| MUSIC REVIEWS (December 2006) |
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| BATTLE OF THE BANDS 10 - COMPILATION (14 track CD) WARCON RECORDS This is a CD compilation featuring 14 bands that played the Vans Warped Tour '06. These bands were hand picked out of 11,500 entries. The bands all play in the range of Punk, Hardcore, Ska & Emo-core. There are some really cool bands that I have never heard before featured here. The bands include BRIGHTWOOD, MAYDAY PARADE, KARATE HIGH SCHOOL, THE WEAKEND, HOMETOWN ANTHEM, THE FLATLINERS, AS BLOOD RUNS BLACK & 7 others. if your a fan of the bands that usually play on the Vans Warped Tour then your gonna love this compilation. Check it out for some great up & coming bands that you need to keep an eye on!!! www.WARCONRECORDS.com / www.BATTLEOFTHEBANDS.com |
| BLASPHEMOUS CREATION - REST IN PIECES (6 track CD) Self Released Hail out of the gritty under side of Reno Nevada comes this sickly dark Black Death Metal band. These guys play a very tight & dirty sounding style of old school Black Metal music with lots of Death Metal influences tossed in the mix. There are lots of blast, speed induced riffs & thick throaty growls & screams. I really liked these guys a lot, because they took me back when I was full head on into Death Metal music & was starting to make that crossover into Black metal bands. These guys are a great go between. Watch out for these guys because they will be destroying the underground with their harsh evil goodness!! Pick this one up!!! iwilsonr@yahoo.com / www.myspace.com/BLASPHEMOUSCREATION |
| CROWN THE LOST - REVERENCE DIES WITHIN (9 track CD) Self Released These guys are Formed from the ashes of the Pittsburgh tech Thrash band SINNING IS OUR SAVIOR comes this great new band. The bands was created by SINNING... former guitarist David E. Gehlke. I used to love that last band, but this one blows that one out of the water at full force. These guys combine some very great aspects of Thrash, Death & Hardcore together to create one of the best releases I've heard this entire year. There is a tight technical sound all the way through. I loved the cool rhythmic hooks that pull you in & flip you around. The vocals are done in a clean Power/Thrash Metal type vocal style. These guys definately do the Pennsylvanian Metal scene proud. Don't let these guys slip through your fingers. Get this disc!!! CROWNTHELOST@hotmail.com / www.CROWNTHELOST.com |
| DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR - FRIENDS FAMILY FOREVER (14 CD track) BRIDGE NINE RECORDS This is a re-issue of this great Boston Hardcore band's first CD released in 2004. The band has re-released it with 2 songs from a limited 7" split with Germany's BLACK FRIDAY 29 & a 5 song set recorded live at CBGB's in NYC. These guys are destroying the Hardcore scene & blowing up big time. They have a very cool old school Hardcore feel that reminds me of bands like AGNOSTIC FRONT, MADBALL & FURY OF FIVE. There are some hooks, breakdowns & tempo changes that make you just want slam. If you like your Hardcore with a mad dose of adrenaline, groove & intense drive then this band is your ticket to the pit! Sure to please fans of old & new school Hardcore. I know I was digging it a lot & will wear this disc out in my player!!! DEATHB4DISHONOR7@hotmail.com / www.DEATHB4DISHONOR.com |
| DEFACED & SPLIT - 5 WAY SPLIT COMPILATION (21 track CD) DEMONSTEALER RECORDS This is a 5 way split compilation CD. There are 5 bands which include EXHUMATIONNARSIL, WARFACE, REPTILIAN DEATH & INFINITE HATE PROJECT. All the bands here have a few songs each & play in the Death/Gore/Grind style of music. There are a few bands here I never heard before. the only one I'm familiar with is WARFACE, which is a great band. I'm glad to be exposed to the others, because now I have some new bands to check out & spread the Death word to others. If your a Death / Gore / Grind freak then this compilation is right for you. Check out & support these cool bands & this cool label!!! DEMONSTEALERRECORDS@gmail.com / www.DEMONSTEALERECORDS.com |
| END OF DESTINY - THE THOUGHTLESS EXISTENCE (10 track CD) OPEN GRAVE RECORDS This is the bands debut release of pure adrenalized Death-core. These guys blend together many elements of Hardcore & Death Metal to create there intense sound. I really dug the thick & heavy bass sound a lot. There is a lot of groove mixed in with the aggressive Death & Hardcore mayhem. They have a technical chaotic sound that almost had an old DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN vibe to it. The vocals are done in a mid ranged harsh throaty Hardcore/Death crossover style grrowl. I liked the different breaks in the music a lot too! These guys are definately gonna help push the wave of new Death & Hardcore in the faces of the public! Prepare yourself!!! www.ENDOFDESTINYmusic.com |
