through the song we have another mellow break, which takes ENMA into Tool land. (It’s not Schism, but it’s not NOT Schism if you get what I mean). Layered with latin choir parts, it creates its own version, however.
With Augury we take another step in the progressive pool ENMA takes inspiration from. Again, a mid-tempo song, lots of clean guitars and vocals, lots of delays, open space, and of course, vocal harmonies. Reaching the chorus however, it’s turned almost in a grungy power ballad. Though Moria is probably the real balad of the album. Alex’ vocals really shine on this track though.
Hemera’s Call is another song the band released a video for prior to the release of this album. I’ve heard the track before and enjoyed it then too. This to me is probably the best track of the album. It has the Tool rhythmic parts, the clean open chords, and some weird prog stuff going on.
Final Thoughts
Even though there are for sure some interesting things happening on this album it’s probably not for me. Progressive metal is a broad spectrum and there are probably lots of people who will really enjoy this grungier straightforward approach. It’s very listenable, and will appeal to a broad public, but to me that’s also its downfall. It’s good, but it doesn’t blow me away (yet). All in all, Apathy Awakened is an enjoyable 54 minutes of heavy progressive rock (by lack of a better description). Me being more into the harder styles of metal, this didn’t excite me as much as it probably will others.
behind closed doors (deliberately without caps?) is an instrumental trio from Germany, Denmark and of course the Netherlands (we wouldn’t review it otherwise :D). They released their latest album caged in helices on October 28th. Their trio of bass, drum and guitars are enriched on this album by a classical string quartet and a few synth lines. behind closed doors plays instrumental music: they want the listener to be able to create their own story to the tracks, without obstructing it with words. They basically want the listener to emerge themselves in their music, and with the massive walls of sound they bring, that’s an easy thing to do.
Personally, I love progressive metal and I couldn’t give up the opportunity to go see ENMA, behind closed doors and INHALO tonight. At 5 euro, currently almost as expensive as a beer, that’s almost seeing 3 bands for free! I wasn’t the only one to reach that conclusion: the place was packed! Tilburg being the unofficial metal capital of the Netherlands and ENMA being from Tilburg, they probably have a lot of local fans as well. However, the place was packed from the first till the last band, and judging from the movement and the smiles on peoples faces, everyone enjoyed it at least as much as I did.
The time that most metal concentrated on the edges of our tiny Dutch country seem to be gone, judging from the many bands that currently reside in the bigger cities like Utrecht. Utrecht is slowly becoming the Black Metal Capital of the Netherlands, with Wrang, Terzij de Horde, Laster, Muorgal and Wesenwille. Wesenwille, created by R. Schmidt, may be a little more niche. They play progressive black metal. Heavy riffs, layers upon layers, atmospheric breaks, deep grunts, and overall, a really massive, but melodic sound. The band has been around a while as this is their 3rd album already.
Take 50 years of Hard Rock, Metal, Southern Rock and a bit of Progressive Rock; Diggeth will digest it and will spew out their mix of all these genres in songs with hooks, heaviness and groove!” (from their bio)
The Diggeth trio plays oldschool heavy music and create a big and heavy sound which is exceptional for a 3-piece band. Founded in Dinxperlo, a small town in Gelderland with just 7000 inhabitants, Diggeth is a world-class band that has been able to play with the legends of old like Megadeth, Slayer, Phill Campbell and His Bastard Sons and Sacred Reich. That’s quite the achievement for any band, let alone a trio from the Netherlands. In 2019 they released ‘Gringos Galacticos’ which had been the turning point for the band. And while their USA tour had to be postponed because of Covid, they ‘kept on Diggin’. They’ve just released their 4th album ‘Zero Hour in Doomtown’. Let’s ‘dig’ into it!
O.L.T.A.S. (which stands for Our Light Tells A Story) is a doom metal band with some death metal influences from Friesland, the Netherlands. They have been around a while and released their first EP ‘Illusion of Control’ last year (2021). Since we weren’t back in action at that time, we will gladly give this album a listen now for these guys.
