ABIGAIL WILLIAMS
IN THE SHADOW OF A THOUSAND SUNS
2008 CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
Damn. I was sure that I'd heard these guys broke up. Somehow or another, they managed to turn their MySpace page into an album deal. They even managed
to sell 15,000 copies of their debut mini-CD. That's really unheard of. I mean, that's 15,000 actual fans and not "friend collectors." I could have sworn they
were more of a metalcore type band on that mini-CD though. To me, this full length sounds like they listened a little too much to the black metal bands they
toured with. Much of the metalcore has been dropped, and instead we've got yet another copy of stuff that we already heard years ago, but with much better production.
ALL SHALL PERISH
AWAKEN THE DREAMERS
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
Ordinarily, I'd greet a super-technical modern death/grind band like this with a big yawn. But ALL SHALL PERISH managed to catch my attention this time around by
doing a lot of things that will either win them tons of praise from their fans or damn them almost as badly as CRYPTOPSY were condemned. Here's what you probably
expected to hear on this album: as I said, modern death/grind with the usual technical edge, complete with a fret wizard or two. The solos must have left their fingers
blistered and bleeding. They also more or less wrote songs on here instead of just slapping some riffs together and moving on to the next song. Now here's what you
probably didn't expect: the vocals are fairly understandable, the band slows down and incorporate some melodies... and there are some clean vocals present as well. Now that
should get a collective, "What the fuck?!?" from a lot of people. Bottom line is that ALL SHALL PERISH are taking some chances here and have come up with something that's
as varied as some of HYPOCRISY's albums. In other words, this ain't the same old thing.
ALGHAZANTH
WREATH OF THEVETAT
2008 WOODCUT RECORDS
There isn't one single thing about Finland's ALGHAZANTH that's going to make you become an instant fan of theirs, unless they just happen to be one of the first five symphonic black metal bands you've
ever heard. The style is just so played out that it's next to impossible to distinguish one band from another. It doesn't matter how much more aggressive these guys seem to their brethren, or how they
incorporate delicate keyboard atmospherics into their sound. If anything, this band is more of a training ground. Some former members have also been, or became members of better known bands like
BEHEXEN or HORNA. Bottom line, this is yet another album from another band that makes me ask, "What's the point?".
ANAL NOSOROG
CONDOM OF HATE
2008 XTREEM MUSIC
There's virtually nothing that I would call vocals on this album. Making noises like a pig don't count. If it wasn't
for that, this might actually be decent death grind with killer solos. But since we're stuck with the grunting pork
chop, that renders ANAL NOSOROG one hundred percent unlistenable.
ANGEL BLAKE
THE DESCENDED
2008 DYNAMIC ARTS RECORDS
Well, this isn't nearly as bad as I'd feared. I have to at least congratulate Marko Tervonen on founding a band that's not just like THE CROWN but with a different
name. For once, someone actually has moved from one style of metal to another. ANGEL BLAKE is closer to kind of a rock band, and there's a lot of clean vocals
to be found. They really fit in well with the goth pop music that's coming out these days, like LACUNA COIL. Obviously not my thing, but there is a big audience for
this sort of stuff.
AUTOBODY
THE MEAN LENGTH OF DAYLIGHT
2008 T.R.A.C.E. RECORDS
There's no doubt in my mind that this heavy rock band is meant to be heard by fans of DISTURBED. That means
not by me, and most likely not by you. Chances are the mainstream press will fall all over themselves to promote
and praise AUTOBODY. Me, I'm going to give Ecology Auto Wrecking a call and have them haul this auto body off to
the junkyard.
AYIN ALEPH
AYIN ALEPH I
2008 INVENCIS
The best way to describe Ayin Aleph is... annoying. The goth rock music is okay at best, but the vocals are just ridiculously over the top. Between lots of breathy parts, overuse of vibratio,
and just about anything else she can think of, Ayin Aleph does her damndest impression of Diamanda Galas. However, she doesn't go anywhere near as off the deep end as Diamanda
(and that's the one saving grace of this album). I guess I prefer vocalists to keep things more or less level, with the exception of King Diamond. King makes his style work. Ayin's problem
is that she really has no style... unless you call this hodgepodge of vocalizations a style. Which I suppose it is... barely. Some will declare this album to be pure genius. I
declare it to be pure crap.
BLEED THE SKY
MURDER THE DANCE
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
Apparently, between their last album and this one, almost the entire roster of BLEED THE SKY left the band. If I played crap like this, not only would I have left,
I'd probably have eaten a shotgun. I guess I just don't understand the appeal of the sound of FEAR FACTORY mixed with semi-technical metal and loads of clean vocals.
The whole thing sounds just too damn modern for me. In fact, it's not even really all that metal. More like post-hardcore maybe.
BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL
A FERAL SPIRIT
2008 BINDRUNE RECORDINGS
Based on my impressions from the debut album, I approached this new release from BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL with caution, trepidation, and fear. The first album
was one powerful piece of work. Most musicians strive their entire lives trying to create something so powerful, but never manage to do so. Surely Daniel Ellis Harrod
and Chet W. Scott put everything they had into that album and didn't have anything left. Apparently, they have a whole lot of that "something" left. A Feral Spirit is a very different
creature from the debut. While still strongly black metal influenced, BLOOD OF THE BLACK OWL goes beyond black metal into something else. About the best comparison I can
come up with would be if NEUROSIS went black metal. This really isn't just an album. It's a ritual. It's the kind of thing that can't really be put into words, but must be
experienced by the individual.
BLOODSWORN
ALL HYLLEST TIL SATAN
2008 AGONIA RECORDS
The story is that this album was recorded back in 1999 and was going to be released on Head Not Found. Somehow or another
that didn't work out, and now almost ten years later Agonia has opted to release it instead. Supposedly these Norwegians
were around even back in the early 90s in one form or another. At this point, I'm hard pressed to decide if this album
would have made much of an impact if it had been released on time. Maybe it would not have, but in 2008, it definitely
should be taken note of. There's a lot of elements in their music that is missing from most other bands these days.
There is absolutely no mistaking this for anything other than black metal. No quasi-pagan influences, no female vocals,
nothing but harsh black fucking metal. Period. They really don't make them like this any more. These days, about the
best we can do is ultra lo-fi one man bullshit recorded in someone's bedroom. That's not a band. BLOODSWORN is a band.
Let's hope that this isn't the end for them, and that they don't get cursed with another decade of delays before the next album.
CHROME DIVISION
BOOZE, BROADS AND BEELZEBUB
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
The hellish rock and roll side project of DIMMU BORGIR is back, and is twice as drunk than you remember them
from last time. They've dropped the whole "biker" thing in favor of a much cleaner and more straightforward rock
sound. They didn't quite go whole-hog with the pop side of their style, but CHROME DIVISION embraced a good chunk of
it. The HELLACOPTERS more or less paved the way for this kind of music, and it's good to see people who are usually
so grim opting to play something fun for a change. Still, I wish they had more of an ugly sound. Booze, Broads
and Beelzebub is essentially party music. That's not a bad thing in itself, but I prefer rock music from Hell
to sound like it was dipped in gasoline and set on fire, with band members who smell like they just finished a five
hundred mile motorcycle ride. Someone hit these guys with the hose just a little too soon.
