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July/August 2004Quintessence | Ensoph | Cadaver | Destiny | Bottomfeeder | Knight Area | Number One Fan | Astral Doors | Goncalo Pereira | After Forever | Crystalium | Winds | Devil's Whorehouse | Liturgy | Omniscient | Hope & Suicide | Emmanuel | Guns N Roses Tribute | Amen | Ugly Machines | Regan's Polyp | Dismember | Godsmack | Acheron | Hatebreed | Fear My Thoughts | Blut Aus Nord | Azrael | Lyzanxia | Vomitory | Cromb | Generica | Nocta | Blissed | Dropbox | Otep | Dog Mulch | Kitchen Knife Conspiracy | Aces High | Josh Todd | Virginia Creeper | Destiny | VII Gates | Harvest of Souls | Intense Mutilation | Jaw | State of Shock | Ayreon | Marizen | Josh Goode Band | Complex 7 | Hearse | UFO | Bluntface Records | Brazil | Gary Numan | Lamont | Leash Law | Woodswork | Vintersorg | Belphegor | Impulse Manslaughter | Stormlord | Disarmonia Mundi | Killradio | Withering Surface | Chastain | Queensryche | TOC | Node | Hatework | Twilight Ophera | Sunno | Leviathan | Falkenbach | Gene Simmons | Little Feat | Eight Days Gone | Evil Lives Quintessence Let me start off by saying that instrumental music isn't something that I'm really into, regardless of how good it may be. So, this release isn't something that I would listen to on a regular basis. I know there's a large audience for this style of music and, if you happen to be in that audience, let me tell you about this release because I'm sure it's something that you'll get into. Well, first of all, it's an instrumental release and, as you can probably guess by the album title, it's a guitar driven album. There's a lot of good musicians on here. Probably the most well known is Michael Knight, who happens to be one of the few instrumental musicians that I can actually get into. His track, "Twisted Metal," is probably the one I would consider the highlight here. I don't know what it is about this guy, but, I've always enjoyed listening to his music. Ray DeTone and David Neil Cline are the other two that I know and I actually have some of their releases in my collection. Other performers include Dave Beegle, Tom Kopyto, The Rob Sbar Noesis, GasHead, Nicola Fassi, Dave Villano, John Sullivan, Rare Blend, Art Faccio, Chaz DePaolo, Sean Mercer and Jim Morris. The CD features a good quality sound and contact information for all the featured performers, which is always a good thing. According to the press release that came with the CD, guitarist John Sullivan passed away on 11-15-03 while serving his country in Iraq. His death was the result of a Blackhawk helicopter crash. He's featured on track #9, "Inside Out," which was pretty cool. There's a wide variety of musical styles to be heard here and, once again, if you're into this sort of thing, this release should be one you check out. A few of these tunes were recorded specifically for this disc, so, if you wanna check out these tunes, this is a disc you need to pick up. http://community.webtv.net/metal-essence/quintessence2000 Ensoph Another fucked up band here. And that is a good thing. Here is another band testing the limits and boundries of metal music. The music is very hard to desribe as it's not total death metal nor black metal. The band use flutes and everything else you can think of. The vocals are growls of black metal and also death metal at times. A whirlwind of power and very effective band here. Info: www.cruzdelsurmusic.com Cadaver This is one whale of a release. Trippy lighting riffs and some killer death metal vocals. Did I mention this was fast? Sort of like the band Whiplash playing death metal. Riff after punishing riff will have your neck doing windmill circles. Get the ice packs ready. This is old school all the way and if your into groove metal ha ha this will blow shit like that out the window. Info: www.candlelightrecords.co.uk Destiny Modern groove metal done by a million other bands. Same tired riffs and tough man vocals. If I want to listen to groove I'll slap on Biohazard, Pantera or Pro Pain. This is just too generic for my ears. Info: www.lifeforcerecords.com Bottomfeeder This is like nu metal stuff along with an industrial edge to it. I didn't think it was all that great as the songs just of just poldded along with no or little identity. Nothing really snuck up and smacked me hard. Info: www.innervenus.org Knight Area The groundwork for "The Sun Also Rises" was laid two decades ago by the Klazinga Brothers, a Dutch duo with their designs for taking flight. Featuring nearly ten additional players, "The Sun Also Rises" is a massive musical presentation that's reminiscent to the Progressive Rock masters of the past where dexterity combined with depth to embed some truly dramatic moments that had to be heard several times to fully appreciate. From the earthy opening moments of "The Gate Of Eternity," a seven minute epic, it's evident this is a very elemental undertaking built upon dreamy symphonic sequences and folksy harmonies. Conversely, "Conspiracy" features a brasher introduction of edgy guitar chords and keyboard interplay that brings to mind the keyboard-laden radio rock of Journey before embarking on a still water sequence at mid-point that reveals the subtler side of the equation, as before, before yielding again to the decidedly louder guitar/key compliment before fade out. "Conviction," three songs later, could be the long lost heretical brother of the former, again brandishing a heavier guitar part, attacked and assisted by the keys, for one of the catchier if darker, more turbulent tracks. "Mortal Brow" tears one right from the Marillion song book with its varying speeds, moods and musical tones. Thematically, medieval combines with modernity as primary lyricist Joop Klazinga views the world from a vantage point of past and present, exploring the external through internal analysis, and the quest for inner peace. Brother Gerben, principal song writer and percussionist, incorporates a symphonic feel to the songs, all of which involve many instrumental parts amidst their usual five to six minute length, only without too many undetermined reaches. In that regard and in the powerful yet polished production, "The Sun Also Rises" packs a more immediate impact than might a previous King Crimson or early Genesis record, though the comparisons are otherwise well-founded. Featuring a wealth of veteran musicians encompassing four guitar players, two bassists, percussion and woodwind, there's at once