| MUSIC REVIEWS July 2005 |
| ABHORRED - WALLOWING IN UTTER CHAOS (11 song CD) NOT COMMON RECORDS ABHORRED has crawled out of the darkness of Massachutettes to pummel us with this disc. These guys play a very low end style of Death Metal music that is insanely intense. The music is kind of dark & crazy at times. They do toss in some Black metal elements all through out. There are some change ups, but it's mostly aggressive, raw Doom Death & never lets up! The vocals are very aggressive & harsh Death growl/screams. There is almost a War like Metal vibe to their music! P.O. BOX 183 / HOLBROOK, MA. 02343 theABHORRED@yahoo.com / www.matholef.org/ABHORRED (Avalable through BEOWOLF PRODUCTIONS) |
| BLOODCHURN - RAVENOUS CONSUMPTION (9 song CD) UNMATCHED BRUTALITY RECORDS BLOODCHURN play a very heavy intense style of Death Metal music. They take lots of influences from old school Death as well as new school Death Metal. The music does have a few elements of Grindcore tossed into the mix too. I like the hyper fast & solid drum sound the most. The vocals are done in a low end Death growl that spewed out with a lot of force. This is a must for fans of MORTAL DECAY, DYING FETUS & INTERNAL BLEEDING!!! |
| CANDLELIGHT USA-BEYOND EXTREMES SUMMER SAMPLER 2005 (20 song CD) CANDLELIGHT RECORDS CANDLELIGHTcontains bands on the roster & features songs from their newest releases. MARDUK, ENSLAVED, CROWBAR, ENTOMBED, SUSPERIA, PRO-PAIN, KAAMOS, MARDUK, ENSLAVED, CROWBAR, ENTOMBED, SUSPERIA, PRO-PAIN, KAAMOS, CROWBAR, ENTOMBED, SUSPERIA, PRO-PAIN, KAAMOS, PROJECT FAILING FLESH, KRYOBURN, SLUMBER & 10 others. The bands all play in the Death, Black, Doom, & 10 others. The bands all play in the Death, Black, Doom, Grindcore range of Metal music. Grindcore range of Metal music. This is an excellent sampler for any fan of this music style or this label to pick up!!! this label to pick up!!! P.O. BOX 707 / PLYMOUTH MEETING, PA. 19462 www.CANDLELIGHTUSA.com |
| CRIONICS - ARMAGEDDON'S EVOLUTION (9 song CD) CANDLELIGHT RECORDS This is the second CD release from this amazing band out of Poland. These guys play extremely intense Black metal music. The music is hyper fast & brutal, but at the same time has a weird eeri dark atmosphere to it. I love the aggressiveness that is pouring out of this band. The music almost feels as if it could be battle music for the movie THE LORD OF THE RINGS fight scenes. The vocals are done in a harsh mid ranged Death growl. This is a great release & should definately be picked up!!! www.CRIONICS.prv.pl |
| (17 song CD) RISE ABOVE / CANDLELIGHT USA RECORDS This is my first time hearing these guys & I was a bit surprised. I was expecting them to be Stoner or Doom Metal, but they have a Metal/Punk crossover style to their music. They remind me a lot of old SUICIDAL TENDENCIES. The music is driving & has a catchy groove to it. There are some good riffs as well as some thick bass sounds. The vocals seemed a little low in the mix, but were done in an old skater, 70's Punk Rock style with some Metal tossed in. If you took old SUICIDAL TENDENCIES, old MISFITS, old D.R.I. & some JFA, MINOR THREAT & FOUL STENCH , you'd get these guys!!! www.DEBRISINC.com |
| RECOURSE - WEAKING THE STRUCTURE (10 song CD) DEVIL DOLL RECORDS / THIS DARK REIGN RECORDINGS RECOURSE play a great style of Death Metal & Hardcore combined. I hear a lot of bands playing this style lately & these guys definately do it better than most. The music is extremely aggressive & fast paced. There is a strong harshness to their sound that is just pounded in your face. There are a few breakdowns & change ups in the music as well. I loved this whole disc a lot. The vocals are also a crossover style of Death Metal & hardcore. There is a low harsh Death growl mixed with a harsh Hardcore scream! Keep an eye on this band cause they should explode big time in the underground scene!!! www.RECOURSEmetal.com |
| UNSHINE - BLACK MAGICK (8 song CD) CRASH MUSIC INC. Emerging out of the scene back in 2000 comes this band out of Finland with their newest release. The music is a mixture of Goth & Metal. There is a dark atmosphere that hovers all through out the music. The music is very symphonic & atmopsheric all through out the disc. The beautiful angelic vocals from Susanna balance the music out perfectly. Their songs mostly are about mythology & folklore, which they like to call Gothic Fairy Tales. There are some faster parts tossed in the music as well. Fans of THE GATHERING & LACUNA COIL will enjoy this band!!! P.O. BGOX 14 / 01661 VANTAA / FINLAND band@UNSHINE.com / www.UNSHINE.com |