CLINTONE
FULL CIRCLE
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / SCREAMING FERRET WRECKORDS
Apparently, the era of the guitar hero is not over. I wouldn't call CLINTONE a shredder though. His instrumental songs are more in the rock vein than
metal, and he's really not big on flash. No real wizardry here, just songs that he's proud of. This will probably appeal more to your classic rock fan
than your average DRAGONFORCE fan. CLINTONE isn't about how fast he can play or how complex of a riff he can write. He's about the music.
CLOSER
A DARKER KIND OF SALVATION
2008 PULVERISED RECORDS
Sweden's CLOSER have developed their sound since their debut mini-CD. The songs here are sort of what you might get
if you mixed the early stuff by THE HAUNTED with the crazy time changes that MESHUGGAH had back on Destroy
Erase Improve. I referenced that album, because in the years since, MESHUGGAH have gone from "crazy" to "completely
whacked-out." I'm not sure if these developments have helped or hindered the band. Fans of the heavier edged HATESPHERE
aren't going to be too into them, but people who buy anything Roadrunner puts out these days should definitely check them out.
COLD NORTHERN VENGEANCE
DOMINATION AND SERVITUDE
2008 BINDRUNE RECORDINGS
Philosophy is the backbone of COLD NORTHERN VENGEANCE. Their lyrics borrow and quote very heavily from the likes of
Jung, Nietzsche, and of course Crowley. You might recognize the duo that is CNV as the same sickos from MARTYRVORE.
Personally, I like that band a lot more, although comparing them is like apples and oranges. One is just pure barbarity, while
the other (that would be this one) is extremely philosophical. CNV also use a drum machine throughout this album,
and in doing so they give the music a very cold and sterile feeling. This is certainly nothing to party to, and I
would strongly recommend avoiding the use of depressants while listening to it. There is only one word to sum up
the songs contained on Domination and Servitude: harsh.
DARK FUNERAL
ATTERA ORBIS TERRARUM, PART: II
2008 REGAIN RECORDS
Satan's soldiers of Hell have unleashed the second part of their DVD assault. This time we go to the South American
leg of their 2006 tour, with two gigs in Buenos Aires and Sao Paulo. Both feature essentially the same setlist. Two songs are played
in a different order, and the Sao Paulo gig includes one extra song. So for all intents and purposes, they might as well be the same gig.
Both discs do include a bunch of fan-filmed material. Disc One has footage from various North American tours, dating from 1997 to 2007. Disc Two
is all from South America, from 2003 to 2006. Obviously, the quality varies a lot. Some is very, very good, and some is almost unwatchable.
I have the same issues with this collection as I did with Part I. Too much of the same thing over and over again. One DVD
set, covering all legs of the tour would have been more than sufficient. I expect I'll need to go clean the pig's blood off my front door now.
Seems their rabid fan base didn't care for my opinion.
DECEMBER'S COLD WINTER
ABLAZE ALL SHRINES
2008 SELF RELEASE
I really don't know exactly what the people in Costa Rica know of cold weather (in December or any other month), but based on what I've heard on this album,
I'd say that the people in this scene know their metal. DCW is a kind of death and black metal mix, but done in their own way. The main vocal style is deep, gutteral death
metal, with the occasional black metal high end. That's not the norm at all for your typical black/death band. That probably makes them death/black instead,
for all you genre-labeling scorekeepers out there. While the band's sound is also very melodic, they have a very rough take on things... again, not the norm.
Usually, bands turn off, or at least turn down, the distortion when they get to the melodic parts of their songs. Not so here. They turned the distortion up
to almost the level of a DISMEMBER album and then broke the knobs off their equipment. If you're sensing a trend here with me saying that this or that "is not the
norm," you're right. DECEMBER'S COLD WINTER took most of the conventional ideas and methods and threw them out the window. This is actually one of the very last albums
that I received for review for this issue, and Ablaze All Shrines made for a great way to close out 2008.
www.decemberscoldwinter.com
decemberscoldwinter@gmail.com
DESTRUCTION
D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N.
2008 CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
It's as simple as this: if you've liked what DESTRUCTION has done since their reunion, you'll probably like this album. If not, then this won't change your mind. This is the German trio playing thrash their way,
just as they've always done. Unabashedly, with no apologies. With that in mind, D.E.V.O.L.U.T.I.O.N. is probably DESTRUCTION's weakest
release since the much maligned Metal Discharge. There's a little too much groove on some songs, but this disc is mostly full of uninspired riffs. The songs aren't very distinguishable from each other,
and it's like they released an album because they were told to, without it being truly ready. This is a prime example of all filler, no killer.
DEVERRA
ORIGINS
2008 SELF RELEASE
DEVERRA aren't out to fool anyone. They're unabashedly metalcore and proud of it. They claim to be mostly influenced
by Australian metalcore, whatever the hell that is. I'm so not into the metalcore scene that I had no idea that
there's distinctions based on geographic location. It does make sense though. Look at 80's thrash. Germany and the Bay
Area sounded next to nothing alike. Believe it or not, there are a couple of things that I like about the songs on
this disc. First off, the lack of clean vocals. That one thing, more than anything is what generally leads to a metalcore
band's ultimate ruin. Kicking your audience's collective ass with hard-hitting death metal vocals and then switching
over to a wimpy emo sounding clean voice is just not a good idea. Even when a songs sounds like it's going to go
in the wussiest direction possible, as with "Portrait," DEVERRA manage to avoid the obvious and crank the heavy back up.
Second, a lot of the drumming here reminds me of MESHUGGAH, although it's minus the insane time signatures. Just
the sheer heaviness is what I care about, and it's brought in here by the truckload. Metalcore still lives near the bottom
of the metal food chain as far as I'm concerned, but DEVERRA have gone to great lengths to attempt to evolve it into
something worth a damn.
www.myspace.com/deverrametal
deverra.metal@gmail.com
DISLOYAL
PROPHECY
2008 NO COLOURS RECORDS
This is an easy one to review. DISLOYAL is simply Poland's answer to DEICIDE at their worst. The drum sound is absolutely horrid... even KATAKLYSM managed a better
one on their early albums. Sure, the music is brutal, but that's a prerequisite for death metal and always has been. Mediocre at best, derivative at worst.
ENFORCER
INTO THE NIGHT
2008 HEAVY ARTILLERY RECORDS
Heavy Artillery does it again. While everyone seems to be on the warpath to sign every new thrash metal band they can find, this label caught everyone napping
and picked up Sweden's ENFORCER. This NWOBHM inspired heavy metal band has only a small amount of thrash in their sound. We're talking the tiniest amount possible.
