Crucinix

Essential Melodic Death Metal.

2008-09-01T07:53:00.000-07:00

I'm not a big melodic death metal fan,i rather like old-school and technical death metal,but still there are some albums of this genre that i find interesting.Most of the albums i am going to post are classics of the genre,so you might already have them...but i'm still going to post them.

At The Gates - Slaughter Of The Soul (1995)

At The Gates is probably the best melodic death metal band ever (the best one i ever
heard at least),they're what melodic death should be like : fast,agressive and..aghh melodic.

Carcass - Heatwork(1993)

Most people say that what Carcass does the best is grindcore,well i beg to differ,check this album out and you'll see what i'm talking about.

In Flames - Jester Race (1995)

I hate almost everything that In Flames has done after this album...it's hard to believe that the band that released this masterpiece is now just a lame alternative metal band.

Dark Tranquility - The Gallery(1995)

I don't know much about them,except the fact that they're one of the first melo-death bands (alongside In Flames and At The Gates) and that they rock.

Amon Amarth - Versus The World(2002)

At first i wanted to post their lastest album,Twilight of The Thunder God,which is really awesome,but most of you already have it,so i decided to post another one of their records...

Arch Enemy - Burning Bridges (1999)

I never liked the Angela Gossow-era Arch Enemy,so i'm gonna post one of their album with Johan Liiva...a death metal woman vocalist is worse then it sounds,trust me.

Children Of Bodom - Hate Crew Deathroll(2003)

Children of Bodom are cool,they're pretty technical mostly thanks to Laiho's guitarwork,and they have some nice melodies...

Dethklok - The Dethalbum

I posted this album some time ago,you can find the post through the link...

If you have suggestions for other classic melodic death metal albums leave a comment or something...

Sludge or thrash ? Why not both...

2008-08-30T15:28:00.000-07:00

Lair Of The Minotaur - Carnage

You all probably know what Lair Of The Minotaur is all about,so i'm gonna make this a short one : if you're a Black Cobra or High On Fire fan,download this,if not,well you should still download it.

"Raise your horned hands, metal brethren! A new group is in our midst, unleashing the most nefarious concoction of Slayer, Celtic Frost, Sabbath, and Venom yet. The name of these evildoers? Lair of the Minotaur. Not only does this trio's heavy metal joyride keep it real, they keep it amazingly heavy, dynamic, sludgy, and...conceptual? Yup. Each song off of Carnage's eight tracks recounts a tale from Greek mythology as they pound you into the ground with sick riffs and terse rhythms. They even throw in some keyboards for that black metal touch on the diabolic "Demon Serpent". LOTM project a stunning display of metal awareness, as Carnage is fully blessed by the gods of metal as worthy."(review from somewhere on the internet)

Groove metal pioneers...

2008-08-17T04:35:00.000-07:00

Exhorder - Discography

This is the band that practicly invented the groove metal sound with their first album,"Slaughter In The Vatican"...Pantera ripped of the band's music,after they turned from glam,but you will probably notice this anyway.These two albums are a must-have for any thrash/post-thrash fan.Here's a review for "The Law" :

"Their debut, Slaughter In Vatican, was very thrash for 1990. It was released in a period of general crises in thrash metal and this The Law shows some of the viruses that would have caused the death of thrash metal. The most obvious and famous one is groove. It�s so evident and clear to anyone if you listen to this album. Anyways, I must admit that I like this album much more than the other ones that featured these damaging influences.

What really blows my mind is the guitars tune. Already in their debut there was a truly pounding guitars sound but here is almost unbelievable. If you remember the Exodus sound in that period, here we can find that tune but here it�s far more scratchy and devastating with plenty of treble distortions on the amplifiers. The songs are a good bland of fastest parts with some down tempo and groove mid paced parts; the hyper clear production exalts all the instruments, transforming the guitars sound in an impenetrable wall.

The drums are clear cut but not pounding, creating a prefect musical detachment from the hyper artificial guitars. The only thing that seems a bit triggered is the bass drum that sounds so similar to groups like Heathen and Overkill in that period. One of the fastest tracks here is �Unforgiven� with plenty of sudden restarts under the sign of fast bass drums triplets and up tempo. The opener shows also some arpeggios and the classic faster mid paced riffs that are so common in this genre.

The violence level is always high, thanks also to fast bass drums of �I Am The Cross�. �Unborn Again� is the most progressive tracks of the album because it shows some funky bass parts and different guitars. The vocals are a violent, pissed off copy of the ones by Anselmo and all the songs, generally, are very similar to the Pantera compositions for style and attitude. Also some groove tempo parts are very similar but here everything is far heavier.

