Awaken Demons' 'The Mirror' is hardcore straight from the rule book and, as such, leaves its merits solely within the riffs. Fortunately the Italians' licks are sufficiently muscular even if the songs that contain them feel somewhat routine. However, guest vocals from Karl Buechner of Earth Crisis are an endorsement that testifies something to their quality. The fact that 'The Mirror' sounds this solid is impressive given the country or origin's recent lacklustre hardcore output. The album's highlight comes with the closing track's powerful string accompaniment. If Awaken Demons espoused this side further they could become stand outs in a crowded scene.

A follow-up to Awaken Demons' 2007 debut From Heaven To Hell, this release highlights the band's real character. Hailing from Cesena, Italy, this aggressive quintet inject hardcore spirit with metal splinters to create raw, crushing breakdowns, heavy riffage, and rousing group shouts. With a credibly brutal frontman and guest vocals from The Acacia Strain's Vincent Bennet and Earth Crisis's Karl Buechner, the band clearly have a lot of support from the scene. Sharing traits with Hatebreed and Throwdown, they're not breaking new ground here, but the album's strong instrumental finish is brave, effective and shows they have balls, while tracks such as Real should gather more followers in its wake.

White-hot guitars and ear popping double bass drum patterns are the crux of Awaken Demons sound. From the off a barrage of Slipknot like riffs and chugging, brutal metaphysics crawl all over the songs like a feral lion backed into a corner. The songs are edgy, raw and passionate, with a sound that bellows in league with artists like Hatebreed and As I Lay Dying. The smattering of dense, lackadaisical metal that litters the middle eight on a few numbers does not quite live up to the erudite barrage apparent everywhere else, but the Italian metallers are uncompromising and aggressive on every number - the thrashier songs such as "Path of Lies", "Coming To An End" and "World Collapses" taking on a life of their own. Thankfully Awaken Demons tend to dwell in territory that suits them down to the ground and they are never far from a massive breakdown or bone crunching riff. Guest vocal spots come courtesy of Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain and Earth Crisis' Karl Buechner, which are delivered with furious aplomb and should help eleviate their status above mere mild interest. There is little respite from the carnage and you can only daydream what the band would be like on stage, unless of course you've already seen them live and lived to tell the tale. The real show stopper comes in the form of the instrumental title track, and closing number, which utilises an esoteric orchestral sound alongside the hellacious hardcore din, and metaling guitar solos that mollify perfectly against a stampeding metal fusillade. Trustkill have once again discovered a band that may only appeal to a niche number, but those that take to their vengeful bedlam will be utterly satisfied.

Italy's answer to Hatebreed has been pounding the chests of American hardcore fans since their stateside debut, From Heaven To Hell, dropped in a little more than two years ago. Where said release had every intention to be the same circle pitting fury first that its inspirations were, the end result lacked the fervor necessary to incite riots or even hold interest throughout its entirety. Chalk that criticism up to a lack of jumping feet first into the scene that influenced their sound, as those issues are gone on The Mirror. While Awaken Demons won't be earning points for originality, they sure have brought enough muscle this time out to beat the piss out of anyone that would file that complaint. With 10 punishing tracks, The Mirror is a nonstop battering ram of massive and pummeling grooves, detuned beatdowns, and angst fueled vocals spiteful enough to make any Jastafarian blush with envy. The only break in batter comes from the adventurous title track - an instrumental affait flavored with cellos and a nice bit of melodic guitar soloing. The rest of this disc oozes aggression and defines what hardcore should sound like. The Acacia Strain Vincent Bennett and Karl Buechner lend their venom to the cause. With endorsements like that, you know this is the real deal.