For all intents and purposes, they're one hundred percent pure heavy metal. One of these rare bands that manages to perform the style without falling into the power
metal category. Some might be a little turned off by Olof Wikstrand's clean vocals and high screams, but I for one love 'em and want more of 'em. The simple fact of the
matter is that ENFORCER managed to capture the intensity of their live sound. There's more power here than anything IRON MAIDEN has done in ages. We're talking about
the same level as The Number of the Beast album here. Seriously. Hopefully these guys strike while the iron is hot and crank out another one in 2009.
EQUILIBRIUM
SAGAS
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
So the bio sheet that came with this album mentions similarities to the likes of ENSIFERUM, FINTROLL, and KORPIKLAANI. Most of the time, you can pick out which of those
similar styled bands that the one in question will sound like. You know... like if you see PANTERA listed as an influence, it doesn't matter if there's a hundred other bands
listed as influences, you just know that what you've got in your hand will sound like PANTERA. So yeah, I was figuring on another wimpy KORPIKLAANI sounding band, this time from
Germany. What I got instead was a mighty pagan/folk metal act with a strong symphonic black metal side. In fact, the folk end of things barely can be heard amongst everything
else going on in EQUILIBRIUM's sound. With songs exploring German folklore, I almost want to learn the language so I can learn more about their culture while I listen. Or... I can
just pop the top on this German beer in my hand and experience their culture first-hand.
EVERGREY
TORN
2008 SPV
It's been ten years since I last heard EVERGREY. That's right. The only other album from them that I've heard was 1998's The Dark Discovery. This might as well be a completely different band.
The progressive elements that I seem to recall (hazily, mind you) are no longer present. Instead, Torn is more along the lines of a very melodic rock band. Except for the clean vocals, they fit in
right beside what a lot of other Swedish bands are doing at the moment. Think of IN FLAMES right before they went metalcore, for example. EVERGREY remind me of how things were in the '80s, where
the mainstream part of the scene were the glam bands, but there were some bands who were associated with that scene without actually really being part of it. TESLA, for example. EVERGREY are kind
of like that. They're part of the Swedish melodic scene, but are doing their own thing. In this day and age, not only is that commendable, it's damn rare.
EXMORTUS
IN HATRED'S FLAME
2008 HEAVY ARTILLERY RECORDS
This is essentially an expanded and repackaged version of the In Hatred's Flame seven track mini-CD from 2007. These guys hit us with everything they have
in the first minute of the album. The main riff in the title track is one heavy sonofabitch. EXMORTUS is more than just "yet another thrash metal band from Los Angeles."
They're more like a mix of the heavier Gothenburg sound with highly hardcore influenced vocals. Add in the neo-classical shredding solos, and you've got an interesting
sounding band. So interesting, that one has to wonder if maybe they're doing a little too much. It's like they kept adding in anything they could think of. I have a feeling
that these tendencies will fade in time. After all, they've only been around since 2003, and in that time have had numerous line-up changes. A stable band will definitely
result in a stable sound, and I fully expect to hear that on their next album.
FIGURE OF SIX
AION
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS
Yet another example of how you shouldn't judge a book (or an album) by its cover. Aion had all the look of some wussy goth rock tripe, with its coverart
featuring a woman in white with her back to us. How then, does it turn out that Italy's FIGURE OF SIX are a kind of thrashy semi-power metal band? Even more
interesting, how does a band that started out playing hardcore come to play music that is practically at the opposite spectrum? I don't have the answers to either
of those questions, but I can say that FIGURE OF SIX combine different metal worlds and do it well. They're not quite the next RAGE though. Too many keyboard parts,
and the heavy stuff has a lot of crunch in it. That probably stems from their early hardcore days. Regardless, if enough people check this band out, they could easily
become the sleeper hit of 2008.
GAMMA RAY
HELL YEAH!!! THE AWESOME FOURSOME AND THE FINNISH KEYBOARDER WHO DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR HIS DONALD DUCK COSTUME: LIVE IN MONTREAL
2008 SPV
Well, here we are... two years after GAMMA RAY's first (and hopefully not last!) North American tour, they've assembled a double CD and DVD of the Montreal gig.
Of course they used a whole lot of different angles, a few camera effects, and had one hell of an enthusiastic audience to view the whole spectacle. The first disc of the
DVD set consists of the entire concert. The second disc has a variety of nifty stuff to check out, like some videoclips (including some with Ralf Scheepers!), some live footage from Wacken, a tour documentary,
and a history of the band that features all kinds of rare footage from the GAMMA RAY archives. Every GAMMA RAY fan owes it to themselves to pick this up, whether they
attended one of these gigs or not. Now if only we could convince RAGE to come over to this side of the pond for a tour too....
GRENOUER
LIFELONG DAYS
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS
I'd really like to hear what Russia's GRENOUER sounded like in their earlier days, like around 1996. Because their former death metal sound has to be far better than this tripe. Lifelong
Days is almost like an industrialized version of Roots. I think the less said, the better.
GUILLOTINE
BLOOD MONEY
2008 PULVERISED RECORDS
Back in 1997, this band released one kick-ass album on the now defunct Necropolis Records. Immediately afterwards,
they broke up with the members opting to instead focus on their other band, NOCTURNAL RITES. If you blinked, you probably
missed them. I guess with the latest retro-thrash trend in full-force, they decided it was time to reform and see if
they could get a slice of the pie too. Having been a big fan of the first album for all these years, of course I was
happy to see them back. Having heard this follow-up, now I'm not so sure. The debut was complete KREATOR worship, done
in the style of Pleasure to Kill or Endless Pain. Blood Money, however, is oddly enough more like a
cross between the more recent KREATOR albums and newer DESTRUCTION. While not necessarily a bad thing, it's not what
I expected. Lyrically, they almost missed the boat too. Most of the songs are about America's "brutality" towards the
rest of the world. Ho-hum, like that hasn't been done to death over the last few years. And with the current administration
on the way out, releasing an album with these topics is practically pointless. Why not focus instead on
the genocide that we've seen, like in Darfur? How about Rwanda? Yes, the USA has done some lousy things during the Bush administration,
but nothing on that kind of scale. We never went in to wipe out an entire race or culture of people. Along with this
last jab at the USA comes the virtually mandatory Ed Repka cover art. I recognize at least some of the faces partying
in the aftermath of destruction. Let's see... there's Bush, Cheney... is that Saddam too? Uh, he's dead and certainly
didn't reap much of a benefit from the ongoing Iraq war. And is that Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe in the background? As
far as I know, we don't have any dealings with that piece of shit. But the really odd part is the inclusion of fictional
characters. Face it, the overall impact of the cover art is diluted with the inclusion of Larry Hagman as J.R. Ewing from
Dallas and Michael Clarke Duncan as the Kingpin from Daredevil. What's that all about anyway? All that
aside, this really isn't what I think we were expecting or hoping for from this return to the scene. Blood Money
is a little too polished, too slick and maybe even too calculated. Thrash is supposed to be about chaos, not order.
