| ACTION - SELF TITLED (11 track CD) FRONTIERS RECORDS / LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS ACTION plays a throw back style of Heavy Metal that was really popular in the 80's these guys even the properly placed guitar solos mixed through out. The vocals are done in a mid ranged ACTION harmonic clean ballad Heavy Metal style. The majority of the songs are love songs or center harmonic clean ballad Heavy Metal style. The majority of the songs are love songs or center around love. If these guys were back in the 80's they would have been huge & had tons of girls WARRANT, WHITE LION, WINGER & BULLET BOYS then you'd love these guys! |
| AGUYNGUERRAN - PERVERTING THE NAZARENE CULT (6 track CD) SHIVER RECORDS I believe these guys hail from Belgium & they play some highly intense old school Black Metal music. The music is very cold, dark & raw sounding all through out. There are some new school Black Metal elements, but these appear mostly in some of the song arrangements. There is a real Nguaroth on guitars & vocals of the great ENTHRONED! They also do a NIFELHEIM cover. If blackness runs through your veins then this is an album that must be in your collection! http://AGUYNGUERRAN.blackmetal.be |
| BATTALION - WELCOME TO THE WARZONE (10 track CD) SHIVER RECORDS BATTALION play some killer Death Metal music. These guys are just that & more. They have very cool style of Death Metal different vibes happening in their music. You can get some straight forward Thrash parts, then a full speed aggressive Death Metal part then a combination of the parts. I dig the short little burst of grooves that bridge the versus in their songs between the vocals. The vocals are done in a mid metal fan would be happy to have this release in their collection! |
| BATTLEROAR - TO DEATH AND BEYOND (9 track CD) CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC BATTLEROAR play a very tight, technical & well structured style of Epic Power Metal. The rolls on. You truly feel as you are on the battle field headed into victory. I really like this style of The vocals are strong, powerful & melodic on many levels. These guys should be bigger than they are, which they will be soon. For fans of BLIND GUARDIAN, RHAPSODY, DRAGONFORCE, DIO, HELLOWEEN & LUCA TURILLI! |
| BLOODBATH - UNBLESSING THE PURITY (4 track CD) PEACEVILLE RECORDS BLOODBATH are back and they have given us 4 brand new tracks of pure gory Death Metal! These guys in no way are a copycat Swedish Death metal band. They take the patent Swedish sound & mash it up, pound it some guttural parts placed in. This is by far the best music the band has written so far! If you never heard these guys, this is a good place to start! Features members of OPETH & KATATONIA! www.BLOODBATH.biz |
| DANTESCRO - PAGANO (11 track CD) CRUZ DEL SUR MUSIC DANTESCRO have a very strong Power Metal, Heavy Metal & Thrash Metal sound that is much on the present in the vocals of Erico La Bestia. He has a very Italian Operatic style to his singing style. I was really into the music a lot. It's well constructed & has many twists, tempo changes & grooves all through out. The lyrics are sung in Italian as well, which gives that extra added feel. These guys are really good & have much talent, but some people I feel won't like the vocals. |
| DAWN OF DEMISE - HATE TAKES IT FORM (10 track CD) DEEPSEND RECORDS Damn! This was a non stop assault of some of the best Death Metal I've heard from a new band in way through the Death metal underground & are about to explode on the scene with their debut a long time. Not that these guys are that new, though, they formed in 2003, but have crept their definitely one of the bands everyone must keep a watch on, cause if they don't blow up in the Death Metal scene, then there is something wrong with the scene! Amazing! Simply amazing! |
| DEAD MAN'S ROOT - MOUTH BREATHER (7 track CD) TERATORN RECORDS This is the debut CD release from the London based Metal band & was released on their own label. These guys have a different approach to Metal music. They combine some speed & some heavy grooves mixed within as well. They even toss in some fast paced blast beast of Death They CLUTCH, KYUSS & some CROWBAR & mixed it all up you'd get a close idea of what these guys are about www.DEADMANSROOT.com |