an ambient, new age character that's well blended with traditionally organic elements that feature lead guitar and keyboard harmonies and complimentary soloism while the rest of the rhythm section sets the seasonal backdrop that's usually Spring-like, uplifting and effectual. While any number of groups could make for competent comparisons, from Saga to Genesis to King Crimson or even Kansas in the early going, particularly in the vocals where here, lead singer Mark Smit, with his soulful croon similar to Steve Walsh on the band's gentler moments; and then there's the classic tones of Pink Floyd never more so evident than on the inspired epic "Moods Inspiring Clouds." Overall, there's not much wasted energy on this record. Knight Area's "The Sun Also Rises" is an exercise in precision, bridled power, and careful planning that yields an impressive end result. Number One Fan Number One Fan is the recipient of an unlikely luck of the draw. Hailing from Appleton, Wisconsin, not exactly known as a hot bed of happenings to the rest of the industrialized world, the foursome five with just added keyboardist earned their stripes playing countless shows and continual self-promotion. Then for whatever reason, a big shot manager gone label maker stumbles upon them, offers a contract as the inaugural signing to "Pat's Records" and next thing ya know, they're playing to thousands on Van's Warped riding the wave of success previously created by bands like Something Corporate, Jimmy Eats World… Boy Meets World, and whoever else follows the flow of post-teen flightiness and wholesome goodness. "Compromises" is comprised of ten tracks, each its own entry into the rise and fall of the on-campus romance and the number one reason why most Pop groups ever put pen to paper in the first place. Yes, been done to death, not only by the aforementioned, but countless others in the distance who're still living off the royalties that broken relationships are wont to bring. NOF's tunes are tuneful and melodic, catchy, charming, and occasionally cranky, simply written and played; they're organic as one might expect of their mid-western, low populated origins, and it's evident by the unity presented in the playing and production they've paid dues perfecting their craft. Wishy washy heart-tuggers persist on "It's Happening," "The Prettiest Sin," and the emotive standout, "Sorry," amidst hip-shaking, college radio would-be adds like "Come On," "Don't Say Anything," and the unusually tumultuous "Make The Cut." Aside from the aforementioned, a number of comparative options present themselves it's rather unavoidable from one to ten the soft and gentle sincerity of Counting Crows or The Cure, to a lesser degree, and particularly in the vocal department where Nicholas Ziemann caresses the croon with care, at times forcibly noticeable and others, choking back the tears. "Compromise" is heavy-hearted and musically mild by Emo-Rock standards, yet it's in there, ever present to often strong verses. There do appear the handful of heard it all before build ups and pre-choral arrangements, and so while they rank as a decent and respectable debut for the devilishly clever Pat's Record Company, they might be difficult to spot in a crowd. Astral Doors It would appear as though the man on the silver mountain's returned with revenge on his mind. One listen to "Of The Son And The Father" evokes instantaneous memories of classic Dio-era Rainbow, Deep Purple and late '70s Sabbath selections. Comprised of six Swedes with designs to streak a little color on an often mundane Rock backdrop, they've composed eleven solid tracks of arena-sized sing-alongs led by commanding vocal work from Patrik Johansson and tight rhythm section powered by dense riffs and pounding organ. Johansson's voice is a strong presence similar to early Coverdale and Hughes, Dio in his prime and at the extreme, as well as any number of fill in the blank performers conjured by Mr. Malmsteen as the need often arises most notable Goran Edman, Doogie White. The ripping lead track, "Cloudbreaker," sounds like it was broken right off "Mob Rules" and Rainbow's "Starstruck," while "Hungry People" is propelled by turbulent drum work and hearty cry for the children chorus; "The Trojan Horse" is among the shadier of Deep Purple style tracks, very "Child In Time"-like at the onset before bleeding into a melodious Hammond-smashing rhythm that's again strengthened by Johansson's impassioned vocs that turn at the verse. In spite of their name, don't expect "Astral" as associative to any outerworldly Hawkwind type moments sprung from flighty arrangements and progressive breaks; though that's not to discount there existing a mildly ambient texture but overall there's more churn and burn. Might and majesty are also well placed adjectives to describe this first offering from the recently formed Swedish sextet that's not shy about wearing their influence on their sleeve and later sharing the wealth quite capably with the rest of the star gazing Pepsi generation. Goncalo Pereira I've said it before and I'll say it again, I'm not one for instrumental music. I've yet to hear an album that really stuck with me, regardless of how good it may be and, as far as my collection goes, the instrumental releases that remain in my collection...you can count them all on one hand. I'm not a musician and I think that has a lot to do with my lack of interest in instrumental music. So, the way I usually view a release such as this is, if I was in a band and we were looking for a guitar player, would this person have a shot of becoming a member. Of course, you'd want someone who can play something more than the basic stuff. Also, you want someone who would bring something to the band. Can he play, is he impressive, does he have a firm grasp of his instrument and what it can do? In listening to this release, I would say yes. The guy's got talent, I wouldn't argue with that. Hey, he was voted the best Portuguese guitar player by the public of a local music newspaper, so, that should tell you something. If you're into guitar music, I would suggest giving this release a listen as I'm sure this release would be one you will appreciate. It's got a good sound and that's always a plus in my book. So, for those of you who would like more information, be sure to check out the website. Other than that, there's not really much else I can say. After Forever Symphonic Progressive Epic Metal 'Exordium' is a mini cd & included with the package is a DVD-'Insights', Dutch masters of symphonic epic metal with an all consuming female vocalist-Floor Jansen, beautiful vocals & a perfect fit as the front of After Forever-which the dvd 'Insights' shows one well. After Forever also does a cover of Iron Maiden's 'The Evil That Men Do', done very well in their own style. My favorite track of the 6 offered up on this mini disc-"Glorifying Means"-awesome song. 