UMUR "Personal Hero" is an EP release by German power/thrash metal act Subcutane. The EP was independently released in 2007 and was originally meant to be a promo to shop for a new label to release the band´s planned fourth full-length studio album with the tentative title "The Ghostship". That never came to be though as Subcutane folded in 2008 and therefore "Personal Hero" became their last release in their original run.

The EP features four tracks and a total playing time of 18:10 minutes. Stylistically there´s been some changes, but they were actually already initiated on "Shadoworld", as Subcutane have left most of their thrash metal roots behind (although the EP certainly still features heavy riffs) and now instead produce a heavy progressive power metal style. It´s not the most complex progressive metal, but it´s more in the aestethics department that Subcutane land in the progressive metal camp. There are some relatively technical playing on the EP, but it´s a means to an end rather than technical playing for the sake of it. If I have to make comparisons if would probably be to an artists like Engine (which features Ray Alder on vocals).

"Personal Hero" is a well produced release, and the sound production manages what the best sound productions do, which is to help make the material shine. Upon conclusion "Personal Hero" is probably the most well sounding, most well composed, and most intriguing release in Subcutane´s discography and it´s a real shame they disbanded just before they maybe could have produced something which made an impact. A 3 - 3.5 star (65%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Shadoworld" is the third full-length studio album by German power/thrash metal act Subcutane. The album was independently released in 2001. It´s the successor to "Circle of Fools" from 1997. There have been a couple of lineup changes since the predecessor as bassist Chico has been replaced by Normen Cznottka and guitarist Raffo Braasch has been replaced by Joachim Folta. It would be the last studio album in their original run before disbanding in 2008, although they did release the 2007 "Personal Hero" EP before their ultimate split-up.

The material on "Shadoworld" is in a technical/progressive power/thrash metal style and as such a continuation of the sound and musical elements found on the two preceding album releases. "Shadoworld" is however generally a bit more progressive in style and also a bit more epic in sound. It´s also a bit less thrashy and lead vocalist Heiko Sudars has a slightly more acceptable rough singing style than on the previous releases. "Shadoworld" features a relatively well sounding production job, and upon conclusion it´s the most well produced release by Subcutane. It´s also the most interesting although that´s also relative in terms of the songwriting not being the most memorable. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.

UMUR "Circle of Fools" is the second full-length studio album by German power/thrash metal act Subcutane. The album was released through Music Is Intelligence in 1997. It´s the successor to "Welcome to Our World" from 1995. There´s been one lineup change since the debut album as Daniel Kleinschmidt has been added as a second guitarist making Subcutane a quintet on "Circle of Fools".

Stylistically the material on the album continues the technical power/thrash metal style with progressive leanings that Subcutane also played on "Welcome to Our World". Lead vocalist Heiko Sudars sounds one to one like he did on the debut album as he predominantly sings using a rough voice (even some growls once or twice), but occasionally sings more melodic and clean. He doesn´t have the most interesting voice and singing style, but his performance is one of the things which make Subcutane stand out. The drumming and the bass playing are relatively technical in style and so are some of the guitar riffs, so labelling "Circle of Fools" a technical power/thrash metal release isn´t completely off the charts.

"Circle of Fools" featureds a sligthly better sounding production job than the sound production on the debut album, but it´s still a bit lacking in the punch department and sometimes it sounds a little amaturish. Still the album feautures enough redeeming qualities for a 3 star (60%) rating, but this won´t be for everyone.

UMUR "Welcome to Our World" is the debut full-length studio album by German thrash metal act Subcutane. The album was independently released in 1995. Subcutane formed in 1993 and released three albums and an EP before disbanding in 2008.

The album features a thrash metal style which has elements from both US power metal and technical thrash metal. The bass playing is for example pretty technical and the same can be said about some of the riffs and the drumming. "Welcome to Our World" is a bit hard to describe though, as one moment technical thrash metal is a valid description, the next progressive metal, and the next power/thrash metal is more appropriate, but the truth is somewhere in between. Lead vocalist Heiko Sudars has a rough voice and and relatively raw delivery, but he also occasionally sings more melodic and clean.

It´s obvious that the band are pretty skilled musicians who are capable of playing, but for the most part the material aren´t that memorable, and the sound production also lacks some punch, which maybe could have helped the material to shine a bit more. Upon conclusion "Welcome to Our World" isn´t one of those forgotten technical thrash metal gems, that one can sometimes discover, but it´s worth a listen or two for those who enjoy the borderlands between thrash, power, and progressive metal. A 3 star (60%) rating is warranted.