| DEDICTED - ARGONAUTS (8 track CD) SHIVER RECORDS DEDICTED has a unique sound to their music. They combine a few styles of music together, sound that emanates from these guys. The music reminds me a little bit like MESHUGGAH Death growls, mid ranged growls & screams, clean traditional vocals & then higher pitched melodic vocals. This is a band that must be heard to fully comprehend what they sound like! www.DEDICTED.com |
| DEGRADEAD - TIL DEATH DO US APART (11 track CD) DOCKYARD 1 They blend in some melodicness through out some of the songs as well. There is a strong struggle between the new & old school influences in a lot of the music too. I dig when a band does popular right now. I really like this style a lot, because it has a lot of groove, atmosphere & variety IN FLAMES, CANNIBAL CORPSE, MESHUGGAH, BEHEMOTH, CHILDREN OF BODOM & BORN OF OSIRIS this is what they'd sound like! www.DEGRADEAD.com |
| EMMURE - THE RESPECT ISSUE (10 track CD) VICTORY RECORDS EMMURE has released another slab of music that's sure to blow ever one away that listens to it. These guys came blasting through doors last time, this time they are destroying the whole thing. "THE RESPECT ISSUE" is even heavier, darker & faster than before. They have gone more to the Death Metal side of things, with clean vocals tossed in at times. If you weren't a fan last time, then this new release will definitely make you one. THIS IS A MUST BUY, NO QUESTIONS ASKED!!! |
| ENDLESS DISMAL MOAN - RUIN (? track CD) Self Release This is the long awaited 3rd album from this Japanese one man band. This onslaught of grim, dark shreeking Black Metal vocals. This is definitely an album for die hard older Black Metal one member! If your a loyal fan of the past two releases then this one is sure to please you! www.2.odn.ne.jp/chaos9 |
| GRAB - PLAGUE (10 track CD) BLACKMETAL.COM This is the debut release from this two man Black Metal project. The band consists of Wrath very some straight forward blast beats, repetitive guitar parts & hypnotic trance like structures. If you want a bleak, dreary & harsh soundtrack to the messed up world we live in then these guys have created it! If you want to face reality then listen to this disc! |
| KINGS X - XV (14 track CD) INSIDE OUT / SPV KING'S X are back with a new release and staying true their style & sound. This new release takes them on another journey. The music has a ever changing music industry. These guys are always experimenting & taking new chances on each LIVING COLOR & SOUNDGARDEN. If your already a fan then you'll love this if not, this album might just turn you into one! Give it a spin! |
| MAR DE GRISES - DRAINING THE WATERHEART (8 track CD) FIREBOX RECORDS MAR DE GRISES play a creepy cold & eerie sounding style of Black metal music. They have a very well orchestrated new school Black metal sound with lots of gloomy old school influences. are a lot of atmospheric keyboard parts that set the ambiance for the band. The vocals are done in This is almost like Gothic funeral styled Black Metal music. If you love that dreadful dying feeling them you will want to add this to your collection! www.MARDEGRISES.com |
| PEORDH - GLARING FROM SPACIOUS WOODS... (7 track CD) BLACKMETAL.COM PEORDH has evolved years beyond their past releases & from their comparisons to the great BURZUM. These guys have taken their music to farther depths. They play some really great Heathen Black Metal music that is very atmospheric, but at the same time is cold & dingy sounding . The songs are very long & dynamic filled with Pagan ambiance & trance inducing growls & screams. These guys are a lot different than most bands trying to pull this style & sound off! This is very unique & deserves some attention! www.PEORDH.com |
| SEVEN TEARS - IN EVERY FROZEN TEAR (12 track CD) FRONTIERS RECORDS / LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS SEVEN TEARS has a very strong 80's Metal sound to their music. These guys are no throw back Metal mixed evenly with Heavy Metal music. There are lots of symphonic keyboard parts that Metal vocals. These guys would have been huge in the 80's I can bet. They do have a bit of the Arena Rock sound mixed in as well. If your a fan of this style then I'm sure you would love these guys! Give them a listen! |