Muorgal, a 2-man black metal project from Utrecht, just released a 2-track EP, called Under graoa himila. Judging from the spelling it’s written in old-Dutch and translates to ‘under grey skies’. And as true black metal demands, even thoug it’s a 2-track EP, it has over 20 minutes of intense music.
Under graoa himila
Under graoa himila tells the story of a lost traveler wandering alone through haunted moors, where the spirits of the dead dwell, long ago sacrificed and offered to the bog. As they wander deeper into the fog and lose their way, the dead, and even the bog itself, speak to them; and they demand blood.
Both tracks follow each other seamlessly. Different layers of instruments make for a deep and rich sound, and the heavy grunts blend in nicely. Every instrument has its place and the mix is done very well. I can’t find any info on who recorded/produced this EP, so my guess would be that this is a home-recording. Extra credits to the band if this is true, because it sounds very well done. More on the melodic side of the black-metal spectrum, I enjoyed listening to these two tracks. The music flows well and is well written, with interesting riffs and a nice mix of heavy blastbeats and more atmospheric breaks to give us some breathing space. The whispers in the background tie in nicely with the story of this EP.
I’ll be looking out for more releases by these guys!
Tracklisting:
Under graoa himila (09:58) Sia forteron bluot (12.15
Epistulum released their debut album ‘From the Dead Masses’ last month with an epic release show in Den Haag, but we at MetalFromNL learned about this album only last week. What a shame I didn’t know about this album sooner! Because from the first tones of Black Dawn Above, I’ve had a smile on my face that hasn’t faded since. What an masterpiece! I might be prejudiced since this is the genre I love the most: Melodic Death Metal with lots of synths, but these guys are definately in the same league as major bands like Children of Bodom, Norther and Omnium Gatherum. Lets dive into this band and see what the rest of this album is all about!
Darkness Within is a Dutch Doom band inspired by oldschool bands from the 80’s and 90’s. They released their 3-track single Dion at the end of last month. Lets dive into this melodical piece of heavyness.
About the songs
Dion starts off with the track Growing Strong. The clean, clear bass and guitar riff accompanied by the clean vocal melodies do indeed remind me of the oldies from ages past. It’s mainly the vocals and the way the vocal lines are written that take this track to the 80’s heavy kinda sound. The doom-aspect of the track is in the slower bpm, but to me it would fit the heavy-metal genre too. All in all a pleasant opening track, but nothing too special.
Bad Dreams is the second track and this track has a bit more groove too it with the bass bringing the the rythm. The backing vocals for this track are so different than the main vocals that I’m not sure it is a good fit, but that might also be the mix. I wonder how this track translate to a live stage. Bad Dreams is a confusing track though. After a minute the song changes to a more straightforward and almost classic heavy metal chordprogression (besides the fact that it’s all really low), only to halt at 2:15 and change to another part of the song. Then at about 3 minutes another change. It doesnt help that the words ‘see no evil, hear no evil’ feel dragged out too much over this piece. At 3.35 there is a bridge part, for some reason in a major scale, which takes away from the Doom-vibe completely.
The final track to this single is To Eternity. This track feels the most dark of them all. It opens with an interesting guitar melody and a low/slow riff. This is also the track that named the single, since it’s about ‘my best friend Dion’. The track progresses in the same, slow tempo until it reaches a bridge part of about a minute of instrumental music. It helps that the main vocals are very pleasant to listen too, ’cause the songs in itself isn’t that captivating.
Verdict
Dion has two tracks that are pleasant to listen too, but nothing too special (yet). If you’re into oldschool metal, this is definately right up your alley. The vocalist has a great voice and really carries the music. And while some of the riffs are interesting, the songs don’t really speak to me. To Eternity would be my favorite track of this single, because of the mainriff and the fact that it’s the most dark/heavy track of the three.