Really, I�m not able to describe the damned guitars tone, and reaching the end of this album could be very dangerous for your ears, or better, for your mental sanity. It�s like being close to a continue chainsaw that tries to cut a door made of metal. Obviously, the thrash metal influences here are far less present and audible than on their debut and I can describe this album �as if Pantera were thrasher and with more balls�. There is also an excellent cover of �Into The Void� by Black Sabbath and, with these sounds, it�s even more doom and heavy.

At the end, I feel a bit hesitant which category of listeners I can recommend this album to. There are several fast parts but it�s necessary you to forget a bit the thrash metal to jump into the groove genre. You all know how much I hate groove but if it�s well filtered through violence and a bunch of damned heavy and restless riffs, there are no problems at all. Just avoid listening to it if you already have the headache that day."(review from metal-arhives.com)

Too many notes...too many notes ! ARRRGGHHH!!

2008-08-14T15:07:00.000-07:00

The Dillinger Escape Plan - Irony Is A Dead Scene EP

The Dillinger Escape Plan has a lot of haters in the underground metal scene and i have to admit,i was one of them...well,i was until they released this EP with Mike Patton and Patton doesn't just work with any crappy band.

"The Dillinger Escape Plan and Mike Patton; the very thought made us feel giddy, as rumors of Patton possibly joining DEP to replace the departed Dimitri Minakakis at the time floated about. One of extreme music's most prominent technical-metal outfits, headed by one of rock's most versatile vocalists. In the end, they were only rumors, but out of it came a "meeting of the minds" between the two in "Irony Is A Dead Scene," a four-song collaboration on Epitaph Records.

The first track, "Hollywood Squares," kicks off with a whirlwind of discordant guitar chords, heavy support from the rhythm section, and Patton's distorted vocals, which vary between singing, whispers, yells, yelps, and maniacal staccato-like phrases. As expected, Dillinger throws in countless twists and turns musically, as the track transitions through more straight-forward beats and music, complicated riffing and finger picking, and stop-and-go rhythms. For each musical segment, it seems as if the vocals undergo a change stylistically, which should come as no surprise considering it is Mike Patton.

A quirky, yet clean guitar line opens up for "Pig Latin," the EP's second song. As the measures progress, percussion, keyboards, and vocals enter and build up to a head, where Patton screams some gibberish ("Chinga!"), followed by verses. The song itself is in a standard 4/4 time signature, but the guitar line and riffing give it a "math," or almost off-time feel. Following a brief harmonic transition, the tune begins to speed up with some standard power chord riffing. Another change takes place, where the song slows down while Patton sings (with several vocal track overdubs for harmonization purposes) along with drums, keyboards, and sparse guitars. Everything finally returns to the original guitar line and verses from the beginning. Of the three original tracks, "Pig Latin" is probably the least technical song of the bunch.

"When Good Dogs Do Bad Things" begins with Patton screaming "I'm the best you'll ever have," followed by blistering dissonant riffing and percussion that is classic Dillinger. Things slow down a bit, only to lead into bizarre vocals that sound like a cassette recorder playing a tape on fast forward, yells of "Mommy," and yells of "Uh's" and "Ows." It's clear that Patton uses a myriad of filters and vocal effects throughout the album. A calm, but eerie peace then overtakes the track with singing and light music, setting up probably the most melodic moment on the EP. Dual guitar picking and harmonization with keyboards accompany Patton's crisp vocals that are borderline deep spoken word. These segments seesaw between high-pitched screams and distorted guitars. The drums do an admirable job of anchoring everything down, and just when you think the track is over with its keyboards and what sounds like a film reel coming to an end, the music and vocals come in for one last hurrah.

The final cut of the CD is a cover of Aphex Twin's (a.k.a. Richard D. James) "Come To Daddy." Honestly, Dillinger and Patton do an excellent job covering this song. The vocals and music are all on cue, and Dillinger even adds a little of its own flair into the track with some complex muted guitar riffing in selected areas. My only complaint would be with the drums. I guess I was expecting something even more complex given Chris Pennie's incredible drumming ability, but who am I to complain? He does an excellent job with the intricate percussion of the original tune, and doesn't overdo the presentation.