| SIRHAN SIRHAN - BLOOD (11 track CD) ANODYNE RECORDS This is the debut release from this 3 piece San Diego band. These guys play a spastic style of reminded me of a lot of the great Hardcore & Punk bands from the 80's that were really crazy & out there. The music has a thick thunderous sound to it with the vocals being loud obnoxious & SURFERS & even some old GWAR!!! www.myspace.com/SIRHANSIRHAN |
| SPIRITUAL BEGGARS - Self Titled (10 track CD) REGAIN RECORDS This is a re-release of their album originally on WRONG AGAIN RECORDS. This was the introduction to former CARCASS guitarist Mike Amott's Hard Rock side. This was originally a side project, but became a full fledged band sounds in parts of the songs, especially the drum styling. The vocals are done in a thick 70's Rock way. There are also 4 bonus tracks included on this disc. If your a fan of this band then you'd definitely want to get this long out of print re-issue! |
| STEEL ATTACK - CARPE DI END (12 track CD) LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS This is the sixth album release from this Swedish Metal band. These guys play some very tight & tempo changes. There are also lots of cool atmospheric keyboard parts to help set the pace. The This is the sixth album release from this Swedish Metal band. These guys play some very tight & Traditional Metal as well. The music is well constructed & has a lot of killer grooves, hooks & tempo changes. There are also lots of cool atmospheric keyboard parts to help set the pace. The vocals are done in a clean mid ranged Power Metal style with the occasional higher pitched ones. These guys are amazing! I loved every minute of this album. I can't believe these guys aren't much DIAMOND & MERCYFUL FATE guitarist Mike Wead. |
| STEVIE KLASSON - DON'T SHOOT THE MESSENGER (12 track CD) LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS Stevie Klasson plays some very cool Rocking styled music. The music takes elements of Metal, radio friendly sound to the music, but it's really rocking all through out. The guitar sound reminds radio friendly sound to the music, but it's really rocking all through out. The guitar sound reminds CROWES, THE WHITE STRIPES THE NEW YORK DOLLS THE NEW YORK DOLLS. . &&I know this sounds weird, but it's what I hear. If you tossed in a little bit of THE ROLLING STONES & some Punk Rock attitude, then you'd have some idea of what this sounds like! |
| TANKWART - HIMBEERGEIST ZUM FRUHSTUCK (14 track CD) LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS I'm not sure where these guys are from, but they sing in another language, it sounds like Russian or Czech, but I'm not sure. The music has a very upbeat & almost Punk Rock style to it, but you wouldn't be able to guess that from the photo on the cover. The music has an 80's Punk vibe with some Metal tinged guitars all mixed through. The pretty much have the Crossover style that was within. These guys reminded me of the great band GOGOL BORDELLO, but just not as strange as them. Check these guys out if you get a chance cause it's a high adrenalin rush of pure fun! |
| TED POLEY - SMILE (12 track CD) FRONTIERS RECORDS / LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS I don't know why, but I had a feeling this was going to be some really ballad like 80's Metal music. It was, all the way. Most of the music had that 80's Metal sound to it with a lot of that high of typical for this style. They reminded me of JOURNEY a lot, but just not as good as them. The vocalist sang fairly similar to Steve Perry of JOURNEY as well. I'm not a huge fan of this style of Metal Rock, but if this is what gets you going then you'll dig checking this album out! |
| THE CODEX - SELF TITLED (12 track CD) FRONTIERS RECORDS THE CODEX plays some cool sounding Power Metal music that has a lot of elements of atmosphere for the band. They have some very clean & crystal clear guitars with some heavy Metal ones mixed within. These guys would have been huge back in the 80's. Not that they sound like QUEENSRYCHE, but they do have that same type of vibe to their music. |