Bottom line, there's a lot of newer bands doing the thrash thing a whole lot better.
HACKNEYED
DEATH PREVAILS
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
A quick check of the dictionary and thesaurus tells me that "hackneyed" means "banal," "common," trite," "stale." I couldn't agree more. Everything I've read in the
press about this band up until now was all about how "old school" they sound. Well, that's true... to a point. What HACKNEYED did was find a very old school
sounding tuning for their instruments, complete with the right amount of distortion. But as for what they play, well, that's a whole different story. This is completely
modern style death metal, with overly triggered drums and that "eeeeee" brootal type of sound. A veritable sheep in wolf's clothing. Nice try, guys. Really.
But no dice.
HAIL PLANKTON
WE DEVOUR THE BRAVE
2008 SELF RELEASE
I'm not exactly sure what HAIL PLANKTON wanted to accomplish this time out. This demo is all over the place. First the band plays some quirky thrash & roll, but then
they turn into weak wussy butt rock on the next track. It's like they're really still trying to figure out their style. Here's a hint... go with the thrashy stuff and drop
the butt cheeze. But even if they're a little schizophrenic, there is one true fact... their cover of BLACK SABBATH's "Born Again" makes up for any and all shortcomings on this
demo. They do the song spot on and it's simply AMAZING.
sadometal6669@yahoo.com
HATE SQUAD
DEGUELLO WARTUNES
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / DOCKYARD 1
HATE SQUAD? Where's MURDER SQUAD? Armed with a vocalist that reminds me a lot of NAPALM DEATH's Barney and a crunchy guitar sound, HATE SQUAD smash everything
in their path with their self-styled "H8core". This everything that metalcore should be, but isn't.
HEAD ON COLLISION
RITUAL SACRIFICE
2008 BEER CITY RECORDS
While I do happen to like much of the neo-thrash movement that's going on right now, I'd be among the first to state how really unoriginal sounding virtually all of
those bands are. Just about every single one of them worships at the altar of KREATOR and DESTRUCTION and go no further. HEAD ON COLLISION are cruising in a different
direction all together. This band has zero retro feeling or image to them. No white high-top sneakers or denim vests, and it appears that only one member has long hair.
No Germanic sound either. HEAD ON COLLISION has a lot more in common with the old Bay Area thrash scene. OK, so that's "been there, done that" too. I'll give
you that. At the same time though, HOC sound one hundred percent authentic. They're not trying to recreate or capture some old glory days that they missed out on. If you're
looking for a thrash metal band that's free of trends and is as honest as they come, you've just found it.
HELL N' DIESEL
PASSION FOR POWER
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / SMILODON RECORDS
Apparently the bar band is alive and well here in the 2000s. HELL N' DIESEL may have a late '90s fashion sense, but their music could easily have given them
a shot as an opener for VAN HALEN back in their Whisky-a-Go-Go days. Not to say that anything these guys have on this album comes anywhere close to VH. Far
from it. But there is a vibe in their sound that reminds me of the bands from those early days on the LA strip, right when glam hit. The difference here is that
HELL N' DIESEL don't look like chicks.
HELLVETO
NEOHERESY
2008 PULVERISED RECORDS
There is indeed such a thing as "too prolific". Poland's one-man force for pagan metal, L.O.N., is back with
yet another album. I was getting a little worried. I mean, the man usually cranks out several albums in the space
of a year, and here it is in the closing months of 2008 with nothing new from HELLVETO. I think his not bombarding
us with new material has worked in his favor. Unless he was on an extended break, the songs here sound like L.O.N. took
his time with them and worked and reworked them until they were truly ready. If that's the case, then I hope he continues
to slow down with recording new material. Or, if he wrote and recorded these in the same amount of time he usually does,
then he may well have finally found the true formula of what is HELLVETO. Either way, his multi-instrumental talents
show through and I am starting to gain some respect for the band.
HOLY MOSES
AGONY OF DEATH
2008 SPV MUSIC
Forget Doro. Forget Anneke. Forget Tarja. Forget Angelina. The true First Lady of Heavy Metal is Sabina Classen.
There's no arguing it. Doro has been around since 1983, but Sabina has her beat by a year. If you still want to
debate, then throw in the fact that she's always done extreme vocals. Singing like that for a quarter of a century
has got to take a bigger toll on the body than just regular singing. To the best of my knowledge, Sabina is the first
woman to ever sing in this style. Sure, other female-fronted extreme metal bands have come along like DEMONIC CHRIST,
but can you name any others that date back before 1990? As far as the music goes on this album, it's just what you'd
expect from HOLY MOSES: uncompromising thrash metal just like they've always performed. Thanks to having zero to no
distribution here stateside for so many years, they're not anywhere near as well known as KREATOR or DESTRUCTION.
But this is the third album that I know of that has been released here. So really, you don't have any excuses left not
to check them out. Do so, and you'll quickly realize that Germany has The Big Four, not The Big Three.
ICED EARTH
THE CRUCIBLE OF MAN: SOMETHING WICKED PART 2
2008 SPV MUSIC
So here we are with the conclusion of Jon Schaffer's magnum opus. This was such an undertaking for him, I'm already
wondering just what he'll come up with next. But that's not the big news here. No, the big news is that the true
voice of ICED EARTH has returned. Matt Barlow is back in the fold, and Jon claims that this time it's forever. No
Matt, no ICED EARTH. Not surprisingly, Something Wicked Part 2 is a lot stronger sounding than Something
Wicked Part 1. Things sound a lot more focused. Less filler. More ICED EARTH-like in general, really. But you
know something? There is a huge shortcoming to this two part epic: the change of vocalist between albums. How
soon will it be, you think, before Jon decides to have Matt lay down vocals and reissue the first half the way we know
it should have been in the first place?
IMAGIKA
FEAST FOR THE HATED
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS
The Bay Area's IMAGIKA is still going strong, proving that there's still thrash to be found in that much-hallowed part of California. This is one of those bands that refuses
to follow the norm and do what's expected. While they haven't gone as far as RAGE, IMAGIKA have incorporated a lot of power metal influences into their sound.
The result is something very heavy... and while parallels to NEVERMORE can easily be drawn, it's plain to these ears that IMAGIKA are much heavier.
IMPIETY
DOMINATOR
2008 PULVERISED RECORDS
I really can hate mini-CDs sometimes. Not because of the music on them, but because of the length. Case in point, this new one from IMPIETY. Five tracks in fifteen minutes.
Ignoring the fact that you'll probably be paying between ten and twelve bucks for those fifteen minutes, there's the more important fact that there's just not enough music here.