'Insights' includes a video of 'My Choice' which gives a new look at their new addition to the band, Bas Maas/guitars-he seems to give the band new energy. If you like progressive metal, doom, symphonic, music that has a classical touch to it, you'll be very taken with After Forever. Crystalium Crystalium is a French black metal band, 'Diktat OmegA' is one of the most blackest releases I've heard this year. Impressive guitars, great blast beats, conjuring musick from the hatred within us all & is definitely felt throughout the musick. I personally don't speak French, which the lyrics are in-but who gives a good fuck the black metal is sick, fast, & amazing. Musick is reminiscent of Marduk. Winds Jan Axel von Blomberg-otherwise known as Hellhammer is the drummer for Winds-here is where you get a taste of he's technical talent. Winds is very classically influenced, vocals-Lars Eric Si, are full of melody, the guitar work by Carl August Tidemann is intense & progressive, & the keyboards by Andy Winter are perfect. This is an album for one of those days when you need a break from all the head banging. Twelve progressive classical metal tunez prevail, the string ensemble brings a great touch to the music-especially the cello. Devil's Whorehouse On Revelation Unorthodox, the second offering from Devils Whorehouse, we find the band moving away from the Misfits stylings of "The Howling" and moving directly into Danzig territory circa Danzig II: Lucifuge on tracks like "Blood Angels Recital", "Bondage Goddess", and "Funeral Dream". The great thing about this release is that it has songwriting and production that sounds much more dark and evil than anything Mr. Danzig has released in the past five years at least. Obviously the evil influence stems from members B. War and Morgan of Marduk, who certainly have a great deal of experience with all subjects related to the blackness. "Pentagram Murderer" is a blasting blackened punk affair that jus t rips your head right off with its aggression and energy. "Revelation Unorthodox", the title track sounds similar to Michael Graves era Misfits and could have been on the Famous Monsters album. . Check out the truly killer version of "The Raven" and you won't come away disappointed! "Swallow Your Soul" is the blackest of the tracks and is probably the closest thing here to Marduk in terms of songwriting, it simply has Horror Rock vocals instead of Black screams. The band's official biography states "Devils Whorehouse doesn't claim to be the most original band but that isn't the purpose of this band Death rock, Horror rock, call it what you like. Creating music for the dark at heart!!!", and I think that the description sums it up superbly. Any fan of Danzig, Samhain or The Misfits should own a copy of this project. Liturgy Quite possibly one of the worst bands ever to exist. Cheezy blast beats, the worst vocals I have ecver heard and total machine gun trigger drum blast beats. This is the worst Suffocation clone band ever and one of the worst bands I have ever heard in 20 years! Info: www.unmatchedbrutality.com Omniscient 4 tracks of some decent death/black metal with a thick solid production, prime vocals and some good musical songs. The band mostly play fast or up tempo, but not too fast. The keyboard parts fit with what the band is doing and I could see a record deal for these guys. Info: stonehammerchic@yahoo.com Hope & Suicide / Emmanuel 7 Hope And Suicide play hardcore with a nasty edge and lots of emotion. The music is a mix of metal and hardcore too. They are not some cheezy jump metal band neither. Emmanuel7 blast out 5 tunes of some angry hardcore that reminded me of a faster version of Black Flag at times and also Human Remains. A really good split cd with 2 different, but good bands. Info: www.protocol1.com West This was too college rocking for me to get into. If your into REM and bands like that, you might enough this. Info: www.twodupes.com Geared 4 Groove metal, but not a bad one. The songs are good and the band sounds tight and the vocals are cool as well. The band just wriye catchy, good, tight songs that I bet rip live. A fun band that will only get better. Info: www.geared4.co.uk A Tribute To Guns 'N Roses Considering the level of output from the real G 'n R in recent years and "real" is certainly up for debate, with the band touting only an Axl as their lone rep and the continuous hurry up and wait routine for nearly a decade's worth of nothingness, why not keep the flame burning by way of the latest upsurge in underground talents? "Bring You To Your Knees" features fourteen contributors bore of a fledgling underground indie extreme scene that've achieved a fair measure of success in their own right. Group's like Century Media's Haste, or the acclaimed Dillinger Escape Plan, Epitaph's Death By Stereo, and Trustkill's Eighteen Visions have set new standards among the many in the realm of crude Rock anthems set to modern aggression today's dissident youth can all look up and lose their hearing to. Make no mistake, not one of these bands sounds remotely close to G n' R then again, amazingly, who really has since the day they swept themselves under their own rug of recklessness but amidst it all a solid mix of faithful renditions and new shreds are enough to dull the senses without misinterpreting the group's own identity yet still keep fleeting hopes alive that the original(s) might still have their say. Zombie Apocalypse gets the opening nod doing G n' R's first major hit, "Welcome To The Jungle." Featuring members of Shai Hulud, ZA effectively tears apart the original blueprint and leaves a nearly indecipherable mess of fast-paced noise-core after the familiar intro. In fact three of the first four tracks, "Jungle," Haste's version of "You're Crazy," and Unearth's "It's So Easy" are far flung stretches of brutality, bordering on Hard Core and Doom. Bands like Vaux and Break The Silence temper things, however, with milder, truer to life versions of tunes like "14 Years" and "Night