Oath of Cruelty- Altar of Impalement

        So I picked up this here demo on a whim.  It was advertised in  a forum with a link to a sample.  I went and listened to the sample and thought, "Hot Damn!".  This is great little corker right here.
        Oath of Cruelty is a knew name out there.  This is, I believe, their 1st demo.  However, they have members of Blaspherian and P.L.F.,  both of which float in the death metal arena one more grind and the other more bestial.  Knowing that, nothing could quite prepare me for the experience of this demo.  This is incredibly well written and viscous death/ thrash metal of the highest order! From the violent strains of the title track all the way to the Sodom cover (a medley of Fall of Majesty Town and Conqueror which are just great choices) this thing does not let up!  I got this in the mail a little more than 12 hours ago and have not stopped listening to it.  Its just great, violent and insane.
       I have been thinking about who I might compare this to, ya know, since I am writing a review and all.  I realized that the only two bands I could think of were Ares Kingdom and Excoriate( Germany).  Both of these bands are incredibly original and really breathe new life into death metal with a thrashy feel.  I should say I don't really feel like Oath of Cruelty sounds like those bands but that they are taking a similar sub genre and doing their own thing with it.  In the end a great new and original band!
      I really cannot recommend this demo enough.  It is obvious that these guys worked real hard to create good, honest and heartfelt metal and they really deserve your money! So support a really great band and send them a few bucks for their demo.  You will not be dissapointed. 

Kreator- Phantom Antichrist

      Ok.  I tried again.  I am a huge thrash fan.  I have been one for 20 years.  I used to love Kreator and German thrash was my favorite.  It just seems they knew how to balance real musicality and mania!  I have not been impressed with the last few Kreator records but decided to give this a chance.  So let's begin!
      Oh Boy... where to begin?  Well, the first song shows some promise.  After that the whole thing just becomes way too melodic.  I mean I am not expecting Endless Pain 2, but a couple of these tracks sound like Gamma Ray songs.  And I love me some Gamma Ray, but, come on Kreator what gives?  Mille even sounds like Kai Hanson on  the 5th track...
      In the end, Kreator has been going down this path for a bit.  They seem to have been influenced by Slaughter of the Soul more and more each record.  This is not thrash anymore.  It is slightly aggressive power metal.  I just don't see it.  So this is a short one as I have nothing more to say.