Review by Kate on March 15, 2011.

As a long-time Amon Amarth fan, my heart always starts pumping just a little bit faster when they have a new album coming out. “The Avenger” and “The Crusher” were and still are albums of greatness, not to mention 2006’s “With Oden On Our Side”. 2008’s “Twilight Of The Thunder God” fell nothing short of amazing and I can say with all confidence that “Surtur Rising” is a phenomenal piece of crushing metal.

The album art alone shows the complexity of these Vikings, as you can see the great Surtur in the back with his flaming sword about to deal his wrath the meek humans who are running away in terror. This, if you think about it, represents Amon Amarth who delivers their music with such passion and integrity that anyone weaker than they, run away in pure panic (deep right???)

'War Of The Gods' opens with speed and aggressive vocals that are supplied by Johan Hegg and eventually delves more into a melodic landscape that has the sounds of battle in the background. The second track, 'Tock’s Taunt- Loke’s Treachery Part II' is a follow up of 'Hermod’s Ride To Hel-Loke’s Treachery Part I' from the 2006 “Oden” album and carries more of the traditional Amon Amarth war cry. 'Destroyer Of The Universe' pummels you with shredding guitar riffs supplied by Johan Soderberg and Olavi Mikkonen and incredible drum work from Fredrik Andersson while Ted Lundsrom’s solid bass playing carries a lot of power and keeps the tempo moving throughout the track.

When Amon Amarth creates an album, they create a story and when you listen to it feels like your being taken through the story with them. From the bloody battlegrounds to the great kingdom halls to the quiet villages along the countryside you feel like you’re a part of it. You can see Surtur gathering his sword to battle his enemies and dominate over the Earth. “Surtur Rising” is not just an album it’s a fantastic tale that’s presented with honor and dignity. This is some of the band’s most dynamic work yet and I cannot emphasize enough how you need to pick up a copy when this is released!

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 10.0
Atmosphere: 10.0
Production: 9.0
Orginality: 10.0
Overall: 10.0

Rating: 9.8 out 10

Review by JD on March 15, 2011.

It is rare that I find something that is intriguing, yet so bad. I have waded through some very bad CD’s from bands over they years, but I think that I might have stumbled on a band that is in every word the apodeme of pure crap. So sadly, this is exactly what Italy has given us in the form of a Grindcore/Death band known as Balatonizer.

Italy’s Balatonizer is the attempt of combining Grindcore with extreme Death Metal. While the idea is a good one, this album is clearly just a noise fuelled and totally no talented try that has no redeeming quality. Fuelled by the hideous sounding programmed drums and the scourge of simplistic and uninspired riffs, Balatonizer is a band without any clue making as
much useless noise as humanly possible.

With 32 short bursting tracks (the longest only a minute and twenty nine seconds long), it is clearly an album that has no real direction or melody to it at all. I love extreme metal in it's many forms that it comes... but you need talent to pull it off - these guys don’t even have the slightest clue to find talent. Balatonizer is a band that is just plain noise... not Noisecore, not good Grind - it is the bad side of noise.

I just am not even close to liking this band. Even a little talent would be a improvement and maybe get a nicer review than the one I am unleashing here. Balatonizer is a band that needs to be not encouraged to find a different line of work and spare the ears of every metal fan out in the world. Perhaps ditch digging or working at some fast food restaurant might be the safest job for them. It would save metal the pain of hearing this 100% pure crap.

Wish I could sue these guys for gross metal incompetence- that is how bad it is.

Categorical Rating Breakdown

Musicianship: 3
Atmosphere: 3
Production: 2
Originality:3
Overall: 2

Rating: 2.6 out of 10