Train," with the thumb raised slightly higher in favor of the former's smokin' version of what for most is probably a forgotten moment from the "Illusion" set that had too many songs to begin with. But them guys in Break The Silence sure can sing. "Sweet Child O' Mine" is a tough one. It was an age old classic even at the time it came out, and save for Sheryl Crow's touching blend a few years back, it makes sense in the hands of the right players… Here, Most Precious Blood gives it a shot and mixes well the percussion with fresh guitar lines, but the snarling, sneering vox do little but irritate throughout its five minute life. Better, Time In Malta's version of "November Rain," the mega-seller from the "Use Your Illusion I." Why? Because there's more to it; more melody, arrangements, and instrumental breaks that play to the strengths of this New York-based up and comer from the Equal Vision label, that inserts dissonant guitar riffs, minor keyed melody lines where percussion once lied, instrumental breaks, and somehow still sound true to the original with their own original sound before two minutes worth of epic fade away. Then there's "My Michelle" by Dillinger Escape Plan where all bets are off. They sound like Dillinger Escape Plan doing "My Michelle," but catch on to that chunky guitar sound! The fourteen tracks covered here are dominated, not surprisingly by Guns' historic "Appetite" release that debuted back in '87 which still lives on among the greatest in history. Also worthy of mention are Eighteen Visions and Every Time I Die, of all people, doing considerate versions of "Paradise City," and the only claimant from G n' R's "Lies" acoustic follow up, "I Used To Love Her." Overall, "Bring You To Your Knees" will do that and blacken a few eyes in the process… and likely bring a few tears to 'em as well while ya recover from the volatile intensity of this underground upsurge and trip down a memory lane laced with its fair share of bruises, bumps, and rule breaking bravado. Amen All they want is a little liberation for God's sake! And so blares the 90 second opening to Amen's latest release, "Death Before Musick," an appropriately titled work of great depth and thought provocation, not to mention life imitating art… or vice versa as the case may be. Regardless, Amen's third release is a monstrous undertaking of up from the gutter Punk fury built to last for generations of discontented followers with a dollar and a dream… and quite literally, Amen's frontman Casey Chaos, living the dream if it kills him, maxed out his own plastic and close friends' patience in pooling together the band's latest effort not to mention the actual band itself. "DBM," which chronicles this period of unrest for the band, is very much a rebirth for Chaos and Amen and sounds every bit like one all throughout. "Death Before Musick" is an amalgam of underground styled-music that marries the ol' school design of the Pistols' piss boiled ranting with the madness of Marilyn Manson's nu-school styled aggression with a production output that probably deserves to be nowhere near as crisp as it comes out considering the internal instability and excessive recording delays. The outcome features plenty of angst and all out war against all set to groove-inspired shout-alongs to pinch a nerve or pull a muscle to. "California's Bleeding" is sure to raise a few brows before it's breathed its last as the album's first single. Soon to be opening old wounds the world over, it's a catchy if angry track that single-handedly corners the animal that represents Punk Rock and invites it to come out fighting against the fashionable same song Pop scenesters of the day marketed as such. And then the same can be said for the other fourteen tracks waiting to dig their own claws in. "Money Infection" is another quick to addict with traditionalized sing-along verse that's hard not to agree with; "Exterminate!" is an intense rager that begins quickly and features plenty of bombast throughout; "Oblivion Stereo" is a Punk anthem in the tradition of the UK Subs or ANL. Past potential did little to insure future success for the struggling ten year old LA-based project, which having garnered critical acclaim from fans and industry, were yet overrun by outside influences that threatened an early retreat for all their promising steps forward. And through it all, Amen is proof positive that perseverance… and maybe a little prayer, pays off in the end! "Death Before Musick" is a fifteen track rallying cry dominated by dangerous dealings, bad feelings, and enough pent up energy exhumed to fuel another New York City blackout and Nader campaign. Ugly Machines I was unable to find out much about the Ugly Machines. This release though, has a very hard rocking sound to it. Musically sounding somewhere in the vein of Trapt, Ra, Godsmack and Disturbed. Ugly Machines are Gary Call-lead vocals/guitars, Allen Drake-bass, Bill Garramonn- drums, Alex Quinn- guitars and Josh Ketterer- backing vocals/keyboards. This is a very good album. A lot of catch/hooky parts to it with some great melodies in the mix. Ugly Machines sound to me is that of a hard rock radio orientated feel. Which is not a bad thing mind you. We all need some new fresh talent to listen to while listening to the tube. Some songs that I really like are,' Playing With Knives, Don't Walk Away, Infidelity and Rotting Things'. Well that's four out of the seven tracks on this 27 minute disk. The others are just as good too. A good listen each time. Regan's Polyp It states in the liner notes that the music of Regan's Polyp must be one of the most singular acquired tastes in rock and I'd be the first one to agree with that. Their music is certainly not for everybody. In fact, I think their music might speak to only a select few. This two disc, 52 song compilation CD covers a ten year recording history and, really, there's no way to honestly describe what this band has to offer. However, if you wanna try to figure it out, sit through this album from begining to end and that might give you a clue. It's one of those releases that's somewhere out in left field. I'd probably call it quirky rock noise with a taste of punk and insanity. There's well over two hours worth of music to sink your teeth into here and that's a lot to take in one sitting. After listening to this release, you might need some serious therapy, that's for sure. If you're a curious music fan looking for something that's totally different, this release is well worth looking into. But, let me tell you something...you're either gonna love this release or you're gonna hate it. I really don't think there's any "middle ground" when it comes to Regan's Polyp. Dismember After nearly four years of silence, the long running and highly respected death metal band Dismember unleash their eighth full-length album. 