I want more already. The tracks are all very fast and very brutal, and you should be aware that copies will also be very limited. The only real gripe about the songs that I have is that
the drum sound more or less clobbers everything in the mix except for the vocals. More guitar next time, please!
JENNIE TEBLER'S OUT OF OBLIVION
TILL DEATH TEAR US PART
2008 BLACK MARK PRODUCTIONS
As if there weren't enough of this stuff around, now Black Mark has gotten in on the female-fronted heavy goth rock sound. While this band has a huge bottom
end (the band, not Jennie herself) that's almost worthy of early MY DYING BRIDE, the songs just don't move me the way they should. I really don't get what Black
Mark is up to these days. They used to put out some of the best death metal like FURBOWL, SEANCE and EDGE OF SANITY. Now they've changed over to weak stuff like
this.
KATAPLEXIA
SUPREME AUTHORITY
2008 XTREEM MUSIC
Mega-brutal death grind that owes more to the American scene than that of their native Finland. This is yet another
one of those bands that rely heavily on an extremely talented drummer and gutteral as all hell vocals. Everything
else is so low in the mix, they might as well not even exist. Everything starts sounding the same very quickly, and
there's virtually no difference between any of the songs. I'm sure that a real fan of the super brutal tech stuff
would be quick to say otherwise though.
KHOLD
HUNDRE A GAMMAL
2008 CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
With the return of TULUS, I had figured that KHOLD was going to be over and done with. Obviously, that's not the case. I think the time away did this project some
good, as they've really managed a return to the vibe of their first album. The last few had been very lackluster and well... average at best. This one is not. Between
the semi-rock and roll sounds mixed into a few songs and the CELTIC FROST styled rhythms and tempos that abound, there's no doubt in my mind that Hundre a Gammal is
a return to form.
KREATOR
HORDES OF CHAOS
2009 SPV MUSIC
Well, the latest from DESTRUCTION was disappointing. Let's see how the number one German thrash metal band does.
The opening minute of Hordes of Chaos might make a few fans a little nervous. Endorama came
to mind almost instantly. Fortunately, this quickly fades and is not heard from again. The band definitely played
around with their sound and the production some this time. Hordes of Chaos does not have the same overall
sound that Violent Revolution or Enemy of God had. Somehow or another, KREATOR went for a drier sound
on this one. Mille's vocals sound less processed, but you almost start wondering if he's losing his voice. Fortunately,
he's angry as ever and is on fire with his political lyrics. Arguably, this is the most political album they've ever done.
Overall, I'm not disappointed with Hordes of Chaos, but I'm not thrilled either. This one is a grower, so give
it a few spins before you try to form an opinion.
LEVEL-C
LEVEL-C
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS
This female quartet sure ain't VIXEN. This Ohio band is heavy, influenced by all things modern metal, and will probably come rip my balls off and feed them
to me if I get too smart-assed with this review. Probably best suited for fans of PANTERA, post-Max Cavalera SEPULTURA, KORN and especially BIOHAZARD. Alright,
alright... one smart-assed comment... I wonder how many of their male fans change the song "Suck a Fist" to "Suck a Dick" during live shows.
MAGICA
HEREAFTER
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / AFM RECORDS
Here's something you don't see all that often... female fronted power metal. While I'm sure you'll swiftly point to the likes of LEAVES' EYES, WITHIN TEMPTATION and the like,
let me head that off by stating that while there's some LACUNA COIL influence here, MAGICA focus primarily on the power part of their sound and leave the goth type stuff behind in the dirt.
With lots of guitar crunch, lots of keyboards, and a heavy style, it makes me think that maybe this is what THE GATHERING might have become if they'd stuck with that driving guitar sound
they had on Mandylion.
MASTERSTROKE
SLEEP
2007 DYNAMIC ARTS RECORDS
In a big surprise to nobody, MASTERSTROKE is a Finnish melodic power metal band. Sleep features a fairly typical take on the genre. Nothing flashy, nothing
much in the way of innovation. Just another power metal band really. Decent for what it is, but just another mid-tier band in the end.
METAL CHURCH
THIS PRESENT WASTELAND
2008 SPV
METAL CHURCH have always been somewhere between sounds. They're not really thrash metal, but they're also not pure heavy metal either. Like RAGE, they have always
straddled the line between two styles, never fully going over to one side or the other. This Present Wasteland is no exception. This is a solid metal album the whole
way through. When I say "metal," I mean "metal." Not "death metal" or "black metal" or any other sub-genre. At times the songs here are almost like an Americanized
flavor of IRON MAIDEN's last three albums. High praise? Maybe. But well-deserved.
MICHELLE DARKNESS
BRAND NEW DRUG
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / AFM RECORDS
Christ almighty, I'd need a brand new drug to get through this entire album. MICHELLE DARKNESS features a watered-down version of an androgynous Peter Steele wanna-be on vocals, playing
goth rock that's in line with bands like LACUNA COIL or THEATRE OF TRAGEDY (minus the dual vocals in both cases). Nothing really saves the band from themselves.
Or rather, nothing saves this one man project from itself. Not the cover of "Pet Sematary," and definitely not the cover of "The Sound of Silence"
although to his credit, this version is far more tolerable than NEVERMORE's version from some years back. Bottom line, this is "music to slit your
wrists to" for whining suburban mallrat goths who feel their parents hate them because they didn't get permission for that new piercing. Do us all a
favor... pierce your lips and put in a ring that keeps them shut.
MONGREL
FEAR, LIES & PROPAGANDA
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / SCREAMING FERRET WRECKORDS
Thankfully, despite the title, this is not another political album that takes yet another potshot at President Bush on his way out of office. Politics is there,
but they focus on other shit. We'll just end that conversation there, lest it take over this review. MONGREL sound like they were chained to a tree
while recording this album. The rock and roll attitude is there, combined with that nasty punk swagger, but they sound like they were held back for some
reason. They just didn't capture the attitude of a snarling pit bull that wants nothing more than to rip your face and nuts off. That key element of danger
that's so important for rock and punk bands with a chip on their shoulder just isn't there. Some comparisons to bands like THE HELLACOPTERS can be drawn,
but even they were fairly tame compared to what I know MONGREL really want to sound like.
NACHTMYSTIUM
ASSASSINS: BLACK MEDDLE PART I
2008 CENTURY MEDIA / BATTLE KOMMAND RECORDS
I think NACHTMYSTIUM held back on this album. Big changes are happening in their sound, but they don't want to make them all happen at once. The fact that they
do tours with a variety of bands from a variety of genres shows in the way that other, non-black metal influences are creeping into their sound. These guys are
anything but the "bad clone of a bad clone of a shitty band" type of thing that we're inundated with these days. There's a definite kind of power metal approach to
the songs on this album. It's a little hard to describe what I mean by that, and maybe I should just say that the songs have an epic feeling to them. Not as epic as
say, BAL-SAGOTH, but epic in their own way. There's also some semi-psychedelic parts and even a progressive feeling at times. I think that this album is a kind of transition
for the band. The next album or two will in all likelihood redefine their sound. Purists beware.