| RELENTLESS - TEMPEST OF TORMENT RELENTLESS hails from Sweden, but don't play the typical style of Metal Sweden is known for. These guys plays balls out Florida style Death Metal. They have a strong old school brutal as hell Death Metal sound. The music is very fast, aggressive & very intense. There are some good catchy riffs in the music too. The vocals are very low end Death growls spewed forth with power. These guys are a must for any fan of CANNIBAL CORPSE, MALEVOLENT CREATION, OBITUARY, MORBID ANGEL & HATEPLOW!!! OSKAR PALSSON / VARBERGAGATAN 33/ 70351 OREBRO / SWEDEN RELENTLESSgrind@spray.se / RELENTLESSgrind@hotmail.com www.RELENTLESSgrind.com |
| KULT OV AZAZEL - THE WORLD, THE FLESH & THE DEVIL (9 song cd) ARCTIC MUSIC GROUP / CRASH MUSIC INC These guys have been vomiting forth their hate since 1999. Noe they are back with their newest, most diverse release to date. The music is unholy & blasphemous War Metal. The music is hyper intense & just beats the shit out of you all the way through the disc. The drums are like rapid gun fire mixed with a high speed Death march. The vocals are in your face Harsh Death / Black Metal type screams. These guys have out done themselves on this new disc. If you think you can survive this disc then pick it up!!! It's worth it!!! P.O. BOX 23308 / FORT LAUDERDALE, FL. 33307 www.KULTOVAZAZEL.com |
| ETERNAL FLIGHT - POSITIVE RAGE (11 song CD) CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC ETERNAL FLIGHT comes to us from Italy & play a very good style of Power/Progressive Metal music. The music is mostly based in Power Metal, but with the type of arrangements in their songs it kind of gives them a Progressive Metal sound. There are some Thrash Metal elements present, especially in the guitars. I really liked how they have an old school & new school mixed feel to their music. They toss in some change ups as well. The vocals are done in a mid ranged melodic Power Metal style that at times gets a little higher. Any Power Metal fan would be pleased with this disc!!! www.ETERNALFLIGHT.fr.st |
| TRISTANIA - ASHES (7 song CD) SPV / STEAMHAMMER TRISTANIA play a mixture of Metal styles & they blend them with ease. They toss elements of Power, Thrash, Black, Goth, Doom & Death Metal music. Sometimes they will let one style dominate & at others will balance them all out! There is a dark medieval atmosphere that blankets their music through out too. They mix up the vocal styles as well. They have three singers, two males & 1 female. I like the atmospheric Black metal parts the most in their songs. Fans of THEATRE OF TRAGEDY, THERION, THE GATHERING & SINERGY will like this band!!! |
| DEMONS & WIZARDS - TOUCHED BY THE CRIMSON KING (10 song CD) SPV / STEAMHAMMER Most of you out there, like myself, have been waiting for this follow up CD to the bands Self-Titled debut back in 2000. The masterminds behind this amazing band are Hansi Kursch of BLIND GAURDIAN & Jon Schaffer of ICED EARTH. Both of these guys are in great bands, but are amazing in this collberation. The music is done in the Power / Traditional Metal range & is very good! The music is quite involved on many levels & is most likely the best music of this style I've heard in awhile. There are some touches of Thrash Metal in the music as well. The vocals are also done in the Power/Traditional Metal style. This is a great release & anyone who has a love for this style of music must have this in their collection!!! |
| KIDS LIKE US - OUTTA CONTROL (13 song CD) EULOGY RECORDINGS KIDS LIKE US is a new Hardcore band I'm being exposed to. I am glad I am! These guys are great. They are in no way a typical Hardcore band either. They toss in lots of elements of Thrash, Punk & even Southern Rock. The music is very aggressive & non stop energy all the way through out. They do have some breakdowns, change ups & stop & start parts as well. There are some good grooves in their music too. The vocals are mid ranged Hardcore screams! They almost remind me of a Hardcore version of CLUTCH!!! This is why I liked them a lot!!! |