'Where The Iron Crosses Grow' is an original, death metal onslaught, to lacerate your very soul. A pure Scandinavian death metal march. Dismember features founding members, Fred Estby-drums and guitarist David Blomquist, with vocalist Matti Karki, guitarist Martin Perssos and on bass, Richard Cabeza. Dismember are back with a vengeance. A great, well rounded death metal release. Track listing is as follows, 'Where The Iron Crosses Grow, Forged With Hate, Me-God, Tragedy Of The Faithful(a totally kick ass jam), Chasing The Serpent, Where Angels Fear To Tread, Sword Of Light, As The Coins Upon Your Eyes, Children Of The Cross and As I Pull The Trigger'. A must for all death metal fans. This album was well worth the wait. Listen for yourself and see why Dismember are the highly acclaimed death metal act they are. Godsmack When you consider Metallica to be a major influence and you spend a year on the road with 'em, well, you're bound to catch something. That's exactly what I thought when I first heard this release. The opening track, "Running Blind," could be placed on Metallica's black album and it wouldn't seem out of place. Kind of a more upbeat "Nothing Else Matters." The second tune, "Re-Align," also seemed to sound a bit like Metallica. It wasn't until the third track, "Touche," where Godsmack came into their own. This track is a collaboration with Dropbox vocalist John Kosco and guitarist Lee Richards. For being an unplugged album, it's pretty cool. I think the true highlight here is the acoustic version of "Keep Away," which still has a heavy feel to it. Also, "Asleep," which is a new version of "Awake." This song also has a very heavy feel to it. It's almost epic in nature. The more you turn up the volume, the harder it hits you. "The Other Side" is a good title as that's exactly what you get to hear from Godsmack on this release. It's always a good thing to see a band grow and try something different. It's even better when they can pull it off and still sound good, which is exactly what Godsmack has done here. Not an album to pass up, especially if you're a fan. Acheron Rebirth: Metamorphosing Into Godhood is the latest endeavor by the world's premier Satanic metal band Acheron. Those who know the name, know what I speak of. This release is a very heavy onslaught of death/blackened metal at it's best. Also knowing that the lyrics written here are of true meaning to band founder Vincent Crowley, who spent several years in The Church Of Satan under founder Anton Szandor LaVey who spoke very highly of them as "the real thing". Crushing guitars deliver the heavy riffing with bombastic intricacy. With over 15 years and numerous releases, Crowley and Acheron are no stranger to the underground scene. Great production. Very well written songs. A must for all metal fans. With a newly rounded line-up, Acheron are ready for total world domination. And will not rest until it is achieved. Hatebreed Well, what can one say to a new Hatebreed album? Fuck yeah!! That's what. 'The Rise Of Brutality' has been out for sometime now. And being a Hatebreed album, there is something you need to be aware of, as if you may not already know. It sounds like Hatebreed. As with their releases before. From album to album, musically things really don't, or in my view have not changed. Almost as if the past three or so releases have been in one, split into many . Now please don't get the wrong impression here. I like Hatebreed. Hatebreed are at the top of their game. I think. All the lyrical messages are to vent, guide and push the bounderies of everyday life. The music is fast, intense and smash your face delicious. Jamey Jasta and Co. have been busy touring since the release last fall and will do so throughout the rest of this year. Some memorable tracks,' Tear It Down, Another Day Another Vendetta, Voice Of Contention and This Is Now'. All are of the same caliber as the next. As I said before. This is a Hatebreed release. And that's all that needs to be said. www.hatebreed.com Fear My Thoughts Formed back in '98, Fear My Thoughts have become one of the brands of the ever growing European metalcore scene. With a few highly acclaimed releases under their belt FMT are ready to set forth upon the world, " The Great Collapse'. Mainly pulling from their old school hardcore influences on past releases, FMT change things up a bit mixing into the fold a strong thrash/death sound , while keeping their hardcore roots. As stated on their info sheet,"the opener and title track couldn't be better written by a band like Amon Amarth". This statement holds true throughout the disk. FMT mix it up well. This is a very heavy, catchy release. Will apeal to fans of the likes of Amon Amarth, Dimension Zero, As I Lay Dying, God Forbid and The Black Dahlia Murder. A great, well rounded metalcore release. No one song stands out any more than the next on this disk. All are an equally good listen. A crushing release from a band that is surely on it's way to the big leagues. This should hit the U.S. shores soon. Check them out on the web. I don't think you should wait for this. Go get it. www.fearmythoughts.com Blut Aus Nord 'The Work Which Transforms God', can easily translate into the work which sends God cowering like a helpless rat, about to be devoured by a mighty serpent. This release is most definitely "a nightmarish voyage of sonic disharmony". Band leader Vindsval says," we wanted to create a new form of black metal, it's a feeling for us, not a defined style." Well they do just that. Blut Aus Nord have an extensive recording history that remains almost out of reach to the U,S. Signing with Candlelight Records is sure to change all that. This release has a very bleek, raw sound to it. You can head to the website and listen for yourself. The latest from France's , fore-front black metal act is sure to change the way you look at black metal. A haunting and terrifying journey into the world of darkness. Take notice if this very under recognized band. This is extreme music, pushed to the extreme. www.blutausnord.fr.st Azrael Since 