| THE DOITS - LUST, LONELY & VICIOUS (13 track CD) LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS THE DOITS have a classic throwback Rock sound that takes elements from both the 70's & 80's style of Rock. Their music has a really cool Rockin groove to it, that is pretty upbeat & catchy. They almost have a Punk Rock flavor to their sound as well. The guitars is where I hear the 70's twange coming into pay, but it's a bit more aggressive like 80's Punk. The vocalist reminds me of a cross between THE CARS & Bruce Springsteen. This isn't something I would really like to listen to all the time, but would definitely pop it in to give me a break from the Death Metal & Hardcore I mostly listen to! |
| THE FROST / MASSEMORD / VALDUR - 3 WAY SPLIT (14 track CD) BLACKMETAL.COM are from VALDUR (Vinland), who play some Nordic influenced atmosphere mixed with some old vein Canadian War Metal!. Tracks 4-8 are from THE FROST (Croatia). These guys play Norwegian influenced Black Metal in the vein of old EMPEROR. The last 6 tracks are by MASSEMORD (Norway) who play some very raw old school styled Black Metal. The band features members of SYKDOM / DER HENKER / SVARTSKOGG. As said before, the blackest hearted Black Metal fans will love this stuff! |
| THULE - ANTHOLOGY 1995-1997 (8 track CD) BLACKMETAL.COM This is the "official" release of the pre-CURSE / FORTID / POTENTIAM / WHITHERED mid 90's recordings. These tracks are rescued from obscure second generation tapes without alteration. They have a very raw & cult production style. The music is done in an old Scandinavian Black Metal way with lots of War Metal mixed within. These tracks are taken from compilations & split release & there is a new CURSE track which is actually a cover version of an old THULE song!If you like anything else that BLACKMETAL.COM has put out then your gonna really enjoy these guys! |
| U.D.O. - METALLIZED (16 track CD) LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS "METALIZED" is a compilation of the best of U.D.O. songs over the past 20 years. These guys have been pouring out some of the best 80's styled Power & Thrash Metal for 2 decades now. Most people remember Udo Dirkschneider's previous band ACCEPT more, but the work he any new fan wanting to jump on board. |
| UNLEASHED - HAMMER BATTALION (13 track CD) SPV One of the originators of Swedish Death Metal music, UNLEASHED are back with their new slab of Death Metal mastery. These guys still create some of the best Death Metal after almost 20 years. The music is very fast paced, brutal Viking Death Metal with no weak shit tossed in. It's hard to believe that such a great band from the start can out do themselves with each new offering, but they have done it yet once again. These guys were one of the first Death Metal bands I ever got into & are still one of my favorites out there. True Death Metal fans give it up for these guys & support them big time, so we can get more & more Death Metal master pieces from them! www.UNLEASHED.se |
| WONDERFOOLS - TOO LATE TO DIE YOUNG (13 track CD) LOCOMOTIVE RECORDS WONDERFOOLS play a very energetic upbeat style of Hard Rock music. They have a more modern Hard Rock style, but they do pull some elements form Classic Rock & some Traditional Metal as well. There are some really cool crunchy guitars that reminded me of the work Slash did while in GUNS 'N' ROSES. The vocals are done in a clean but throaty type of Pop Rock style. These guys would be great for any Modern Rock radio station & I think they would build a huge following. If you were to mix up elements of GUNS 'N' ROSES, BUCK CHERRY & a little 3 DOORS DOWN with some THE DARKNESS you'd get a close idea of these guys! |
| ZERO HOUR - DARK DECEIVER (9 track CD) SENSORY ZERO HOUR is back with a new album & a some what new sound. These guys have changed it Progressive sounding with lots of hooks & grooves to suck you in. There is intricate guitar work & fast paced drumming. The vocals are done in a mid ranged melodic Power Progressive style with a bit of a darker edge. There are some lower vocals at time too.. These guys have blown away their last few album with this new release, which was hard cause their previous efforts were amazing as well. Get this disc, as well as their others, you won't be disappointed! |
| MUSIC REVIEWS (May 2008) |
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