| FINE TUNE DISASTERS - 7 WAY SPLIT COMPILATION (18 track CD) DEMONSTEALER RECORDS Here we have another very cool split compilation CD from DEMONSTEALER RECORDS. This split contains 7 bands which include BITCHSLAP, AMIDST THE CHAOS, SCRIBE, SKINCOLD, BHAYANAK MAUT, DEMONSTEALER & PIN DROP VIOLENCE. All the bands featured here play in the Death Grind Gore range of music. I never heard of any of these bands before so it was cool to be exposed to them. The CD contains photos & information on all the bands. If your a Death hound in search of some new great bands then lead yourself to this CD & endulge in some of the undergrounds finest bands today!!! DEMONSTEALERRECORDS@gmail.com / www.DEMONSTEALERRECORDS.com |
| KEYDRAGON - DRAGON PROPHECY (14 track CD) Self Released These guys & girl have been in the scene for a little while now. They play a combination of Rock Metal & Fantasy all mixed together. Most of their music is based on Dragon Mythology &stuff related to Dragons. This is where the Fantasy type atmosphere comes into play. They have a Classic Rock sound with tinges of Metal all through out. At times there are some almost Death Metal like parts, especially in the vocals. There is a mixture of Male & Female vocals as well. I have heard their past releases & would have to say this is thier best release to date. If your into Fantasy Rock & Metal with a World vibe then you'll dig this band a lot. www.KEYDRAGON.com |
| MISANTHROPIA - RISE OF NECROPOLIS (7 track CD) Self Released I knew I was gonna be blown away by this band. I was drawn in & hooked as soon as the CD started. This band plays very technical, tight & professional sounding Death & Black Metal music. They have a very full aggressive & orchestrated sound. I loved the fast guitars mixed with thunderous drums & atmospheric keyboards. The vocals are done in a very thraoty Death/Black metal crossover style. I really love bands like this a lot. These guys deserved to be snagged up by a label & quickly! This is yet another band that deserves much attention & will hopefully be huge in the underground scene! This is a must, must, must have CD for any Metal fan!!! Highly suggested! empyrium666@gmail.com / info@MISANTHROPIA.nl / www.MISANTHROPIA.nl |
| MOURNBLADE - MANGLED LIES (5 track CD) OPEN GRAVE RECORDS This has been an on again off again band for over 15 years. With band memebers using the revolving door system the band keep moving on & finally we have a 5 song CD release from them. These guys play a mix of Thrash, Hardcore & Death Metal styled music. There is a strong old school vibe shooting through out their sound. There are some cool riffs, hooks, blasts & grooves all mixed in as well. They reminded me of old D.R.I., SPUDMONSTERS & a little S.O.D. at times. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Hardcore/Death Metal crossover style. Give these guys some respect & support for pulling through all the different stuff they had to endure over their 15 year span!!! These guys deserve it!!! |
| NECRODEMON - ICE FIELDS OF HYPERION (11 track CD) OPEN GRAVE RECORDS This is the newest offering from these guys & has seen them take a bit of a different path this time out. They have added lots of Black Metal influences into their sound that weren't there before. They have an old school Thrash Metal style that takes from old school Black Metal as well. There is some fierce aggressive sounds of blasts, speed like riffs & harsh Black & Death Metal screams. The vocals are done in a few styles too, which include harsh Death Metal growls, Black Metal screams & some almost Thrash like screams too. I really dug these guys a lot. I'm into all styles of music, but Metal is my heart & these guys have combined the three best styles of Metal to create a perfectly great evil & dark pissed off sound!!! Feel the Metal, be the Metal!!! www.NECRODEMON.com |
| NO TURNING BACK - HOLDING ON (14 track CD) BRIDGE NINE RECORDS This Hardcore band emerged from The Netherlands nine years ago & show no signs of stopping. Which is good, because these guys are amazing. They have a head on collision combination of old school & new school Hardcore sounds. I love Hardcore like this, because it's pissed off, angry, but has an upbeat cool moshable groove to it. I like the fast stop & start parts with the breakdowns tossed inside too. The vocals are done in a strong mid ranged Hardcore style that reminds me of some of the greats that have come out of New York over the years!!! If your a Hardcore fan then this is a must & your collection will not be complete with out it! Another highly recommended band to give your support to. Hardcore in your face, the way it should be!!! |