1999, U.S. avant-garde black metal act Azael have been one of the fore-runners of the American black metal movement. And this highly anticipated release will only further their conquest. The Azrael line-up consistsof Lord Samaiza-guitars/vocals and Algol-bass / drums. Azrael deliver 7 dark and chilling tracks. Clocking in at 71:50, these are epic black metal tracks of the highest of standards. Filled with acoustic parts incorporating heavy elements of jazz-fusion, classical, ambient and prog-rock formulas. This is a genre not recognized or respected enough in this part of the world. This release is a must for all black metal heads. Searing vocals, bone chilling riffs, high speed bombastic drumming to ascend you to the very edge of what you've come to believe is reality. You need not be afraid of the darkness that is to come. Highly recommended for fans of the genre and for those who are curious. Lyzanxia I just got done reading the book "Sound Of The Beast," which is a history lesson on heavy metal. Metallica, Megadeth, Anthrax and Slayer were mentioned, which should come as no suprise to anyone. After Black Sabbath gave birth to the genre, it became something bigger and better and we were treated to a lot of great music. If you want the complete history, read the book. However, if you wanna fast forward to present day, let me introduce you to Lyzanxia. If a "Sound Of The Beast" part two is ever written, this is a band that's sure to be included in the first chapter. While a completely modern band, Lyzanxia isn't afraid to preach the word of our metal yesterday. They're an aggressive thrash band that can go the distance. Top quality musicianship with a variety of vocal styles...from a death metal growl to a scream and everything in between. The music press have been praising Lyzanxia for the past four years and, going by what I've heard on "Mindcrimes," they deserve every bit of it. For those of you who like heavy, aggressive music, this is the release for you. Don't pass this one up! Vomitory Five years ago Vomitory released a 10-year anniversary limited edition 10" to commemorate… and that was before they'd even released anything of relative renown. Here it is fifteen years since they began and still, it's hard to imagine. Then again their first "breakthrough" came when Metal Blade picked 'em up and released "Revelation Nausea" in 2000 when the bands' fortunes as just another moribund gratuitous killing machine with instruments and poor speech changed to equate them on a similar level with the many Death stalwarts appearing overseas and stateside. Not that faceless "Fadeless" Records releases and 7" cut-ups don't account for something, but in the first place, from '93 to '96 to '99, who knew, and for those who did, good luck getting 'em. Vomitory's longevity is well earned. They're fast and flawless, lethal aggression lent to the literary topic of the day picking apart the nation state and religious hypocrisy in a demonstrative and downright disgusting lyrical diatribe that'll leave yer gastric juices dropping from the smell of slaughter copped from fourth track, "Epidemic (Created To Kill)," but hey, it fits. Henrik Larsson's studio work, which does not go unnoticed amidst the building volume and heavy feedback, is the stuff of legend, lending another stellar level to ten more blood curdling blows blown into then out of proportion and only fully appreciated at full volume, though common sense should prevail at some point. "Condemned By Pride" is Entombed-like following the robust guitar riffing of their "Ride, Shoot Straight…" record with the bone chilling extreme of "Left Hand Path," though I'm not sure I get the joke with the G-rated title… "Stray Bullet Kills" has Slayer's sinister "South Of Heaven" style opening before demolishing any further impulse for comparison with anything other than a semi-automatic discharging lead into your skull. "Chainsaw Surgery" concludes by disassembling and describing in great detail a body relieved of its limbs among one of the more musically uplifting massacres one might endure for 3:11 of their useless life led to the end by the blood curdling scream. Then, before the last breath, 35 minutes later, it's all over, fade to black, you're deaf and your heart rate's at dangerously high levels. "Primal Massacre" finds the cynical Swedes in primitively satisfying form, instrumentally adept and acidic. A decade and a half since starting, the steadiness of the band that spawned all the way back in '89 discharged from the bowels of Venom, Death, Deicide, and dissatisfaction with all forms of human gaiety, comes across in a sharp, swarming display of expulsive shred and skillfulness few can exploit and even fewer can fake. Cromb 4 tracks of fast death metal that is played well, but kinda bored me. The band is not doing anything really new or exciting to get me going. Sure this is fast, brutal death metal, but so are 100's of other bands. The band is just another average death metal band making the rounds these days. Info: www.cromb.net Generica Couldn't get into this at all. Modern metal with plenty of hooks and machine gun like drum rolls, but the songs just didn't click with me and the vocals are not a strong point of this band. The songs are in the progressive mode to a point, but they just didn't make me stand up and take notice. They just gonna went along and when each song was done I didn't remember anything about them. They are at least rying to be different. Info: www.genericlab.com Nocta The band reminds me of a 70's version of Black Sabbath at times, due to the vocals, the music structure and the production. The 4 tracks on here are quite good and I enjoyed each track. If your into bands like Blue Cheer, Deep Purple, Black Sabbath and some of that killer mid 70's metal, then you'll love this as I did. Info: nocta@freemail.gr Blissed This is rock n roll sort of like Soundgarden in spots. The band can write some riffs and the vocalist is really good as he sings the songs with passion and emotion. Not a bad release for what it is. Info: www.blissed.biz Dropbox Well, it's no surprise that the first signing to Godsack's record label sounds very much like Godsmack. They don't sound exactly the same but more along the same category of music. Mix in the Southern feel of a band like American Motherload, a little COC and there you have it. Apparently these guys are going to appear on the soundtrack to the new Transformers video game so you can check