| MUSIC REVIEWS (June 2007) |
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| AMBRAZURA - Krava (8 track CD) TUNES OF TORTURE This is the newest release from on of the Ukraine's best bands. These guys play some extremely gritty Death Metal music. They add in lots of elements of Grindcore into thier sound. There is a slow sudgy sound at times, then they pound you in the face with some fast, intense Death Grind. I liked the old school vibe they have going on in their sound as well. The vocals are done in a mid to low end range Death/Grindcore cross over style growl! These guys deserve way more attention then they recieve! Support this band!!! www.AMBRAZURA.ru |
| AMBRAZURA - LIFE & DEATH (9 track CD) TUNES OF TORTURE This is the previous release from this amazing Ukrainian band. On this release they have less of a Grindcore sound & a more dominate Death Metal sound. This release shows some more influences of Thrash Metal in their sound, especially in a lot of the guitar work. There is a really cool Death groove vibe in thier music on this one as well. They still keep that old school Death Metal sound present through out. The vocals on this disc are a more lower end Death growl style. This is a great release, but you can tell how much the band has improved on the new one. As said above, support this band, because they deserve it, big time!!! www.AMBRAZURA.ru |
| BERGRAVEN - DODSVISIONER (8 track CD) HYDRA HEAD RECORDS This is my first time hearing these guys & I really like what I hear. These guys play some very well structured Death Metal music that is highly injected with much Black Metal elements. There is a slower dark drudgy Black Metal sound. They have a really cold dirty vibe in their music too. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Death/Black Metal crossover style. I liked the orchestrated & more creepy dingy parts a lot. This is one that i think old school & new school Black Metal fans would enjoy a lot! Heed the darkness & pick this one up!!! |
| BLASPHEMOUS CREATION - BLACK WINTER (7 track CD) Self Released Hailing from Reno Nevada comes this old school styled Death Metal band. These guys pull many elements from old school Metal & influse it into their Death Metal sound. They mix in influences of Thrash Metal, Black Metal & even a little Grindcore, but it is all held together by Death Metal. There are blast beats galore through out their songs. There is a strong old school Black Metal vibe happening as well. The vocals are done in a blend of Black Metal & Death Metal screams & growls. If your a fan of either Death or Black Metal then these guys are what your looking for! 634 S CENTER ST. RENO, NV. 89501 iwilsonr@yahoo.com / www.myspace.com/BLASPHEMOUSCREATION |
| BLOODJINN - THIS MACHINE RUNS ON EMPTY (10 track CD) PLUTO RECORDS Wow! I was blown away by these guys. They have a great well rounded & very diverse Metal sound. I liked all the elements of Metal & Hardcore that they throw into their sound. The music has so many different levels it just sucks you in deeper & deeper. There are galloping riffs, heavy breakdowns & technical shifts all through out. The twists & turns the music takes really takes you for a great ride & keeps you wanting more. The vocals are done in a mid ranged harsh Metal style with some lower Death growls & some more melodic clean Metal vocals too. These guys have been around for awhile, but will be finally bursting into everyones faces real soon!!! www.BLOODJINN.com |
| CANVAS SOLARIS - CORTICAL TECTONICS (6 track CD) SENSORY RECORDS This is the third full length release from this Georgia based band. These guys play instrumental Tech-Metal music. They have an ultra technical sound mixed with futuristic Jazz & Metal. This is some of the most well structured Tech Metal I have in a long time. There are twists, tempo changes, breakdowns & more mixed all within their sound, They are very well structured & diverse songs, where none of them soudn the same, but all still have that signature style. This is one for fans of GORDION KNOT, SPIRAL ARCHITECT, CYNIC & even DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN! |
| CONQUEST OF STEEL - HAMMER & FIST (10 track CD) NO FACE RECORDS The Metal warriors from Northern England are back with their second album. These guys are truly one of the bands leading the wave of True British Heavy Metal music. They have a very strong powerful Epic Metal sound tot heir music. There are some influences taken from old & new British Metal bands. There are lots of great songs here that should become classic Metal tunes. The vocals are done in a clean Power & Traditional Metal style. This band should be much, much bigger than they are now & hopefully they will be in the near future! Raise your horns & swords to these Metal Kings!!! band@CONQUESTOFSTEEL.co.uk / www.CONQUESTOFSTEEL.co.uk |
