| MUSIC REVIEWS (February 2009) |
| HEAVING EARTH - VISIONS OF THE VULTURES (3 track CD) NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST HEAVING EARTH emerges from the depths of Czech Republic playins some highly intense & extreme Death Metal music. These guys have a very fast paced, raw & aggressive old school style of Death Metal sound. They do toss in some intricate parts at times to mix things up a bit. There are also some really crunchy spastic Grindcore parts as well. It's all topped of with some low ended Death growls & mid ranged Grindcore growls & screams. The Czech Republic has always produced some great bands, especially in this genre & these guys are definately another one of the greats! I look forward to hearing more from this amazing band! myspace.com/HEAVINGEARTHcz |
| (HED) P.E. - NEW WORLD ORPHANS (24 track CD) SUBURBAN NOIZE RECORDS (HED) P.E. is one of those bands that I have always thought didn't get the respect that they have deserved. This probably comes from the fact that these guys mix in many different sounds to create their music & there isn't a lot of open minded people out there, especially when it comes to music. On this, their 7th studio album they prove this once again by mixing Punk, Hardcore, Nu-Metal, Death Metal, Thrash metal & Hip Hop all together. This is by far their most advanced & diverse album so far. I love bands like this, that do what they want & not what the industry wants. This band has a huge cult following in the underground & they are amazing! Check it out! myspace.com/HEDPE |
| KEYDRAGON - DARGON MYTHOS (13 track CD) Self Released KEYDRAGON is back with another new release that takes their sound one step further than past releases. This band plays Metal music that blends together many elements of Gothic, Fantasy, Classic Rock, Folk, Death Metal & Thrash Metal. Their sounds is quite original & in no way resembles anyone else. The Fantasy & Classic Rock influences is what helps set them apart. The keyboards really help set this up. They remind me of something you might hear at a Medieval or Renaissance Faire. The vocals are a mix of Gothic melodic & atmospheric female vocals with lower mid ranged Death growls. This is a band that needs to be heard to truly appreciate what they do! www.KEYDRAGON.com |
| KHORS - MYSTICISM (8 track CD) PARAGON RECORDS "MYSTICISM" is the 3rd release from KHORS which features memebers of ASTROFAES, RUNES OF DIANCEHT, TESSARACT & HATE FOREST. These guys play a very gloomy cold atmospheric style of Black Metal music. At the same time they add in many fast, harsh & aggressive elements to balance out their sound. There some Progressive & Thrash Metal influences mixed within their sound as well. The vocals are done in both harsh Black Metal growls & clean Black Metal ones. This is one of my favorite releases that PARAGON RECORDS house put so far. There is something for for old & new school Black Metal fans to enjoy here! Just get it! www.KHORS.info |
| MICHAEL STOLLAIRE - HOLY AVENGER (15 track CD) PLATINUM WEST RECORDS Michael Stollaire plays a radio friendly style of Rock music. The music has a bit of a Classic Rock feel mixed with some Alternative thrown in. There is a strong 70's Rock vibe that reminds me of KISS a little bit. There is a bit of Modern Rock mixed into his sound. Sometimes the influences blend all together & at others one style will take over more than the others. The vocals is mostly where I hear the KISS influences, cause I think he sounds like Paul Stanely from the early days. I'm not a huge fan of this style, but this guy can really play. If your a fan of any of the above styles than you'll really dig "HOLY AVENGER" www.MICHAELSTOLLAIRE.com |
| NASHVILLE PUSSY - FROM HELL TO TEXAS (12 track CD) SPV USA The PUSSY is back & hotter than ever. NASHVILLE PUSSY has always been one of my favorite bands that doesn't get enough attention. They are a honest down & dirty Rock & Metal band that doesn't give a fuck about the music industry. They create good gritty whiskey soaked Rock & Roll just the way they like it. This new album takes me back to their first release "LET THEM EAT PUSSY" which is when I first fell in love with this band. The music is straight forward no bullshit Rock. If you dig bands like BLACK LABEL SOCIETY, AC/DC, ROBOT LORDS OF TOKYO, old ALICE COOPER & MOTORHEAD then you'll want to grab some PUSSY! www.NASHVILLEPUSSY.com |
