Normally, I wouldn't bother writing up something for "The Daily Vault" for a five song, 18 minute disc.

But then, this is the first time I have heard Adramelech. Probably the first time you've heard the name as well.

Too bad.

Part of my "job" as a reviewer is to find awesome unknown bands and make you know about them. Adramelech is such a band. They are from Finland.

Their disc Seven is aggressive metal played with thunderous double bass drums. The disc blasts off with "Seven" in the same vein as recent Pantera albums. You press "play" and instantly, the music starts, there's no dead air.

Like other death metal bands, I don't understand what the band is singing about. Lyrics were not included in the promo copy I received in the mail.

While lyrics would boost this disc up even higher, I didn't find myself questioning the lyrical content: I was too focused on the band's energy. As with most trios, the bass and drums seem to stick out as being as important as the guitar melody. My favorite part of trio bands is when the guitarist takes a solo and the bass and drums hold down the groove. Pantera does this well (I think they need a new album soon as this is the second time I've referred to them).

"The Sleep Of Ishtar" starts off as a more groove-oriented track. The overall feel is slower. The first guitar solo brings out the bass guitar groove of Phillippe La Grassa. Drummer Seppo Taatila is continually keeping the time together with strict cymbal strokes. His double bass drumming is thunderous. The second guitar solo in this track is better. Jarkko Rantanen shifts to a cleaner tone in his guitar and seems more melodic.

"Captured In Eternal Lost" seems the closest to run-of-the-mill death metal with a blast beat (duh duh duh duh on the snare continuously instead of making things interesting). The guitar is less interesting than before. I also don't like it when a one guitarist band records a rhythm and a solo - how does the band replicate both parts live?

The final two tracks are marked as live but the label is odd. The only hint they are live is at the end of "Across The Grey Waters" when Jarkko says, "Thank you." There's no crowd noise. The songs exemplify what the band would be like live with looser guitar parts and drums. Not relaxed, but less studio sterility.

In all, Adramelech is an outstanding band from Finland that would give American death metal bands a run for their money. To contact the band, check out their website at: http://www.dlc.fi/~jsr/Index.htm

Rating: A-

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