| DEATH BEFORE DISHONOR - COUNT ME IN (11 track CD) BRIDGE NINE RECORDS Damn! These guys are just down right great. This is the type of Hardcore music I truly enjoy. They base their sounds foundation on Hardcore music, but there are ingredients of Classic Punk & Metal music mixed in. They have a very cool grooved out Hardcore sound that reminds me of New York Hardcore a lot, even though they are from Boston. There is thick riffs, huge beats & very catchy choruses. They have a very driving forcefull sound that pushes up in your face non-stop. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Hardcore style. Fans of SICK OF IT ALL, MADBALL, BIOHAZARD & MERAUDER will love these guys!!! I know I did!!! DEATHB4DISHONOR7@hotmail.com / www.DEATHB4DISHONOR.com |
| DRIVER SIDE IMPACT - THE VERY AIR WE BREATHE (13 track CD) VICTORY RECORDS Coming out of Cleveland is this new Experimental Pop Rock band. I was alittle surprised when the music started, cause of the bands name & the label I was expecting something a bit more driven & heavier. But anyway, these guys play Pop Rock music with a touch of experimentation & futuristic vibe all through out. The music is well written & structured, but a little bit too mellow for my tastes. The vocals are done in a mid to high ranged whinny almost Emo Pop Punk style. If this is the stuff you like then you'll love these guys, but if your looking for something that VICTORY usually puts out you may not like these guys! www.myspace.com/DRIVERSIDEIMPACT |
| EBOLIE - LET LOOSE (8 track CD) GRINDHEAD RECORDS EBOLIE rear their ugly heads from Sydney Australia & play some sick intense Gore Grind music. There are influences from Death Metal present in their sound too, but it's mostly sick twisted Grindcore. They have a very spastic sound that is filled with lots of stop & start parts all through out. The vocals are done ina mid ranged Grindcore growl/scream style with some higher pitched screams mixed within. If your familiar with GRINDHEAD RECORDS other bands then you'll love these guys just as much! Get your fill of EBOLIE now!!! EBOLIEmetal@lycos.com / www.EBOLIE.com |
| INGRAVED - PROMO CD 2007 (19 track CD) Self Released This CD contains many songs from the bands different releases from 2001, 2002, 2006 & a few live tracks from 2006 as well. These guys play some very extreme Italian Deathcore music. i really dug the way they would switch from a cool grooved out Hardcore type beat into a thick fast paced grindy Death Metal part. These guys have a very tight thick sound & remind me of some of the bands from the early 90's playing this style with a more modern type sound to them. The vocals are done in a mid ranged harsh Death Metal growl style. Any Death Metal collection should have a place for this band in it! Check these guys out, cause they are good!!! INGRAVED@hotmail.com / www.INGRAVED.com |
| INVEY - ADDICTION FOR COMFORT (12 track CD) INSOMNIA MEDIA This is the debut full length album from this band out of England. These guys & gal play some hate fueled Hard Rock music. There are touches of Metal in their sound that stick out here & there. They ahve a very groovy & funky sound to their music too. I really dug this a lot. At times it almost sounds like some Techno influences pop out. The vocals are done by Claire Natalie & she has a good range in her vocals. She touches on high melodic parts, mid ranged clean & lower more aggressive parts. At times the music & vocals remind me of KITTIE, but just a little bit! info@INVEY.com / www.INVEY.com |
| KHLYST - CHAOS IS MY NAME (8 track CD) HYDRA HEAD RECORDS I didn't know what to expect from these guys, but it definately wasn't this. These guys play experimental Black Metal music with lots of Noise influences mixed with in. The music kind of takes you all over the place & makes you really confused. There is a lot of feedback & experimental Noise parts all through out. You can hear the old school harsh Black Metal elements in their sound a lot too. The vocals are done in a real thick throaty old school Black Metal style. Not my favorite type of music, but it was still interesting to listen to!!! |
