| MUSIC REVIEWS Page #2 |
| BLACK WITCHERY/CONQUEROR - HELLSTORM OF EVIL VENGENCE (9 song CD) DARK HORIZON RECORDS This is a split CD release from 2 very raw dark Black Metal bands. The 1st 5 songs are from Florida's BLACK WITCHERY. They play Black Metal in a very raw stripped down style. This is old school Black Metal at it's finest. Very harsh screaming vocals accompanied by blasting Death/Black Grind music. The remaining songs are from a 2 piece called CONQUEROR. They also play a very raw style of Black Metal music with more Death & Noise influences. These guys remind me of GONKULATOR, just not as noisy. Old school Black Metal fans should pick this up!!! - P.O. BOX 195416 / WINTER SPRINGS, FL. 32719-5416 BLOOD BROTHERS, THE - THIS ADULTRY IS RIPE (10 song CD) SECOND NATURE RECORDS This band was formed after the demise of the band VADE. This isn't your typical Punk Rock band in any way. The music has a very experimental electronic sound to it with lots of Noise feelings tossed into the mix. The guitars sound like old anti-everything Punk Rock from the 70's era, while the drums & bass have a Hardcore almost Metal feel to them with some breakdowns & grooves. The vocals are really nasally Punk Rock blended with Hardcore low & high pitched screams. They have a very unique sound to their music. They almost remind me of a Punk Rock version of CANDIRIA mixed with DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN? Kind of weird huh? - 10111 181ST AVE. NE. / REDMOND, WA. 98052 BLOODSTORM - PESTILENCE FROM THE DRAGON STAR (9 song CD) SOUL SOLD MUSIC This is probably one of the most extreme bands to emerge out of Philadelphia. This band plays Black metal to the fullest extent of the meaning. They mix in some element of Thrash, Black & Death Metal to come up with their amazing style of raw Metal. The intensity alone will drive you crazy, in a good way!!! The music is very chaotic filled with carnage of mythological occult sciences & demonology! This is by far one of the better bands in the scene today playing this style!!! get this disc! - P.O. BOX 23034 / PHILADELPHIA, PA. 19124 BOY SETS FIRE - AFTER THE EULOGY (13 song CD) VICTORY RECORDS This is the 4th release from this deep rooted politically concious Hardcore band out of Delaware. They communicate to a wide audience of their sociopolitical perspectives through their heavy melodic Hardcore medium. This band is emotionally charged, heart felt & honest. There are a lot of bands out there spewing forth anger in their music, but BOY SETS FIRE tells us exactly what they are angry about. Very strong aggressive music flowing together with melodic & dramatic, but harsh vocals are what makes this band! This is definately not your typical Hardcore band! - P.O. BOX 303 / NEWARK, DE. 19711 BROKEN EDGE - NO FAME, NO NAME, NO SHAME (7 song CD) THUNDERING (Available through BEOWOLF PRODUCTIONS!) Here is the newest release from this aggressively powerful Heavy Metal act out of France. This is the bands 3rd CD release which shows major progression & maturity than their past efforts. The music is definately centered around Heavy Metal, but throws in some other style to add a little variety & flavor. The music itself is very hard hitting, driving music with lots of cool rythmns & breakdowns. The vocals have a borderline Metal/Hardcore sound to them that at times sound a little groggy. These guys would fit in nicely with the likes of PANTERA, CROWBAR, MACHINE HEAD, FEAR FACTORY & PRO-PAIN. In no way are these guys imitators of these bands though. A great release for all Metal fans to pick up!!! - 1 CHEMIN DU GRAND PUITS / 25290 SCEY-MAISIERES / FRANCE CATASEXUAL URGE MOTIVATION - ENCYCLOPEDIA OF SERIAL MURDERS (22 song CD) RAZORBACK RECORDS This is an extremely sick band out of Tokyo Japan. They play a disturbingly sickening style of murder/gore Grind like no other! The music is insane Grind that goes from slow to fast paced in a very haunting way. I have never heard any other band like this before. The vocals are low gurggling Death growls with high pitched Death growls being spewed out together. This is definately not for everyone, but fans of this style will eat this up!!! - 1-26-3-204, MIYAGI / ADACHI-KU, TOKYO, 120 / JAPAN CEPHALIC CARNAGE - EXPLOITING DYSFUNCTION (15 song CD) RELAPSE RECORDS I have been listening to these guys for years & have loved everything they put out. This release by far was no different. This disc totally blows away anything else they released. The music is total Grind-core all the way. I love this fuckin' band!!! Grind-Grind-Grind!!! This is not your typical Grind-core music though. They take you on a tale of gene splicing & alien manipulation by the way of mixing Grind-core with Death, Rock & some Jazz Fusion. These guys have just redefined Grind-core with this release. Get this disc, now, get it now, now I said!!! - P.O. BOX 140689 / EDGE WATER, CO. 80214-0689 CJSS - KINGS OF THE WORLD (11 song CD) PAVEMENT MUSIC, INC. This is the bands 1st release in a few years & their 3rd all together. They play a very strong, almost epic style of Power/Progressive Metal. The music is very classic Metal all the way. The vocals remind me of Ronnie James Dio a lot mixed with MANOWAR vocals. The music is fast paced, technical, tight sounding Power Metal that keeps reminding me of when I was in high school & 1st getting into Metal. They do have some Thrash Metal influences thrown into the mix to give some variety too! All older Metal fans will want to get their hands on this one! - P.O. BOX 785 / TYRONE, GA. 30290 COFFINTEXT - GODS OF CREATION, DEATH & AFTERLIFE (8 song CD) DWELL RECORDS Hailing from the Los Angeles underground, these guys have released a debut CD of pure Death Metal. This CD is pure hatred seen through the pandemonium of the bizzarre. Listening to this takes you on a journey through the myth of time & through the black heart that is the core of this world. The band just pours out pure hatred in their sound. Very strong, aggressive & intense Death Metal at it's finest. There are some blends of Grind-core & traditional Thrash Metal in their mix as well. Pure Death Metal done in both the old school & new school styles!!! CORROSIVE - ROTTING WITHIN (5 song CD) This is my 1st time experiencing these guys who come from the depths of West Virginia. They play a some what raw sounding style of Thrash/Death Metal. The music is very strongly influenced by Thrash Metal from the riffs to the rythms. There is a lot of grooving in the sound which I liked a lot. The vocals is where I hear the Death Metal coming into play! There is a strong 80's early 90's feel to their sound. Fans of that era will totally love this release. - P.O. BOX 643 / SHADY SPRING, WV. 25918 CRUSH DOWN - LIKE THIS (? song CD) MCA RECORDS This band based out of Florida plays a really diverse style of Metal in the vein of old SOUNDGARDEN. The music is really melodic & flows with a nice rythm from note to note. There is also lots of Metal feels in the guitars like most of the Metal acts played on the radio today. The vocals remind me of SOUNDGARDEN & SAIGON KICK mixed with old STONE TEMPLE PILOTS. These guys would fit in really well with the Metal that is flooding the airways today, but they might get lost, cause they fit too well!!! DARKEST HOUR - THE MARK OF THE JUDAS (9 song CD) M.I.A. RECORDS This was a surprise to me. I don't know what I was expecting, but I know it wasn't this. These guys have a nice blend of Metal & Hardccore that's like none I've heard before. They mix contemporary Swedish Death Metal & American Hardcore together in their sound. There is a thick dark sludgy feel intertwind with lots of grooves & rythms. This is two of my favorite styles of music all in one that delves into the darker side!!! This is a great release. A must for old CARCASS & ENTOMBED fans!!! DEAD ZEPPELIN - A METAL TRIBUTE TO LED ZEPPELIN (12 song CD) DWELL RECORDS This compilation pays tribute to one of the most definative Metal acts of all time! There is a mixture of styles from Black Metal to Goth to Thrash Metal. All the bands are covering LED ZEPPELIN tunes doing it all in their own special way. Their are 12 songs & 12 bands compiled for this tribute. Some bands are ARISE-"Communication Breakdown", SOLUS-"Rock N Roll", MALAMOR-"Out On The Tiles", ORANGE MOON-"Nobody's Fault But Mine" & more. I'm not sure how much LED ZEPPELIN fans are going to like this, but I know a lot of Death Metal fans will! - P.O. BOX 39439 / LOS ANGELES, CA. 90039 |