| JUNIOR VARSITY, THE - WIDE EYED (11 song CD) VICTORY RECORDS This is the debut CD release for these guys on VICTORY RECORDS. These guys are a little different than most of the stuff on VICTORY. THE JUNIOR VARSITY play Pop music laced with Punk elements & topped off with some Emo influences. They do have a good catchy sound to their music. I could see a lot of people getting into these guys. The vocals are done in an Emo Pop vocal style that's kind of melodic at times. They sound more like an Emo version of BLINK 182, just a lot more serious sounding!!! www.THEJUNIORVARSITY.com |
| INGURGITATING OBLIVION - VOYAGE TOWARDS ABHORRENCE (8 song CD) UNMATCHED BRUTALITY RECORDS Out of the pits of Germany comes this highly intense Death Metal act. These guys have an old school Death Metal feel to their music, but it's covered in new school aggression & energy. The music is very fast & brutal as hell. They just steamroll you right from the beginning. The music never lets up! I can feel the anger & hate pouring from this band. The vocals are done in a low end Death growl. This is a must for any old school Metal fan!!! HAUPTSTASSE 64 / 26122 OLDENBURG / GERMANY kapalika@web.de / pfeil666@gmx.de / walaskialv@web.de carnal.sublimity@web.de www.INGURGITATING-OBLIVION.de |
| PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT - EMBALMED MADNESS (17 song CD) UNMATCHED BRUTALITY RECORDS Coming out of the Netherlands we have the sickos known as PROSTITUTE DISFIGUREMENT. These guys play a highly intense & chaotic style of Death Grind music. The music is brutal & crazy as hell. There are equal amounts of elements taken from Death Metal & Grindcore, but they are all soaked in gore. There are machine gun like drums & crunchy guitars. The vocals are a very low end gurggle guttural Death growl, with an occassional Death scream popping up from time to time. This is definately not for everyone, but the freaks into this style will love it!!! KETELBERG 87 / 5508 EW / VELDHOVEN / THE NETHERLANDS stijfeijk@hotmail.com / www.aufderaxe.nl/PROSTITUTE |
| INSIDIOUS DECREPANCY - DECADENT ORGY OF ATROCIOUS SUFFERING (9 song CD) UNMATCHED BRUTALITY RECORDS These guys play hyper intense Death Metal music. They have an old school brutality mixed with new school technicalness. The music is pounding heavy & just keeps pushing it in your face. The drums are superfast & sound like rapid fire. The vocals are low end Death growls mixed with mid ranged Death growls. They remind me of bands like REGURGITATION, MORTAL DECAY, DISGORGE, FLESHGRIND & MALIGNANCY! These are very good comparisons in my opinion!!! 9525 LONG POINT / HOUSTON, TX. 77055 INSIDIOUSdemise@sbcglobal.net / www.INSIDIOUSDECREPANCY.net |
| GHOST ORGY - LULLABIES FOR LUNATICS (12 song CD) THOTH MUSIC This is one band I've heard a lot about, but haven't had the pleasure of hearing until now. These guys are like nothing I've heard before. They blend together elements of Doom, Goth, Thrash & Death Metal music altogether. There are some elements of Black metal present as well. There is a dark melodic almost renaisance like sound all through out their sound. The music is very well structured & takes you on a very unique ride. Dina's vocal style is very enchanted, intriguing & angelic all at once. She has quite a powerful range. This band should be watched very closly, cause they are going to take over the underground scene!!! 512 PATERSON PLANK RD. / JERSEY CITY, NJ 07307 meric@GHOSTORGY.com / www.GHOSTORGY.com |
| DARKEST HOUR - UNDOING RUIN (11 song CD) VICTORY RECORDS DARKEST HOUR are back in full force with their third VICTORY RECORDS release. I've always been a big fan of these guys & this new release blows all others away! DARKEST HOUR is a mutation of Metal & Hardcore together. They take some great stomp beats & grooves from Hardcore & smash them together with some intense Metal riffs & all out thrashing beats. I like when they toss in some breakdowns here & there. This disc has more variety than previous discs. They add in lots of Death Metal influences on this disc as well. The vocals are a mixture of melodic Punk, harsh Hardcore & throaty Death vocals. This is a highly recommended disc! DARKEST HOUR ia an amazing band!!! info@DARKESTHOUR.cc / www.DARKESTHOUR.cc |