| KILL YOUR IDOLS - SOMETHING STARTED HERE (38 track CD) LIFELINE RECORDS This is the last album from KILL YOUR IDOLS before the band folds. The album consists of some very rare & out of print songs all on one disc. These guys should be known to anyone in the Hardcore scene. These guys hail from Long Island & play a great mixture of old school & new school hardcore music. They do have some very strong old school Punk influences intwind within their sound too. They are a very energetic & powerful band that never faultered to any trends within the Hardcore scene & deserve much more respect than they ever got. Check this disc out for a look at the bands 12 + years existence! Hardcore till the end!!! www.myspace.com/KILLYOURIDOLS |
| MAYDAY PULSE - ORDER OF SELF DESTRUCTION (3 track CD) Self Released My sister actually found this band for me & since they are from our area I contacted them. I am glad I did, cause these guys are very good & play some hyper intense Death metal music. The music fast paced driven, with some thick beats & shredding riffs. The music is in the Death Metal genre, but you can hear some elements of Thrash, Speed & even some Doom Metal coming out in their sound at times. The vocals are done in a mid ranged thick harsh Death Metal growl/scream style. Watch out cause this is yet another Pennsylvania based band that will be sure to be known in the underground scene if they keep going this way!!! www.MAYDAYPULSE.com |
| MONGOLOID WITCHCRAFT - A DISGUSTING GUSH OF PERISHED HYMNS (22 track CD) Self Released This band was formed from the ashes of the Death Metal band GORGE. These guys play some really good Death metal music with lots of Grindcore smashed in. The music has a some what raw & spastic feel to it, which is what the band was shooting for. They pride them selves on being a non rehearsed & non polished Death Metal band. The vocals are done in the spastic Death Metal Grindcore crossover style. This is the bands best release to date & really shows a lot of progress from earlier releases! MONGOnai10@hotmail.com / www.myspace.com/MONGOLOIDWITCHCRAFT |
| PATH(O)GEN - SELF TITLED (3 track CD) Self Released PATHOGEN hail from the United Kingdom & play some very good Metal music. They blend in lots of elements from Death, Thrash, Black, Power & Nu-Metal genres. The music is highly professional & well structured. These guys should be signed by now & being showcased where ever they can be. The vocals are done in a mixture of the above styles as well. They ranged from screaming almost Hardcore like to lower end Death growls to clean melodic Power Metal ones. This is one band who has a little bit of everything to please any Metal fan! mail@PATHOGENband.co.uk / www.PATHOGENband.co.uk |
| REINCREMATION - 4 WAY SPLIT (13 track CD) NIHILISTIC HOLOCAUST This is a 4 way split release by 4 amazingly good bands. The bands include IMPUREZA (France), ARSONIST (Sweden), SUDDEN DEATH (Germany) & INGURGITATING OBLIVION (Germany). All of these bands play a combination of Death Metal mixed with Grindcore. I have never heard any of these bands before, so this was a real treat for me. If you like your Death Metal filled with hateful Grindcore then you must check this split release out! gabsk@wanadoo.fr / http://site.voila.fr/NIHILISTIC |
| RONCSIPAR - ANTIMONUMENTUM (10 track CD) GRINDHEAD RECORDS These guys are a bit different sounding than most bands. They play Stoner Industrial music. There are some slight other Metal influences mixed with in though. The music is a slow drone, noisy experimental Industrial sound. There is some ambient & raw parts in the music as well. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Industrial style with some effects used at times. The band was formed Kornel, the singer of the Grindcore band LONG PIG. This is one for fans of old SKINNY PUPPY, old MINISTRY & O.L.D.! RONCSIPAR@yahoo.com / www.RONCSIPAR.hu |
| RUINER - PREPARE TO BE LET DOWN (12 track CD) BRIDGE NINE RECORDS This is the bands debut full length album full of Hardcore mayhem. The music starts out very melodic & then kicks you in the teeth & proceeds to beat the hell out of you. There is a ton of adrenaline & aggression pouring from this band. The music has an old school Hardcore vibe with some touches of new school mixed within. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Hardcore scream style. These guys will be really pushed to the for front of todays Hardcore scene with the release of this new album! Get it now! |
| SATANIC IMPALEMENT - KING SATAN (4 track CD) Self Released This is another new project from Bob Macabre out of New Alexandria, Pa. Bob is a one man wrecking crew with his many projects. His most known one being CHAINSAW DISSECTION. In this new release Bob once again does all writing, instruments, producing & mixing. This time around he plays a more old school styled Black Metal project with some Death metal influences tossed in the mix. The vocals are done in a harsh old school style of harsh Black Metal. Another good project from Bob, but I still love CHAINSAW DISSECTION the best!!! CHAINSAWDISSECTION@yahoo.com / www.myspace.com/CHAINSAWDISSECTION |