Move aside Liferuiner and Thick As Blood, I have a new favorite hardcore band, coming all the way from Italy. Furious, fast-paced, angry, pissed off, etc. - not enough words can describe how crazy this album is. This is defiantly the refreshing face and upbeat band that needed to come out of the straight edge movement in hardcore to keep the genre alive. You don’t hear of Italian hardcore straight edge bands at all! When looking at their profile I was like, “What is this? Holy crap this is amazing!” With every song having a deep meaning, ranging from straight edge, friends/family, and defending your values, AWAKEN DEMONS has unleashed a beast on their new album from Trustkill Records entitled The Mirror. With every song energetic and making you want to mosh, it’s hard to let this album down without feeling the rage and anger that AWAKEN DEMONS puts into the album. “Abandon the Darkness” is, in my eyes, the new straight edge anthem of the world. Featuring Vincent from The Acacia Strain and having a deep meaning about straight edge and morals, it seriously speaks to everyone. Without an intro to The Mirror, how do you know it will be any good?... “Coming To An End” comes out full-force with vengeance like you just got hit with a ton of bricks. Setting the pace throughout the whole album as fierce and furious, The Mirror doesn’t let down one bit. To wrap up the album comes the tracks “Victim Of Your Game,” as a calling to all brothers in arms to stand by their friends in times of hardships and in extreme doubts. A classic hardcore example of brotherhood and unity. AWAKEN DEMONS is here to stay and without a doubt at the top of my list of bands to watch out for next year to make an impact all across the world!

One of my favorite hardcore bands of all time is 100 Demons. Sadly, their career has been a bit short lived and not nearly as relevant as they should have been. When I sat down to listen to Awaken Demons I couldn’t help but think about 100 Demons. Riff heavy, emotional vocals, and breakdowns that demand destruction are the norm. Don’t believe me, check out “Abandon The Darkness” and the chaos that occurs after they bark out “You think you know me? YOU HAVE NO FUCKING CLUE”. Boom! Breakdown heaven…or hell…depends on your perspective. “The Mirror” features guest vocals from Vincent Bennett (The Acacia Strain) and Karl Buechner (Earth Crisis) and delivers on so many levels. When many hardcore bands are pushing metal and punk elements into their music, these kids from an Italian city named Cesena, have taken note of American hardcore. Having spent time on the road with Full Blown Chaos shows! Gallop drums, guitar driven tracks with monster gang vocals. The album screams old hardcore with no gimmicks. The album is perfectly produced and Luca Zattoni’s guttural throat would fit in perfectly with the previously mentioned hardcore super groups. Simply put, these youngsters have taken note of their elders (Throwdown, Hatebreed as well) to not push the envelope of something new, but to rather keep the sound of the past alive with young blood. In my opinion the hardcore scene has been invaded by the popularity metal has seen in recent years. Old school hardcore bands like Sworn Enemy have gone metal and almost abandoned their hardcore roots. Which is fine and in their right. But it is nice to see a new band come along and want to live the hardcore life style while awakening their demons and unleashing to the world so perfectly.

Italy lately has been starting to make itself a mecca for heavy metal and other underground movements. Arising such monsters as Fleshgod Apocalypse and Idols Are Dead, AWAKEN DEMONS is the next big hype coming out of Italy. Their Trustkill debut, The Mirror, is action packed, and filled with fist pumping anthems from start to finish. Featuring guest vocals from Vincent Bennett (The Acacia Strain) and Karl Buechner (Earth Crisis), the two add even more ruckus to AWAKEN DEMONS full force drive. In fact, AWAKEN DEMONS sounds very similar to The Acacia Strain and Earth Crisis, while other comparisons can be drawn to Hatebreed and Throwdown. The Mirror has plenty of standout points. The brutal and stylistic opener “Coming To An End” makes the band’s first impression a good one. The band comes blasting out of the gates with plenty of low end, big breakdowns, and when they step on the gas pedal, off to the races goes AWAKEN DEMONS. Another track with plenty of mean distortion is “Abandon The Darkness”. Repetitive riffing, but effective as it builds up the track. The closing of “Abandon The Darkness” shows the song’s strongest moment with both AWAKEN DEMONS vocalist Luca Zattoni and Vincent Bennett of The Acacia Strain screaming “I am your worst fucking nightmare!” Moving along, “Real” is another big banger, and bursts out like a fresh and healthy Hatebreed. The vocal authority of Luca [Zattoni] is gigantic, and the band continues to attack the track with dedication. As straight forward as “Real” is, this one is as hard as brass knuckles to the face, for real. Closing on the title track, “The Mirror”, the band gives some outstanding melody, and this one right here is the jam! Possibly a new musical direction, but shows another side of the band. The Mirror is a great CD for the moshers, and these crazy Italians have a great hardcore attitude in their sound, giving the extra push. Are they Trustkill’s next Throwdown? The band definitely has potential, and I’m excited to see what they come up with next.