| FLOTSAM & JETSAM - DREAMS OF DEATH (9 song CD) CRASH MUSIC INC This is one band that any fan of Thrash Metal should be very familiar with. Coming from Arizona almost 20 years ago. FLOTSAM & JETSAM are back & stronger than ever. They seemed to have gone back to their roots with this new disc. The music is more aggressive, harder & more involved than past releases. They have better compositions of songs, better arrangements & an all out better sound. There are some straight forward Thrash parts mixed with some melodic Metal parts. The vocals also follow this formula too. They go from harsh, fast Thrash vocals into some slower more melodic Metal ones. This is by far their best release in years. Fans of FLOTSAM & JETSAM will be happy with this disc!!! www.FLOTSAM-AND-JETSAM.com |
| GRINDETHIC RECORDS - DAMN & BLAST VOLUME #1 (28 song CD) GRINDETHIC RECORDS This is the first in hopefully many compilations from this greta label out of the U.K. There are 28 bands altogether & 28 songs. The bands all play in the style of Death, Grind & Gore. Some of the bands I've heard before & others I'bve been newly introduced to. The CD tells you which release the song is from & gives the bands website address. Some of the bands include DEFEATED SANITY, SUPPOSITORY, FETUS EATERS, MASS MURDER, BRUTAL INSANITY, CORPSE CARVING, GROT, NECROCEST, BEEF CONSPIRACY & 19 others. This is a must for all Grind fans!!! P.O. BOX 244 / ANLABY HULL / HU10 6WX / U.K. beer@GRINDETHIC.co.uk / www.GRINDETHIC.co.uk |
| NEW DEAD RADIO - AVALON BRIDGE WILL BURN (15 song CD) MEDIASKARE ENTERTAINMENT This is the debut release from this L.A. Metalcore outfit. These guys have a Metalcore base to their sound, but these guys are not like most Metalcore bands. These guys add in lots of flavours of Thrash, Hardcore, Industrial & Punk all into their sound. The music is very hyper energetic & some times spastic. This is good! They at times have a Death Metal type vibe going on as well. There are cool grooves woven all through out their songs. The faster paced beats is where the Industrial type sounds come into play. The vocals are a crossover style of Death & Hardcore. This is an impressive first outing from this band. Keep your eyes on these guys!!! www.NEWDEADRADIO.com |
| NUSE - HUNG WELL (12 sONG CD) NO JOKE RECORDS This is the debut CD release from this NJ based Hardcore Metal crossover band. Their music takes a bunch of elements from both styles to create their sound. They have heavy shredding guitars, intense throbbing drums, thick thumping bass & harsh aggressive vocals. The thing I enjoyed the most about these guys is that sometimes the songs lean more towards Metal, sometimes towards Hardcore & then they are ahybrid of both. These guys are very impressive. If your into bands like BIOHAZARD, X-COPS, MADBALL, SPUDMONSTERS, PRO-PAIN, M.O.D. & GWAR will dig these guys. I know I sure as hell did!!! www.NUSE.tv |
| STEVE DAY - SEVEN (7 song CD) SELF RELEASED Steve is a solo artist out of Greensboro, Nc playing some really good Rock music. The music is done in an instrumental style & has a strong classic Rock feel to it. There are some Metal elements present in the songs as well. There are some synth, techno sounds as well. This could be from the music mostly being programmed. Steve does all the musical work on this disc & is quite talented. If you like Classic Rock with a different vibe then check this guys music out!!! 511 BOYD STREET / GREENSBORO, NC. 27401-3127 |
| THE FIRSTBORN - THE UNCLENCHING OF FISTS (13 song cd) PROCON MEDIA THE FIRSTBORN are one of Portugal's best underground bands. These guys are well rounded in the extreme Metal area. They take elements of Thrash, Death & Black Metal, manipulate them together to form one style. There are a few touches of Goth present & times too. This is a concept album dealing with Tantric Buddhism, based on the Bard Thodol (The Tibetan "Book Of The Dead"). There are some Buddhist influences all through out their music as well. I liked how they would go into hyper Death parts & into a melodic atmospheric Black metal part & then into some Buddhist chants. The vocals are a mix of rough Death growls, Black metal screams & Buddhist chants. This was one amazing release. Every Metal fan should have this disc in their collection!!! info@THEFIRSTBORN.net / www.THEFIRSTBORN.net |