them out there. I'm sure we'll be hearing them all over the radio before long too. For more on this eleven song disc go to www.dropboxmusic.com. Otep This passage is from the Otep website, " Otep is an art project/band/brainfusion/movement/process; breaking ground, breaking sound barriers, aggressive, pummeling, assault, pure adrenaline. Death metal at its' emo-core of heavy mental rock. Otep is poetry." Alright, I'll buy that, I guess. Otep was spotted by Sharon Osbourne back in 2001 and wowed her enough to add them to the 3rd stage on the Ozzfest tour. Well that got them a big record deal as well. Without even a demo. Well that's good for them I suppose. House of Secrets will be the second release, and as well they have been put on the 2nd stage at this years Ozzfest, 2004. Well good for them I suppose. The press release says to" think Slayer, think Korn, Think Slipknot, think .....any band and you'll find nary a damsel." I say think Alanis Morreset meets Misery Loves Co meets Marilyn Manson meets a lot of noise. They are definitely heavy. There is also a certain darkness to the lyrics that make you wonder is this a cry for help or as Otep herself explains, is the expression of art. Writings that had been laid out with a lifetime of emotions. Otep have created quite a following, and I hear have helped out many a disturbed individual with the understanding of what's going on in their heads. Not sure if I'm supposed to feel good about listening to this a few times, or depressed. I do look forward to catching their live set though. Maybe that will do more justice in my little head of disturbed thoughts. Cause hey, this is just my opinion. You can take a listen at the website. Dog Mulch Well I wasn't sure what to expect by looking at the computer generated drawings of dog heads skewered on swords on the cover. And with a name like Dog Mulch, well I guess I was also expecting a noisy , raunchy sounding punk band. Well I was wrong. This demo which consists of 25 brutal death, grinding gore, surprised the hell out of me. That's right, 25 tracks of devastating , gutteral growls, and hypersonic drumming that is enough to blow the ear drums right out of your skull. Dog Mulch consists of "The Butcher", Bob Macabre, who does the vocals, guitars, bass and drum programming. This disk reminds me of any release by Exhumed, Vile, Disordered, Skinless or Malignancy. Bob,"The Butcher" , puts all parts together extremely well. Thumbs up for that feat. Some song titles, 'Gut Munching Zombies, Mad Embalmer, Mangled Puppy and Human Bloodbath', just to name a couple. Good sounding recording and production. So if your into this extreme genre of metal, you really need to check out Dog Mulch. Kitchen Knife Conspiracy Starting out back in 1998, Kitchen Knife Conspiracy are what you would call a "stompcore" band. This title they dub themselves as due to the mixture which consists of the meeting of death metal and hardcore styles. That sounds about right. With no line-up changes since their inception, KKC has play with numerous acts such as, Six Feet Under, Crowbar, Soilent Green, King Diamond, Nile , Mortician and Mushroom Head just to name a few. Their first two releases sold over 1000 units each and they have a strong following in Pennsylvania and Ohio. This being their third release, should surely surpass those numbers. KKC areJohn Prosenjak-vocals, Jeremy Cibella-guitars, Johnny Kihm-bass and Fred Whitacre, Jr. on the drums. So if you're ready for some groove, grinding stompcore, these guys have got what you need. www.kitchenknifeconspiracy.com Aces High A band that names itself after an Iron Maiden song and features a legendary metal drummer (Anders Johansson, who's pounded skins for Yngwie Malmsteen and Hammerfall, among others)...I guess you can't go wrong with that. These guys are a melodic hard rock band from Sweden, but in spite of their moniker, they don't sound much like Iron Maiden. Their style is basic melodic hard rock, in the vein of many classic bands like the Scorpions, Def Leppard, Tesla, Europe, Deep Purple, UFO, Aerosmith, 220 Volt (anyone remember them?), Pretty Maids, and others. Singer Bjorn Andersen is like Klaus Meine, Joey Tempest, and Jocke Lundholm (220 Volt singer), melodic but with a rough edge to his voice. Guitarist Jake Sandberg cranks out some chunky, galloping riffs, while keyboardist David Brandt plays a Hammond, giving the music a 70's/Deep Purple kind of flavor. Anders is already renowned for his drumming skills and needs no introduction, and he also plays bass on this album. His bass playing is quite good, and is actually is somewhat reminiscent of Steve Harris, this being the only Maiden element found here. The band is quite decent, albeit nothing out of the ordinary when it comes to melodic hard rock. A few of the songs I thought were a bit lackluster, but aside from that, this is quite a good album. There are rockers like "Killing Time", "Hyde My Jekyll" (clever title, I'll give 'em that!), "Blinded", "What I Came For", and "Judas Kiss", a couple of ballads, "Tell Me" and the title track, a new agey instrumental in "Legacy", and the closer "Listen To Fools", a laid back, poppier tune. This album didn't blow me away but it's a good listen if you like classic style hard rock, and there's certainly no faulting the talents of Johansson. Josh Todd Josh Todd is the former vocalist of Buckcherry, the band who once proclaimed themselves as "the saviors of rock and roll", then disbanded after two albums. So much for salvation, huh? Todd, however, has picked up the torch that his former band dropped, taking up from where they left off. He's put together a new band of his own, featuring guitarists Jesse Logan and Mike Hewitt, bassist Mark John, and drummer Kent Ross. As far as the music Todd and his new band make goes, it's still very much straight up rock and roll. Todd has brought in the Buckcherry sound, which of course means there's also a lot of Aerosmith influence, but Josh Todd is not photocopying the Buckcherry sound. They've expanded the style and added more elements to their music. Kick off tune "Mind Infection" is very punk, while closer "Lovely Bones" is a ballad. Talk about polar opposites! In between, we have a bunch of hard rocking tunes of a variety of styles. Some are in the Buckcherry/Aerosmith vein, like "Circles", "Broken", "Flowers And Cages", and "Shine". A few songs are heavier, darker, more aggressive, and more metal, those being "Blast", "Burn", "Straight Jacket", and "Slaves". "Wasted" has a funky flavor to it, while "The Walls" sounds like Buckcherry meets Jane's Addiction. Josh Todd has made a rockin' album here, better even than Buckcherry, I dare say! They've used a few different musical styles to create their sound, but it's still very much rock and roll. Bukcherry may not have lived up to their potential, but with Josh Todd taking their place, they could very well be the band to bring REAL rock and roll into the future. Virginia Creeper What's up with this guy? I mean, some time ago, I did a review on a two song CD. That was followed up by a four song CD, two new ones and the two from his previous release. Now, with "Who's Your God," we get a whole three songs. You know, I wouldn't really care if this guy sucked. But, he's actually got something good going on here. His music is a combination of industrial, glam and rock and, by looking at the album cover on this release, which is a bloody Virginia Creeper, who looks like he just got crucified, there may be a goth element to the music as well. He's gotten better with each release and it's a shame that he's sticking with these two/three/four song CD's. A proper, full length release would do him more justice and it might actually help him to become bigger than he already is. Each one of his songs stick with you from the moment you hear them and I think it's time to buckle down and really make an impact. The potential is here...he just needs to jump on it and go forward without holding anything back. With that said, yeah, you know I'm gonna tell you to check him out. So, go for it. You won't be disappointed. http://www.virginiacreeper.net Destiny Destiny are a Swedish metal band who have been around for quite a while. Their first album came out back in '85, and this is only their fifth album. They are possibly the longest running metal band from Sweden. On their latest, their sound is in the power/progressive metal vein. Their music is melodic, but with a hard edge, kind of like Dream Theater, only harder and heavier, and without the keyboards (except for a few songs). They also sound influenced by other bands of this genre, like Queensryche and Crimson Glory. Vocalist Kristoffer Gobel sounds a lot like Geoff Tate or Midnight. They have dual guitar team in Janne Ekberg and Niclas Granath, who do a very good job. The songs are all well written and intensely played, and their lyrics deal with some interesting subjects. "Holy Man" is about TV preachers; "Sabotage" is about war vets and the inner turmoil they suffer; "In The Shadow Of The Rainbow" is about the A-bombs dropped on Japan during World War 2; "Flying Dutchman" is about a fisherman who perishes at sea; "Ghost Train" was inspired by the tale of Dracula; and they saved the biggie for last-the title track, which is an eight and a half minute long epic, inspired by the movie "Willow". It features some atmospheric keyboards and strings, and is the most complex and sophisticated song on the album. If you like progressive and/or power metal, check out Destiny. They've been around long enough and they're pretty damn good! About time they got some recognition! VII Gates These guys do seem to have fire walking with them-they're made quite a hot metal album here! This is a traditional/power metal album, with some of the songs in the vein of Rhapsody or Stratovarius, with keyboards, strings, and stuff used, while others are more straight up, traditional metal. Vocalist Criss Blackburn sounds like Timo from Stratovarius, and at times even like Rob Halford. All the songs are full speed ahead, galloping metal tunes (except for the ballad, "So Far Away"). The first half of the album consists of the more melodic, Rhapsody/Stratovarius-type songs, like "Bounded By Hate", "The Savior", "Seconds Left To Live", "Under The Crossed Bones" (where they take a cue from Running Wild, writing a song about pirates!), and "Tormented", a song lyrically similar to Pear Jam's "Jeremy", about a bullied kid who guns down his classmates. Then we get into the heavier, harder driving, Judas Priest style tunes, like "Love Bullet", "A Dark Room Of My Mind", "Like A Rock" (No, this is not a cover of the Bob Seger song, that's been used in all those Chevy commercials!), and "The Madman Inside", a slower, darker tune (that picks up speed in the middle), sung from the point of view of a stalker. While this band in not much different from all the other power metal bands around today, they are good at what they do, and what can I say, I've always had a soft spot for bands like this, and can never give one a bad review! Harvest of Souls 3 cool tracks of rick with a metal edge to it. Sort of like Kyuss in spots. The band can write some soild riffs with plenty of melody and cathiness to them. The vocals are strong for the sort of music this band is playing. If your into strong rock n roll with some metal to it, inquire about this. Info: www.harvestofsouls.net Intense Mutilation This band is back after a long abscense from the scene. The band were sort of a joke band. The band still play fast, but it isn't a wall of noise, it is more controlled. The band still write about funny stuff and make fun of pretty much everybody. The band is funny and good for what they are trying to do and this is good for more than a laugh and one play. Fast, blasting metal. Info: www.intensemutilation.com Jaw Modern groove jump metal with those tough man vocals and the band is just doing what a million other band are doing in this style. Nothing of value here at all. Info: www.reversedrecords.com KAOS Some decent thrash metal from the Bay Area. The band do drift into the new dance metal at times, but overall this is a soild thrash effort that wouldn't be out of place in the 80's. The riffs are strong, yet catchy like all those callic Bay area bands. The vocals are good, the singer has a nice set of pipes. I am glad to see some bands out there not going with the flow and sounding like every other generic band out there. Info: www.kaosamongus.com State Of Shock Out of the multitude of bands I've heard called S.O.S, I think this one was the best. The Canadian quintet reminds me of RA, NICKLEBACK & the first FROM ZERO album. The mellow parts may bore someone hoping for straight ahead rock, but the balance between hard & soft parts has become a staple in NU metal & radio Hard Rock. Nothing too innovative but certainly well done... I'm sure they're exciting to see live! |