| SECRETS OF THE MOON - ANTITHESIS (9 track CD) THE AJNA OFFENSIVE SECRETS OF THE MOON play a form of Black Metal music that is non typical. They have lots of different flare & manipulations in their sound. The music has a standard Black metal vibe they build from, but there is some old school Metal mixed in. They blend together some stop & starts, breakdowns, grooves, slow & fast paced beats along with some Thrash like shredding riffs. On top of all this there are some atmospheric & melodic parts as well. the vocals are done in a mid ranged thick harsh Black metal style. I totally enjoyed this entire disc & will surely be playing it a lot. This is a must for any fan of Black Metal music! There is much for old & new school Black Metal hordes! www.SECRETSOFTHEMOON.org |
| SEVENTH STAR - THE UNDISPUTED TRUTH (11 track CD) FACEDOWN RECORDS FACEDOWN is quickly becoming one of my favorite labels with each new release they put out. These guys go right to the top of the list as one of my favorite bands on this label. These play intense & aggressive Hardcore music with lots of flavors. There is a fast paced heaviness of Metal, mixed with New York Hardcore bounce & some southern groove. With tons more all added in. The vocals are done in two styles, one being a harsh Hardcore scream & the other being a more old school Hardcore style. These guys are by far one of the best new school Hardcore bands out there now. If this album doesn't bring them the attention they deserve I will be shocked!!! |
| SPHERIC UNIVERSE EXPERIENCE -ANIMA (11 track CD) THE LASER'S EDGE This French Progressive Metal band has unleashed their second album unto the music scene. Look out, because this is one wild ride that you will enjoy over & over again. The music has lots of melody & layers to it with lots of time changes all through out. The music is very well constructed & is very powerful. THE LASER'S EDGE is known for putting out quality Progressive Metal albums & they hit it right on the mark with these guys. If you were to buy only one Progressive Metal album or maybe even one Metal album in general this year, this would have to be one of the top choices!!! SPHERIC@intromental.com / www.SPHERICUNIVERSEEXP.com |
| THE DESTRO - AS THE COIL UNWINDS (11 track CD) IRONCLAD RECORDS / METAL BLADE RECORDS I just saw these guys @ the New England Metal & hardcore Festival & enjoyed them a lot. So, I was happy to find this in my review pile. Thes eguys blend many elements of Death Metal, Grindcore, Hardcore & more together to create their style & sound. There is some fierce & aggressive beats, grooves, breakdowns & tempo changes mixed all through out their songs. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Death growl style with some higher almost screaming like ones too! These guys will definately be one of the bands in the coming years to keep a watch on. A must for fans of PANTERA, LAMB OF GOD & HATEBREED!!! www.THEDESTRO1.com |
| TO THE LIONS - BAPTISM OF FIRE (10 track CD) GOODFELLOW RECORDS Ontario, Canada's TO THE LIONS have released their debut album "Baptism Of Fire" onto the world. These guys come out the gates hitting hard & never letting up. They play some old school Hardcore with new school Hardcore flare.There are many breakdowns, grooves, stop & starts, scream alongs & slugish chugging beats to make any Hardcore fan happy. The vocals are done in a mid ranged Hardcore scream style. If you were to take bands like INTEGRITY, BANE, HATEBREED & MADBALL & ball them all into one, you'd have a good idea of what this great hardcore band sounds like!!! In other words, you must buy this disc now!!! www.TOTHELIONS.ca |
| WATAIN - SWORN TO THE DARK (11 track CD) AJNA If you want some harsh old school Black Metal at it's finest, then look no further. WATAIN is hear to shove exactly that down your throat. These guys have a very tight intense & solid old school war like Black Metal sound. There is a strong coldness to their sound as well. These guys pull no punches when delivering the goods. The vocals are done in a mid ranged harsh throaty Black metal growl with the occassional scream tossed in. Cold, harsh, dingy Black Metal, pure & simple! This is a must if your a true Black Metal fan with heart for the times of when Black Metal originally formed!!! Worship your demons with this album as the soundtrack! Hail Satan!!! |