CONTEMPT - "THE SECRET AROUND US"
(Empire)

CONTEMPT comes from Slovakia and that is definitely one of the most promising bands from the Eastern part of Europe. I'm fucking shocked! "The Secret Around Us" is extremely brutal and fast as hell death metal stuff, as perfect as serial killer's hands. That is over 30 minutes of real and uncompromising war. I'd like to describe that stuff as a combination of violent power (TERRORIZER), intelligence (BRUTAL TRUTH) and sniper's precision (DERANGED). There is also a lot of freshness and absolutely matured songs. The sound of the album is amazing, mighty riffs, intensive work of drummer and Lubo's screams, that's all they need to complete their extreme metal art. There is no compromise, from the opening track till the end simply- true carnage! The album is highly sophisticated war machine. If you like brutal, technical and super-fast music, just buy it! Then, if you want to survive, get out of their way - they don't take any captives!

Dar(e)k Kempny (Thrash'em All)

This band really keeps its head in Slovakian death metal! I am more then confident this world is their oyster. I guess there is no secret in notion Slovakian bands do not always mind their p's and q's musically and their sort of "ravishing brutality" is frequently looked upon as passionate on the slate. That's what I think, but maybe I am mistaken in the issue. Although contrarily to the Slovakian average descends uncommon CONTEMPT, armed to the teeth with technical skillfulness, ingeniousness and background of experiences, put not merely their country mates in the shade. If I would write CONTEMPT was only about brutality it would be heavily incomplete! Yes, they certainly deal with the one and do it excellently, but with a profound musical concept all along the line. It's not just brutal, likewise "Need to Control" is not only about noise and bigger tits do not always mean better ones. I am under the impression that presently there are still bands like CONTEMPT - what means - extreme and intelligent. In the light of contemporary brutal death metal scene worldwide, CONTEMPT appears as exceptional treasure and I will always stand firm defending such bands from sinking into oblivion. Worth mentioning is also a fact that history of the band alludes to the beginning of the '90's and with four, previously spread, demo tapes CONTEMPT indeed created a technical fine art of intelligently played extreme death metal. Roughly 33 minutes of proficient music for all who value death metal of good quality. So have your ear to the ground, for it may take a hint as they impose on you their reign by the contemptuous indisputable mightiness! No doubt the secret is on the CD.

Bart Donarski (Cadaver Newsletter)

Pomoted as "The long awaited debut album". I can imagine that, as Contempt has been operating since 1990! After two demo's under the name Desecrator they changed their name in 1993 and under their current name they released three demo tapes. In March of last year they recorded the material for their first album and in October of last year they signed a deal with Empire Records. Brutal and bloody Slovakian death metal is what Contempt brings into your house when you turn on the stereo. Blasting and raging they bring you eleven songs and a short eerie intro. Their death metal doesn't just excist out of hyperspeeds but also includes the, in my eyes, necessary variation, such as up-tempo mosh-speeds and uncanny slow and dragging parts, this assuring the album doesn't drown in speeds that if your heart would beat like that, it would explode. On my infosheet it says they recorded eleven tracks and three covers, namely of Vader, Nile and Dark Funeral, but I can't seem to find them on my recording, nor are they mentioned in the cd-booklet. Maybe this is for a mini or a limited lp version or something. What you can hear are certain influences by these bands, with Nile in particular. The eerieness that Nile has in it's music can be found back here on this album, as well as Egyptian influences. And of course the brutality of the before-mentioned bands, not meaning that Contempt is an exact replica or something. I think they managed to write their own songs, which resulted in a good way, though it is almost unevitable nowdays to draw influences from other bands or impossible to sound really original. Nevertheless Contempt deliver you a good debut-album with brutal and dark death metal with a good production (which could've used a little more power in my opinion) and hereby placing them amongst the leading bands in East European death metal!

Danny (Vampire Magazine)