| PALEHORSE - AMONGST THE FLOCK (11 track CD) BRIDGE NINE RECORDS BRIDGE NINE is quickly becoming one of my favorite labels with this, yet another great Hardcore release. PALEHORSE are a Hardcore band that fuses in some great Metal influences into their sound. I love the thick thumping groove sound they have with the tight solid drums & catchy guitar riffs all mixed together. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Hardcore scream style with some sing along, or scream along choruses. Their music is very aggressive & pumped full of intensity. I loved this band!!! If you were to merge together old HELMET, old BIOHAZARD, SICK OF IT ALL, INTEGRITY, HATEBREED & AGNOSTIC FRONT, you'd get this amazing band! Now if that mix isn't enough to get you to buy this CD then you can't call yourself a fan of Hardcore!!! |
| STILLNESS BLADE - THE FIRST DARK CHAPTER (9 track CD) Self Released. This Italian Death Metal band has spewed forth a very dark & intense CD release. The bands concpt is that of countless murders & the different ways they were done & places they were executed in. Originally a one man band, but now a full line up with the release of this CD. These guys play dark doom like Death Metal music with some slight tinges of Black Metal at times. The hyper fast drums & guitars shred through the sound quite nicely with some harsh & low end Death growls to accomapny it. These guys have a great old school Death Metal style that reminds me of some bands like SUFFOCATION, MORTAL DECAY, INTERNAL BLEEDING & DISSECTION! If this is to your liking then you should give these guys some support!!! STILLNESSBLADE@libero.it / www.STILLNESSBLADE.net |
| THE CONCUBINE - ABADDON (8 track CD) CORROSIVE RECORDINGS This 5 piece from New Jersey play some very sick & tight technical sounding Death Metal music. They have a very cool mix of old school & new school Death Metal elements. The music is very tight & has a lot of cool tempo changes, break downs & stop & start grooves. I really liked the way the music will flow at high speed & then stop instantly, then kick starts back up again. The vocals are done in a mid ranged groggy Death growl, with some lower end Death growls. These guys can definately hold their own with some of the great out there now. I'm sure we will be seeing a lot more from these guys as they will crush their way to the top of the new wave of Death Metal bands!!! |
| THE POWERPLANT - THE STARS ARE SUNS (4 track CD) Self Released These guys play some very different sounding Rock music with some elements of other styles tossed in the mix. I can here some Metal, Punk, Classic, Jazz, Experimental & more all in their sound. The music kind of goes through all the styles together & some times leans more towards one than the other. There is some spacey atmospheric sounds in their songs too. They have 2 drummers, 2 guitarist & 2 vocalist as well. These guys are definately different than anything I've heard out there, which really makes them stand out a lot. If you got an open mind & like some different sounding music than you should give these guys a shot! whereusleepin@yahoo.com / www.myspace.com/THEPOWERPLANTband |
| VOW DREAMS - DEAD TWO TIMES (5 track CD) Self Released This is a two man band with It playing bass & vocals & Manomix doing guitars & drums. These guys hail from Italy & play some old school sounding Black metal music. There are touches of Death Metal & some Noise elements inter mixed as well. The music has a dark creepy & cold vibe to it all through out. The vocals are doen in a mid ranged to low Black metal style that sometimes crosses over into Death Metal. All older Black Metal music fans will dig these guys a lot. Give them some support, because these guys are very talented & deserve some attention!!! IT666972@hotmail.com |
| ZOROASTER - SELF TITLED (4 track CD) BATTLE KOMMAND RECORDS These guys play some very cool tuned down Doom Metal with lots of Death Metal mixed within. There is s low sludgy flow to their sound, which reminded me of CROWBAR, but if they were a Death Metal band. There is a strong coldness to their sound as well. At times there is a cool groove that sucks you in & takes you for a ride. The vocals are done in a low end Doom Death Metal style thats a mix between growls & yells. I really dug these guys a lot, because the guitar sound reminded me a lot of CLUTCH & i love that band! If you like your Death Metal slow dirty & sludgy, covered in thick Doom styled vibes then your gonna love these guys! I know I did!!! www.theZOROASTER.com |