| SCALE THE SUMMIT - CARVING DESERT CANYONS (8 track CD) PROSTHETIC RECORDS "CARVING DESERT CANYONS is the debut release on PROSTHETIC RECORDS for this Houston based band. The average age of these guys is 22, but by the end of the first track you would think they have been playing for many decades. These guys play a very intricate, deep & powerful style of Prog Metal & is by far one of the best I have heard. They are a instrumental band, which I feel vocals would just take away from the greatness of their sound. There are some faster more Thrash Metal like influences at times mixed with some slower more melodic parts. If you want to hear the future Prog Rock leaders first then you must listen to these guys! Amazing! www.SCALETHESUMMIT.info |
| SOS - ADULT SITUATIONS (12 track CD) Self Released SOS is a band that has been kicking around the underground music scene for many years now. I remember hearing them back when I first started my label & zine. They play a gritty form of Rock music that smashes head on into Punk & Metal. They have a bit of a late 70's & early 80's vibe happening that reminds me of many of the great bands from that time. The singer reminds me of Henry Rollins a little from his BLACK FLAG days. This is one for all those old schoolers. If you were to blend together elements of the RAMONES, MOTORHEAD, MINOR THREAT, C.O.C., BLACK FLAG, DANZIG & NASHVILLE PUSSY you'd get a hint at what they sound like! www.SOSnyc.com |
| SUIDAKRA - CROGACHT (9 track CD) SPV / WACKEN RECORDS The German Celtic Metallers are back again with this, their 9th studio album to date. They have been playing Pagan Celtic Metal for years now & with the rise in popularity of this style they are finally getting some well deserved attention. These guys combine fast melodic Death metal with Irish Folk music to create their sound. They have traditional instruments as well bagpipes, banjo, tin whistles & more. The album is based on one of the most dramatic tales in Irish history about the hero Cuchulainn's epic journey to the Isle of Skye where he seeks to learn the arts of war from the Scythian warrior woman Scathach. The band has released some amazing stuff in the past, but this new album is by far the best they have unleashed so far! All Hail the Pagan Knights! www.SUIDAKRA.com |
| THE DEAD - NOCTURNAL FUNERAL (6 track CD) - Self Released THE DEAD play a very spastic & progressive style of Death Metal music. The music has a lot of twist & turns all through out. They definately base their sound in Death Metal, but add in a lot of technical Mathcore & Grindcore like elements to their sound. I like how it's a heavy old school Death blasting groove & then kicks you into another direction with the out of control chaotic Grindcore stuff. The vocals are very low ended Death growls with mid ranged Death/Grind growls mixed in. These guys force the old & new to hit head on mutate together into one aggressive as hell sound. This is hopefully the first in many releases we will get from THE DEAD. |
| THYRFING - HELS VITE (7 track CD) REGAIN RECORDS For well over 10 years now THYRFING has been delivering us some highly technical well thought out & strongly written Black Metal music. This is the bands 6th album & they continue to please the fans. The music is very dark, cold & atmospheric Black Metal infused with much Death Metal. On this new album we are introduced to new vocalist Jens Ryden (ex-NAGLFAR). They have a full powerful Black Metal sound that encompasses all aspects of the Black Metal genre. Any Black Metal fan should be able to find something they like about these guys! One of the best in the scene & still going strong! One listen to this album & you'll hear exactly why! www.THYRFING.com |
| VASTATOR - HELL ONLY KNOWS (12 track CD) INFERNO RECORDS VASTATOR hails from Chile & play a very raw style of Thrash Power Metal that is injected with some old school Black Metal influences. The music is fast paced, aggressive & crunchy. There are some twists, change ups & tempo changes all through out their sound. The vocals are done in a few styles. There are straight forward Thrash, some Power, some Heavy Metal & even some Black Metal vocals all blended together. These guys definately have an original sound, but the closest would be a mix of JUDAS PRIEST, KING DIAMOND, DIO, ANGELKILL, MANOWAR & FIGHT all mixed together! www.VASTATOR.cl (Available through BEOWOLF PRODUCTIONS) |