| MUSIC REVIEWS August 2005 |
| A PERFECT MURDER - STRENGTH THROUGH VENGEANCE (11 song CD) VICTORY RECORDS This is the second VICTORY release for these guys. A PERFECT MURDER plays a great hybrid mix of Hardcore & Metal. They have a well balanced mix of both of these styles. They toss in heavy riffing & anger from Metal & Hardcore intensity, power & aggressiveness to form their style & sound. There is some really cool heavy pounding in the drums, which I liked a lot. There are some elements of Thrash & Sludge Metal present as well. The vocals remind me of PANTERA a lot for some reason & when they change them up I hear some SYSTEM OF A DOWN type vocals. I'd have to say these guys would be the Hardcore version of PANTERA! That should be enough you need to know! Now pick this album up!!! |
| BALZAC - OUT OF THE GRAVE & INTO THE DARK (22 song CD) MISFITS RECORDS / RYKODISC These guys are a Japanese Horror Punk Rock band & this is their second North American release. This is a CD/DVD combo release. These guys have an old school Punk Rock horror feel like THE MISFITS, mixed with some highly intense aggressive new school Punk Rock. They not only have all out angry Punk, but they toss in some melodic sounding Punk Rock as well. These guys are amazing. I'm a huge fan of THE MISFITS, so it is only natural for me to enjoy these guys as well. They take a sound similar to THE MISFITS & twist & mold it into their own thing! This is a must for all fans of Horror Punk. I wish there were more bands like these guys! The DVD contains live footage & videos. www.BALZAC308.com |
| BARE BONE SLEDGE - RELEASING BLOOD (3 song CD) Self Release Emerging out of Japan comes this Metal band. These guys mix in a few styles of Metal together to create their sound. I can hear elements of Thrash, Speed, Death, Nu-Metal & Heavy metal all present in their songs. The music has a good driving force behind it. There is a thick bass sound which I liked a lot & some good grooving too. They toss in some slower more melodic parts too. The vocals also crossover many of these styles too. There are some low end Death growls, melodic Heavy Metal styles & some grooving Nu-Metal ones as well. This is a well ropunded Metal band with a lot of talent!!! 12-6 KO INOKUCHI AKI-SHI / KOCHI / ZIP 784-0051 / JAPAN / wolfspider@ms.dion.ne.jp / www.k3.dion.ne.jp/~BBS |
| CHAINSAW DISSECTION - MALODOROUS DECOMPOSITION (12 song CD) Self Release This is yet another new CD release from this one man butchering machine. This project is the soul & mind of Bob Macabre who does all vocals, guitar, bass, lyrics & drum programming. The music is very intense Grindcore music covered in tons of gore. There are some Death & Noise elements all present here as well. I liked the machine gune like blasts in the music. This guy is a very good musician & has a lot of talent. The vocals are done in a harsh mid ranged Death Grind growl & scream style. All gore whores will love this disc!!! |
| DANGER FREE ANIMALS - SEGMENTOS (11 song CD) Self Release I got htis bands previous release & they have changed their sound a bit. They have a strong Metal sound, but there are lots of Hardcore influences tossed in too. You can also hear a little bit of Thrash in the guitars. The music has a really thick bass sound which I loved. There is a strong Hardcore type vibe & feel to the music. The vocals are done in a Death & Hardcore crossover style. These guys have gotten much, much better since their last disc. They reminded me of a Hardcore version of BRUJERIA! Get this one!!! oscarDFA@ritmes.net / www.DANGERFREEANIMALS.net |
| DARK FUNERAL - DE PROFUNDIS CLAMAUI AD TE DOMINE (15 song CD) CANDLELIGHT RECORDS / REGAIN RECORDS Sweden's dark sons are back with their newest assault on the Black Metal masses. These guys have been dominating the Black & Death Metal scene for years. For the first time now they have released their first official live album. This disc was recorded during their successful 2003 South American tour. There are 14 Dark Funeral classic tunes all done in a live setting. This disc proves why these guys are one of the best at what they do. Let their evil consume you!!! www.DARKFUNERAL.se |
| DEEP VEIN / BLOODY SIGN / OPPRESSION - 3 WAY SPLIT (10 song CD) NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST This is a 3 way split CD release. The first 3 tracks are from France's DEEP VEIN. These guys play Speed Death Thrash Metal music. The music is full of energy & very heavy. The next two songs come from BLOODY SIGN also out of France. This band plays very aggressive Death Metal music with lots of Thrash Metal tossed in. The vocals are mid ranged Death growls. Taken on the last 5 tracks is Sweden's OPRRESSION. These guys mix together elements of Thrash, Death & Speed Metal to come up with their sound. The vocals are done in a Thrash Metal style. Another great release from this label. DEEP VEIN - BEC OISEAU / 16230 JUILLE / FRANCE / cbeautour@aol.com / BLOODY SIGN - 47 RUE BASSE / 68420 GUEBERSCINHIR / FRANCE / uibokaleui@hotmail.com / OPPRESSION - VEGATAN 29B / 31132 FALKENBERG / SWEDEN / info@OPPRESSION.tk |