The bucolic hillsides of Italy produce the world's great cheeses, cured hams, pasta dishes and, of course, vino. Cesana, Italy's all-encompassing chudstorm that is Awaken Demons must have been holed up in a pre-Roman cave shredding riff after unstoppable riff subsisting on wild garlic, caper berries and unholy fodder to craft a jam like The Mirror: This is hostility personified. Abandon The Darkness treads a fine line between Pantera's Texas-sized swagger and modern hardcore's penchant for speed-drenched lunacy, a diatribe unleashed railing against those who imbibe. "I live my life drug free/I cannot trust you" bellows guest vokiller Vincent Bennet of The Acacia Strain, a throaty dude who lends credence to these somber proceedings. Resplendent with gang vox on World Collapses and downtuned to Hades doorstep throughout, Awaken Demons' greatest strength lies in replicating an homage to American knuckle-dragging while proving European metallic purveyors need not ride on Swedish death metal's coattails.

Earlier this year Trustkill Records inked Italian metallic hardcore outfit Awaken Demons to a deal and launched upon a PR campaign online to promote the launch of their full-length “The Mirror”. With guest vocal slots filled by the likes of Karl Buechner (Path of Resistance, Earth Crisis, Freya) and The Acacia Strain’s Vincent Bennet, “The Mirror” was sure to garner some attention regardless. The album is riff-heavy with firm nods towards the late ‘90s era of metal-edged hardcore. Blasting through the confining walls that the hardcore label can sometimes bring, the group sludges guitar slams with energetic and passionate screams and yells alongside an amalgam of thrashy drumming and gut-wrenching bass slaps. The band is set to embark on a tour with labelmates It Dies Today as well as Century Media’s own Arsonists Get All the Girls. You can stream the album online at Trustkill’s site.

I listened to the Awaken Demons CD three times before I ever bothered to look at the little sheet of paper Trustkill sends us outlining the band. I find it best never to know who the band members are, if they’re in other bands or where they’re from before making my judgement call on the album. If I don’t know anything about it, I can judge it based purely on what I think of it’s merit. So let me just say this album kicked my ass through and through before finding out who the hell it even was. My favorite hand’s down is Drawn to Death’s Door with Karl from Earth Crisis. The song’s outro playing in my head the whole day whether I was listening to it or not. Vince from Acacia Strain makes a noticeble guest vocal on the album in Abandon The Darkness which was awesome. Then I finally went and looked at the press kit and found out these guys were from Italy! Luca Zattoni’s vocals were ill and I bet the guy gets all the ladies in the States when he’s touring with that Italian accent and all. Damn you foreign bands for rocking out so hard! Putting us Americans to shame. I think this is easily one of my favorite releases of Summer. I personally can’t wait to see these guys play. If their live show is anything like their album, I’m going to be spin kicking for days after. The title track The Mirror is worth the listen alone, but definitely go get Awaken Demons on I-Tunes. It’ll rock you out for months.

Trustkill Records Though I am not a fan of the hardcore genre at all, there is no argument that this genre contains some of the most passionate bands and fans. Awaken Demons, who hail from Italy, are set to make their mark on the US with the release of Mirror, their debut album for hardcore giants Trustkill Records. The 10-track album acts as an introduction to the band for those that have never heard them before and they instantly hit hard with guitars that assault you while the drums pound through you on album opener "Coming To An End." The good news for hardcore fans out there is that this album never lets up on the aggression and energy as you dive forward. The blistering guitars continue hitting you on cuts like "Drawn To Death's Door," "Abandon The Darkness," and "Real." Throughout the album the vocals are presented in typical hardcore fashion as the scream their way through the majority of the songs, which is where I usually get lost on this brand of music, but nonetheless the hardcore fans love this aspect of it and it does in fact add an aggression to the album that no other genre comes close to having. As stated earlier, I am not a fan of hardcore music much, but it does have some of the most loyal fans and they tend to always be looking for a new band that they can follow that satisfies their musical needs and Awaken Demons could just be that band. To attract some extra attention to them they even feature guest vocals from Vincent Bennet (The Acacia Strain) and Karl Buechner (Earth Crisis) on this album so if you are a fan of this genre give them a spin and see what you think.