NEBIROS
KURWA SATANA
2008 NO COLOURS RECORDS
Odd. This is a German band with song titles and lyrics in Polish. An interesting idea to be sure, but in the end it doesn't matter much. The music is what
counts, and in this case, it counts for a lot. This is some killer blasting blackend thrashing death metal, and Kurwa Satana is already one of my favorite albums
of 2008. The production sound could have been a little uglier (think early stuff on Cogumelo), but I'm not complaining. Simply awesome.
NECROBLASPHEME
DESTINATION: NULLE PART
2008 AGONIA RECORDS
The seemingly peaceful and calm artwork (a black monolith against a cloudy sky) doesn't even hint at what the album
within contains. Seems some guys from France's melodic deathcore band MURDUM decided to play some ugly death metal
on the side. Fortunately, they picked up the drummer from ANTAEUS to help show them how it's done. Throw in ANTAEUS
vocalist MKM into the mix on a few tracks, and you've got the black metal equivalent of STORMWARRIOR. Remember how
much GAMMA RAY's Kai Hansen helped them out? Might be the same case here. Even if it's not the case, France can
be very proud of this band. Alongside VORKREIST, NECROBLASPHEME is well on their way to establishing one hell of a
new scene... one that blows away all that noisy garage black metal from a few years ago. Ugly, brutal and disgusting.
Everything death metal is supposed to be, and morbid too.
NETHERBIRD
THE GHOST COLLECTOR
2008 PULVERISED RECORDS
At times, NETHERBIRD remind me of what No Fashion Records used to release back in the 90s... only weaker. At other times, they're more like early CRADLE OF FILTH... only weaker. Anyone see a
pattern here? If not, here it is: NETHERBIRD take elements of some fairly successful bands or styles of music and mix them together to create their own sound. The only problem is that the result is
wholly unremarkable. So yes, I'm completely underwhelmed. A shining example of how the scene is oversaturated with also-rans these days.
THE NEW PLAGUE
INSATIABLE
2008 DEATHGASM RECORDS
This Northern California band has been around for over ten years now, having released their first demo back in 1996. Since then, they've had a handful of releases, including
one on Cursed Productions and now Insatiable on Deathgasm. This band is heavily influenced by both MORBID ANGEL and HATE ETERNAL, but they manage to avoid coming
off as some kind of copy. While not what I would call a "technical death metal band," their production and mastering does lend itself to that kind of sound.
They're definitely not a "faceless" band, and have a fairly decent style going for themselves. I wouldn't say that I'm completely enthralled with these guys, but they're
one band that I would definitely keep an ear out for in the future.
NYKTALGIA
PEISITHANATOS
2008 NO COLOURS RECORDS
Nice to see this band still going at it. They haven't changed much since I last heard them either. If you miss the days when Count Grishnacht was playing metal, then this might
be the band for you. These four tracks have a lot of the BURZUM style running through them, although the same spirit is not present. It's very clear to these ears
that while the sound is similar, the motivations behind the music are not. This does make a difference, not that I care all that much. NYKTALGIA are a killer
black metal band, and that's all I really care about.
OBSCENE GESTURE
LIVING IN PROFANITY
2008 XTREEM MUSIC
What I hear on this album reminds me a lot of old D.R.I. It's just that OBSCENE GESTURE are even more pissed off than Spike and company were back in their
early days. That's not necessarily a good thing, since it causes their hardcore side to really take over, instead of finding a good balance with their metal
side. Still, this is the sort of thing that moshpits are built for.
OMNIUM GATHERUM
THE REDSHIFT
2008 CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
Finland's OMNIUM GATHERUM have a new one out, and they're as melodic and semi-upbeat as ever. At times, they sound almost like a less heavy AMON AMARTH with a rock
vibe. With the backing keyboards, the band also has incorporated more of a gothic sound. I'm probably wrong, but I'm reminded of LACUNA COIL's older stuff. Especially
the self-titled mini-CD. I'm not too sure where these guys are heading, but I don't believe it's any place I want to go.
PRO-PAIN
NO END IN SIGHT
2008 REGAIN RECORDS
The bad news is that PRO-PAIN are back with yet another album. Like cockroaches, they're impossible to get rid of.
The good news is that there's not a single direct verbal attack on the presidencial administration this time. Nothing
about the war, nothing about Bush, nothing but their more standard invective against society. I have to wonder though...
on the album cover, the word "No" is crossed out, and I got this promo prior to the election. So if Obama had lost,
would they have redone the artwork so that "No" was not crossed out? Food for thought. Lyrically though, this album
can be looked at two ways. Revolution is a big subject that runs throughout just about every song here. This is where
their political stance comes in. Either 1) we're supposed to rise up against the right wing, or 2) we already have and
the the revolution has given way to rebuilding and new ways of thinking. I'll just be interested to see what they do
on their next album if the left proves to be just as incompetent as the right has been over the last eight years.
Musically, this does sound a lot happier, with more of a "pop" sound running through it at times. Let's not get too
optimistic yet guys.
PSYCHOBOLIA
FISTING YOU ALL
2008 XTREEM MUSIC
Nice album title. This French band plays some blasting death metal that avoids the tech style and grindcore. They simply blast as fast as they can through each
track. The only problem is, they're too fast for their own good. There's really no time for taking in a song before they're off to the next one. While there are
some good MORBID ANGEL sounding riffs, they're just not put to good use. Yet another case of speed for the sake of speed not being the right answer.
PSYCROPTIC
OB(SERVANT)
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
This has got to be every tech death metal fan's best wet dream ever. Not only is PSYCROPTIC from Tasmania, but they sound exactly like what that little bastard from the Warner Brothers
cartoons would sound like if he was in a band. Unlike a lot of other bands in this style, these guys managed to write some actual songs. Not only that, but they're freakin' long
tracks too. That's almost unheard of. About the only thing that might kill them though are the hardcore style vocals. As brutal as they are, this band needs a real growler for a frontman.
REFLECTION
WHEN SHADOWS FALL
2008 CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC
Here's some heavy power/doom from Greece. While vocally not as powerful as SOLITUDE AETERNUS, there's no question that SA was a big influence on them, as well
as many of the other usual doom metal bands with a massive and epic sound. While not a "top tier" band, REFLECTION are a more than decent listen while waiting for
that new CANDLEMASS ep or CATHEDRAL album.