| EMBALMED MADNESS #1 - 3 WAY SPLIT (12 song CD) NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST This is a 3 way split release from NERLICH, DECOHERENCE & GORGASM. The first 5 songs are by NERLICH. They are from Finland & play a very intense style of Death Metal music with some Thrash elements tossed in. The next 3 songs are by France's DECOHERENCE. These guys play hyper fast Death Metal with Grindcore influences mixed in. The last 4 tracks come from GORGASM out of France. These guys play a very heavy & aggressive style of Grind Gore with Death all through out. This is a great split release that Death fans should get!!! NERLICH - LIRISLAHDENKUJA 6B3 / 02230 ESPOO / FINLAND / good_ridnz@yahoo.com / www.NERLICH.tk / poulpmanagement@caramail.com / www.DECOHERENCE-music.com / GORGASM - 50 AVENUE BON AIR / 33700 MERIGNAC / FRANCE / mat@budrecords.com / http://perso.wanadoo.fr/GORGASM |
| EXTINCTION AGENDA / OPPRESSION - SPLIT (6 song CD) NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST EXTINCTION AGENDA takes the firat 3 songs on this split release. These guys hail from Mass. & play some really good Death / Thrash Metal music. The music is kind of raw sounding, but there is much intensity pouring out. The vocals are done in a Thrash / Death crossover style! The last 3 tracks come from Sweden's own OPPRESSION. These guys play ultra fast & spastic Thrash & Speed Metal mixed with Death Metal. The music is really fast paced & intense. The vocals are done in a more Metal version of M.O.D. Both of these bands are really good & this disc has gotten a lot of play already!!! EXTINCTION AGENDA - 16 FORDHAM ROAD / LAWRENCE, MA. 01841-4806 / hellbound@mailsnare.net / www.EXAGENDA.cjb.net / OPPRESSION - VEGAGATAN 29B / 31132 FALKENBERG / SWEDEN / info@OPPRESSION.se / www.OPPRESSION.se |
| FOSCOR - ENTRANCE TO THE SHADOWS VILLAGE (8 song CD) SACRAL PRODUCTIONS FOSCOR hails from Spain & play dark Black Metal music. The music is very cold, harsh & gloomy feeling. There is some weird atmospheric sounds that linger in the background, but for the most part the music is highly intense & aggressive Black Metal. There is an almost mechanical feel to the music at times as well. The vocals are done in a hallowed harsh Black Metal type scream with some melodic clean Black Metal vocals. These guys are not for your wimpy Black Metal fans, all true dark Black Metal hordes should pick this one up!!! P.O. BOX 35151 / 08080 BARCELONA / (CATALUNYA) SPAIN FOSCOR@FOSCOR.com / www.FOSCOR.com |
| HELLWITCH - THE EPITOME OF DISGRACE Promo (4 song CD) Self Release I was very happy to find this disc in my hands. I have always been a huge fan of HELLWITCH & they were one of the first underground bands I was in contact with. These guys play classic Thrash Metal at it's best. They have improved so much over theyears, but have always kept that classic Thrash sound they are known for. The music is very fast shredding, highly intense & down right aggressive. This is the first Metal style I really got into & this is why I love bands like HELLWITCH! This is just a promo, but every Metal fan should support this band & get this disc!!! Fans of FORBIDDEN, KREATOR, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, OBITUARY & EXHORDER will love HELLWITCH!!! - www.HELLWITCH.us |
| LUX DIVINA - NEW DAYS FOR THE ANCIENT WISDOM (15 song CD) BLOODY PRODUCTIONS This is a collection of songs from this Spanish Black / Death Metal bands past releases! There are songs from 1998,2000, 2002 & 2003 all taken from their demo releases. The song from 2002 is a live track! The music is very dark, cold & very mideaval sounding. I really dug the creepy atmosphere all through out the songs. The music is also kind of gloomy & raw sounding with some all out intense parts. The vocals are done in a harsh Black Metal type scream style with some Goth / Black Metal clean vocals! This is a must for all Black Metal fans! P.O. BOX 35151 / 08080 BARCELONA / (CATALUNYA) SPAIN / LUXDIVINA@hotmail.com (Available through BEOWOLF PRODUCTIONS) |
| MISFITS MEET THE NUTLY BRASS - FIEND CLUB LOUNGE (11 song CD) MISFITS RECORDS / RYKODISC This is a release I'm sure most people never expected to see! The horror Punk Rock world of THE MISFITS smashed full head on with Jazz, Lounge music. This is a weird mixture, but it's actually quite enjoyable. This release is fully endorsed by THE MISFITS. Sam Elwitt's Nutley & his Nj. bred NUTLEY BRASS take you on a ride through 11 MISFITS classic songs. It was weird hearing THE MISFITS dark & aggressive tunes done in such a light up beat style. All true MISFITS fans would want to have this in their collection. There are classic tunes like "Last Caress", "Die, Die My Darling" & "Teenagers From Mars". www.MISFITS.com / www.NUTLEYBRASS.com |