RIOTOR
FUCKING METAL
2008 SELF RELEASE
It doesn't get any simpler than that. Fucking Metal is exactly what it claims to be. These six tracks from the very depths of Hell uphold Canada's legacy
of metal with honor. With a sound that comes across like KREATOR meets SACRIFICE, RIOTOR is one newer thrash metal band to watch out for. If you're sick of'
the Bay Area/LA sounding bands that have come out of the woodwork over the last two years, then this is the band for you! With lyrics like "All the fakes must die by the
order of the fallen" you know exactly where the hearts and minds of the members of RIOTOR lie. "For fucking metal we will live and we will die." Truer words were never
spoken. You're either in, or you're out. I for one choose to be in. Join us.
www.myspace.com/riotor
riotor.metal@gmail.com
ROSS THE BOSS
NEW METAL LEADER
2009 CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
That's "new metal leader," not "nu-metal leader." Clear on that? Good. This album marks the return of Ross
the Boss to metal. Yes, I'm referring to the original guitarist of MANOWAR. Make no mistake though, this sounds
virtually nothing like MANOWAR. Power/heavy metal? Yes. Epic? No. Still, the argument could be made that he
is trying to recreate the band of steel here. The other three musicians present are German (can't get much more
metal than that, for nationality) and all did time in a MANOWAR tribute band. The running joke of course is that
ROSS THE BOSS is missing three key elements, that being Eric, Joey and Scott. But let's look at this in a different
way, shall we? MANOWAR isn't writing material like this anymore. Just look to Gods of Metal for proof of that.
Admittedly, we're nowhere near the glory days of Hail to England or Into Glory Ride, but New Metal
Leader isn't puffed up with arrogance and reeking of a pompous attitude.
SAINT DEAMON
IN SHADOWS LOST FROM THE BRAVE
2008 LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS / FRONTIERS RECORDS
Hey, it's a new power metal band with a big over the top sound. Gee, I haven't heard anything like that in a while [end sarcasm]. For the most part
SAINT DEAMON take on what sounds like PRIMAL FEAR's slower but powerful moments. That's why there's so much "oomph" in their sound. It just comes
naturally big... sort of like how your girlfriend keeps telling you that her ex was bigger than you. It's just the way of things. A decent album, but
they're probably destined/condemned to opening band status.
SAXON
INTO THE LABYRINTH
2009 SPV MUSIC
If you want to take a look at a band that has had some major ups and downs during their career, SAXON is it. They were
originally one of the premiere bands of the NWOBHM, meeting with all kinds of success... until they decided to change
their sound somewhat to crack the US market. What they didn't account for (which always seems to be the case) is that
the fans over here want the band they've come to know, and the hell with them opening up to more of the general public.
The European fans of course don't want to see any changes either. If you really need other examples, just look to ACCEPT and
DESTRUCTION. But, SAXON made the attempt anyway and put out a string of albums ranging from mediocre to moderately cruddy.
Thankfully, they saw the light and reverted back to their orignal ways, gaining all kinds of success in the process. Amazing
how that works, ain't it? Into the Labyrinth sees SAXON continuing on with another solid album that's sure to
please all their fans all over the globe. At almost thirty years as a band, I would expect no less. Really, there's
nothing more to say. The whole album rocks, and that's what counts.
SCAR SYMMETRY
HOLOGRAPHIC UNIVERSE
2008 NUCLEAR BLAST
I might as well just be the complete asshole that I am and say it... with this third album from SCAR SYMMETRY, it's now painfully obvious that they're not going
to ever be much more than a "meat and potatoes" band. They probably sell enough to keep Nuclear Blast interested (and to be fair, three thousand copies in the US over the first
week of release is nothing to sneeze at), but just can't get to the next level of popularity. They're more or less condemned to be an opening act. The
introduction of Malmsteen-style guitar solos really doesn't help their post-Gothenburg sound all that much. The songs really slow down when they hit
those parts, and the solos end up sounding really forced, as if a crowbar was used to cram them in.
SEPULTURA
A-LEX
2009 SPV MUSIC
I'm not even going to get involved in the discussion of whether or not SEPULTURA really is SEPULTURA without any
Cavaleras in the lineup. SEPULTURA died for me on the night I saw them perform as TROOPS OF DOOM, right after Derrick
Green joined. Max Cavalera may only have four strings on his guitar, but those four strings were very missed on that
night. There was an obviously big gaping hole in their live sound. Anyway, A-Lex is based off of A
Clockwork Orange (geez... last time it was The Divine Comedy... don't
these guys have any original ideas anymore?) and is more or less in the vein of Chaos A.D. with some Roots
influences thrown in for good measure. For what it is, it's not bad. I can't say that I completely hate it. I'd say
that I'm indifferent to it. If you think about it, that's about as big of an insult there is that you can give to music.
SHADE EMPIRE
ZERO NEXUS
2008 DYNAMIC ARTS RECORDS
I guess this is the third time I've heard this band... and last time I reviewed them, I didn't even realize I had heard them before. SHADE EMPIRE has been refining their
sound a lot, and it's all for the better. Back on Sinthetic, they sounded a lot more like THE KOVENANT, which more or less just killed anything likeable about
them for me. Then on Intoxicate O.S., things came together better. Although their vocalist was a little low in the mix, the technological edge of their sound was dropped
in favor of something far less "mechanical." So here we are with their latest. The vocalist is up in the mix where he belongs, and the album starts off sounding almost like
AMON AMARTH with keyboards. It doesn't stay that way for long though. SHADE EMPIRE quickly cross over into black metal territory, and the keyboards get all kinds of play-time.
Every track seems to follow the same sort of pattern of "blast/mellow/blast/mellow/blast..." you get the idea. At this point, I'm a little surprised that they're on a small
label like this. They're practically tailor made to be on Nuclear Blast.
SINNER
CRASH AND BURN
2008 CANDLELIGHT RECORDS
Nice. Here I was thinking that SINNER was all over, and then they come back and whallop me over the head with this
new album. Despite having been around just about forever, SINNER seems to take a back seat to Mat Sinner's other
band, PRIMAL FEAR. SINNER kind of fall into that same category as OVERKILL these days. They release solid
albums that aren't too flashy. That's a politically correct way of saying that they get the job done, but little else.
These days, that's probably not as bad as it sounds. Not changing has its benefits, and that can include longevity.
There's something to be said for giving the people what they want, and that's just what SINNER did here.
SOTAJUMALA
TELOITUS
2007 WOODCUT RECORDS
There's a damn good chance that SOTAJUMALA is Finland's answer to our own MALEVOLENT CREATION. The tracks here all have that same dark, aggressive modern tone to them. While the band
is brutal as all hell, they also managed to do something that seems to escape most other bands that are described as "brutal" these days: they remembered to write songs. It's really sad
when something as basic as that can be noted as an accomplishment, but these days that's the case more often than not. In case you're wondering, the band name, song titles and lyrics are
all in Finnish. Who cares? Good music is good music, and that's what we've got here.
SOTHIS
DE OPPRESSO LIBER
2008 CANDLELIGHT MUSIC
Apparently there is still room in the scene for more symphonic black metal bands. At this point, I would have thought that the genre would
be in decline. Perhaps it is, and new bands like SOTHIS are just in denial about it. Overall, they sound like what you might get if DIMMU
BORGIR reinterpreted something by EMPEROR. Lots of double bass drumming at high speeds, tons of backing keyboards... just about everything
you usually get with a band like this. Originality is optional.