| MISMO - ...AND TO THE REPUBLIC (11 song CD) MIM PRODUCTIONS MISMO is something fresh for my review pile. These guys say they play Rock music, but it's much more than that. They toss in lots of influences of Metal & Punk to create their sound. The music has a lot of energy & anger pouring out of it. There are some cool Metal grooves & riffs all covered in a Punk vibe! The vocals go from clean Metal vocals to harsh Punk screams & into melodic Rock vocals too. These guys have an over all great vibe in their music. They have been described as FUGAZI meets THE MISFITS. This is a good comparison if you ask me!!! MISMO_band@yahoo.com / www.MISMOband.com |
| NEUROTIC DECAY - FRESH MEAT FOR THE GRINDER (4 song CD) Self Release This is a promo copy for this New York bands new release. These guys play a mixture of Metal styles. They combine Thrash / Death / Grind & even a little Hardcore to create their sound. I really liked the chunky chugging sound they have in their songs. There are some cool guitar shredding parts with grooves tossed in too. The vocals are done in a harsh Grindcore scream mixed with a Thrash / Death growl. These guys mix great old school & new school styles together! Every Metal fan can find something to like about this band!!! www.NEUROTICDECAY.com |
| PAGAN FIRE - GLORIOUS ARSON (3 song CD) Self Release This is the newest disc from this Thrash Metal band out of the Philippines. These guys play old school Thrash metal in a raw form. They also toss in some Black Metal influences as well. They have a some what cold feel all through out their music. The vocals are done in a harsh scream & growl like in Black Metal music. This is some really raw intense & angry music!!! #60 NARIG ST / VETERAN'S VILLAGE / PROJECT 7 / QUEZON CITY / 1105 PHILIPPINES / PAGANFIRE13@yahoo.com |
| POST MORTEM - MANKIND AUTOPSY (4 song CD) Self Release POST MORTEM comes to us from France & play some brutal as hell Death Metal music. The music is a mix of old school & new school Death Metal. They have a really strong 90's Florida Death Metal sound to their music mixed with New York styled Death Metal. There is a lot of heavy aggression & intensity in this band. There are some breakdowns & grooves in their music at times too. The vocals are done in a mid to low ranged Death growl style. These guys are really, really good & this disc should be in every Death Metal collection!!! 21, RUE JOSPEH KOELBERT / 68350 BRUNSTATT / FRANCE POST.MORTEM@evhr.net / www.POST-MORTEM.fr.st |
| REDEMPTION - THE FULLNESS OF TIME (8 song CD) SENSORY RECORDS This is the second CD release from this U.S. Progressive Metal band. They have a new line up which features FATES WARNING vocalist Ray Alder. With this new disc the band has improved upon their already great sound. The band packs in lots of intensity, heaviness, melody & complexity to create their sound. The music combines mnay elements from Power & Progressive Metal. The vocals are done in a melodic & strong Power Metal style. You can hear influences from SAVATAGE, FATES WARNING, DREAM THEATER & RUSH all present in their music! www.ivorygate.com/REDEMPTION |
| TOTALLY FUCKING GAY - WITH FRIENDS LIKE THESE WHO NEEDS ENEMAS? (8 song CD) Self Release This is the debut release from TOTALLY FUCKING GAY. This is the same guy who brought us the Pop Grind project ESTROGENOCIDE. This music is very weird sounding, combining trumpet sounds, electronic blast beats with Hip-Hop loops & much more bizarre sampling. The songs lyrics are totally non political or something along those lines. The songs are all about gay sex & gay related topics. If you combines MORTICIAN, AGORAPHOBIC NOSEBLEED, DEPECHE MODE, B-52'"S, GREEN DAY & NIRVANA you'd get a good idea of what this project is all about!!! 36 CENTRAL PARK RD / PLAINVIEW, NY. 11803-2002 / mrhymson@aol.com |
| VORNOFF - BODY AND BLOOD (11 song CD) ORLOKK RECORDS VORNOFF comes from Denmark & play some very good dark music. The music is very ambient & atmospheric sounding music. The music really isn't Metal, but would appeal to some fans of Metal, especially Black Metal. There are some really cold dark orchestrated & symphonic pieces on this album as well. I can feel a strong Gothic Metal type vibe going on in the music too. This is some very well crafted music, which I encourage people to check out!!! JENS NEPPER / CHR. WAERUMS GADE 19, 5-3 / 8000 AARHUS C / DENMARK soulwail@yahoo.com |
| WIDOW - ON FIRE (10 song CD) CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC WIDOW has been in the scene since 2000. They are one of the youngest & finest Heavy Metal bands in the U.S. today. They play a good mix of Power, Thrash, Speed & Traditional Metal all rolled into one. There are some touches of Death Metal in their sound as well. They have a tight solid & technical sound too. I loved the crunchy grooving guitars a lot. There are dual vocal assaults in this band. One is a melodic & atmospheric female vocal & then a melodic male vocal with some harsh almost Death Metal type growls & screams. This is a must for any fan of pure great Metal music!!! WIDOW@burning-village.com / www.burning-village.com |