SUIDAKRA
13 YEARS OF CELTIC WARTUNES
2008 SPV MUSIC
This German pagan black/death metal band (don't take issue with the categorization... they fall into a lot of them) has been
around since 1994, and in that time have released a whole slew of albums. Between 1997 and 2006, they put out eight
of them, to be exact. That's a hell of a run. So it's no surprise that they put out this best of compilation, featuring
both a DVD of two concerts (one is live at Wacken and the other is an acoustic gig) and a CD of re-recorded and remastered
tracks. Not surprisingly, the songs here cover a lot of ground. They range from aggressive to simple and calm, but always
with a lot of ambition behind them. Over the years, a lot of members have come and gone, but it's easy to hear that
the band was able to maintain and even improve upon its original vision. Every track is a mini-epic, and lovers of the
genre will find a lot here to like.
SYLOSIS
CONCLUSION OF AN AGE
2009 NUCLEAR BLAST
This melodic thrash metal band from the UK want to be the next big thing. Well, doesn't everybody? They do fairly well, at least until the clean vocals
come into play. These just kill the band for me. Keep it extreme, please. Stuff like that really makes me think (and I'm probably way off base here...
best prepare for the hate mail) that SYLOSIS is one of these metalcore bands that woke the fuck up and decided to try playing real music. Maybe it's just
me, but when I start seeing words in their biography like "forward thinking" or "modern, epic take on the old thrash metal blueprint," the alarms for my
built-in bullshit detector go off. Loudly.
TIME HAS COME
WHITE FUZZ
2008 REGAIN RECORDS
The best description I can come up with for TIME HAS COME is that they're Sweden's answer to CEPHALIC CARNAGE. Their style of abrasive grinding death metal is filled with short,
mechanical blasts an a whole lot of really wimpy whining vocal parts. It's like one of those wussy emo-leaning metalcore bands went and got fried on acid. Not very pretty,
and not exactly listenable either.
THOSE WHO BRING THE TORTURE
TANK GASMASK AMMO
2008 PULVERISED RECORDS
This long-named band plays some highly extra aggressive and angry death/grind. This is going to sound like a weird combination, but picture the same spirit as
IMPALED NAZARENE but with deep vocals, combined with a rhythm guitar worthy of BOLT THROWER. Yes, that's an utterly devastating combination. It didn't grab
me as much as it should have but there's a solid foundation here. Not surprising, considering that Rogga Johansson (you know... PAGANIZER, RIBSPREADER, and
about two dozen other bands) is involved.
ULI JON ROTH
UNDER A DARK SKY
2008 SPV
Uli Jon Roth is a modern-day Renaissance man. The man plays a variety of instruments, including his creation, the Sky Guitar. He writes musical
scores. He paints. He writes poetry and philosophy. I really would not be surprised to find out that he has a sketchbook full of flying
machines. In short, he is practically the definition of ambitious. So it's not at all surprising that Under a Dark Sky is not your
typical metal album. In fact, I don't think it qualifies as metal at all. With the inclusion of the Sky Orchestra, Sky Choir, and a variety
of vocalists, much of this release lies somewhere between a classic opera and a modern day rock opera. Tracks like "Land of Dawn" are
straight out of the 70s, and remind me of the early RAINBOW albums for their sheer epicness. But it should be noted that Uli Jon Roth has
gone much further than Ritchie Blackmore ever did. Fans of symphonic music should put this one at the top of their lists of albums that
are "must buys."
THE UNDERWATER
FORCES
2008 MEGAFORCE RECORDS
Johnny Z, what have you signed, and why did you sign them? Let's put it like this... THE UNDERWATER straddle the line between pop music and hardcore, have toured
with the likes of ZAO, UNEARTH, LIVE, NICKELBACK, DAUGHTRY and other cruddy bands that do not deserve to smell my shit. In other words, this band should be underwater
so someone could hold their heads under and put them out of our misery.
URN
SOUL DESTROYER
2008 DYNAMIC ARTS RECORDS
Sounds like URN got themselves back on track. Dawn of the Devastation was not a bad album by any means, but between the evil snowman on the cover and the more rock and roll
inspired sound, it wasn't completely "URN" to me. With Soul Destroyer, they've returned to what made them great on Morbid Death and 666 Megatons. Finland's undead
zombies went back to their black/death/thrash sound and worked on what made them so killer in the first place. Tinkering with your sound is ok, just so long as you mess around
with the right parts and not try to inject things that don't belong into it. We're liking this a whole lot. Can't get it out of the stereo.
VADER
XXV
2008 REGAIN RECORDS
So you've been a metal band for twenty five years and want to celebrate your anniversary in style. Why not go back
to your older albums and re-record them with the current lineup and modern technology? That's just what VADER did
with XXV. They re-recorded favorite selections off of every album from The Ultimate Incantation to
The Beast. I have no clue as to how they picked the tracks. Everything they've ever done has been so killer,
there's just no way for an outsider like me to figure out how they decided on this set. Some will say that they should
have instead done a double live album. Others will say that a best of collection with the original versions would have
been the better choice. Personally, I like this one. ...and I really wouldn't be all that surprised to see a live
recording of their 25th anniversary concert surface in a year either. The CD booklet contains short notes on
each song, written in both Polish and English. While this was very cool of them, I think they could have made it twice
as thick, with lots of old photos and such. On the other hand, XXV is a look back by the current lineup at
where they've been and is not simply documenting their history. They move forward, as ever!
VENOM
HELL
2008 SANCTUARY RECORDS
Let's face facts here... the only reason this album has the name VENOM on it is because the name recognition. There's no way that Hell would sell anywhere near
as many albums if it had the name CRONOS on it instead. Yet that would be far more fitting, as Cronos is the only original member of VENOM left. Hell will
most likely disappoint fans of the first three albums (but we all know that would be the case no matter what the band did), even though its in exactly the same vein as the
last three releases. Hell has a bottom end with a big sound and lots of rhythm. ... and it's simple as this really... this version of CRONOS.. er... VENOM... still
blows away the MANTAS and ABADDON solo efforts.
VERJNUARMU
RUATOKANSAN UAMUNKOETTO
2008 DYNAMIC ARTS RECORDS
All right, don't ask me how well this is going to sell outside of Finland, but for maybe for those into KORPIKLAANI this will turn out to be your Holy Grail to search for.
VERJNUARMU is sort of a death/folk metal band. Everything is in Finnish, specifically in the Savo dialect. The tracks stay mostly metal, although they have more of a rock
vibe towards the end of the album. No lame overly-folkish stuff here, and I'm reminded a little of STORM. Lots of melodies and clean vocals too. Definitely not for everyone,
but for the adventurous, this should be something to seek out.