Being one of hardcore and metal's most outstanding bands, it's expected that Dillinger Escape Plan bring the highest level of musicianship. This bar, that they set, is raised even higher, considering Patton is involved. Fear not, for both have heeded the call. The music is tight, and the musicianship is first-rate.

The production of the album is smooth and not overdone. In terms of the record's mix, Patton's vocals stand out the most. But this makes sense considering he's at the vocal helm, and given his talent and flexibility, you'd want to write music around Patton to accentuate his singing. That's not to say that Dillinger loses anything musically. Indeed, the music is just as complex and mind-boggling as always, but the record is a joint effort and, therefore, will work around the vocals while still retaining the band's unique sound. This is evident by the greater use of repetition, whether it is a chorus or verse. Further, the utilization of keyboards and noise is emphasized even more than in the past, and is almost reminiscent of Faith No More at times.

Lyrically, Patton pens some interesting phrases that conjure up strange and twisted visual images. I'm not even going to attempt to analyze what he's thinking. Visually, the layout of the record, on first look, is almost identical to "Calculating Infinity" in terms of the color and scheme. An orange insert has a collage of images that include a young child, a hunting knife, and gears. The back is also predominantly orange, but also contains other earth colors. Meanwhile, the black insert that wraps around the orange insert includes lyrics typed over a drawing of an amp tube. It would've been nice to get a little more from the layout in a form of a booklet, but a brief video montage of the band in the recording studio makes up for that. Within the clip, you'll be able to see each member doing their thing in the studio, as well as Patton going over several song versus, the gadgets he uses to achieve his vocal effects, and general clowning around.

Bottom Line: This is an excellent collaboration between Dillinger and Patton. To be honest, it took me a few spins to truly appreciate this CD, and I would consider myself both an avid Dillinger and Patton fan. The music is top notch, the vocals are insane, and both combined will take listeners on an interesting ride. For those unfamiliar with Dillinger and Patton, or if you've just recently gotten into Dillinger, I'd advise you to take the extra time and look into Patton's other works before delving into this EP. And to everyone, take your time when listening to this release. Throw all your Dillinger expectations out the window. This isn't going to be "Calculating Infinity: Part II," or Mike Patton singing Dillinger Escape Plan songs the way Dimitri Minakakis used to sing them. This is a joint effort written together by both parties, and will display unique elements from the two. Also note that this is no indication of what is to come for their full-length. This is a one shot deal and as mentioned before, the music was written with Patton's vocals in mind. In the end, this EP just makes me want to hear what Dillinger has in store for us going forward. Hopefully, you'll feel the same."(review from ahh nevermind i forgot)

Keeping the old school thrash alive...

2008-08-11T15:15:00.000-07:00

Aggression - Thrashing Your Brain EP(2008)

Agression is a canadian thrash metal band.They play 80s old thrash,and they play it awesome:brutally fast riffs,bone crushing drums and all the other crap.As long as band like this will be,thrash metal will never die !

(i can't find a review...in fact im just too lazy to search one so just download the fucking EP)

Let's see if they screw this one up...

2008-08-10T13:15:00.000-07:00

Metallica - Cyanite (New Track)

This is a new track from Metallica,they played it at Ozzfest 2009 and damn...it's pretty good,nothing that can top the old stuff but still,not bad.

I can see an UFO...

2008-08-10T11:33:00.001-07:00

Strapping Young Lad - Alien

Another great album from Townsend's band...

"This album absolutely owns! While I do enjoy Strapping�s other work, �Alien� completely obliterates them all!

Once you listen to track one, Imperial, it really sets the mood for what the rest of the album holds. It�s dark, it�s scary, and it�s goddamn brilliant. Each track is different in it�s own way, but they all retain the same heaviness and darkness and that unique SYL quality.

The guitars really set the atmosphere of the album. They�re not overpowering the other instruments like on their self-titled, yet they�re not in the background either. They�re at the right volume to be forceful but not dominant. With the playing, it�s impeccable. Both Devin and Jed mostly use the lower strings, but occasionally come out with something that could sound like a solo, but never eventuates (Shitstorm, Shine). We Ride is the only song with solo�s, and while they�re good, it�s better that they limited it to one song, as the album really didn�t need solo�s and endless wankery everywhere. The drumming is also tightly played. Some of the beats he does are awesome, not to mention that in some parts of the album, you�ll find that the beats are more complex than originally thought (for example, at 2:08 in Shine, he adds � hi-hats in a 4/4 beat. I never noticed that until much later, and it was a very interesting find!). It just makes the music that much more technical and interesting.

The best part of the album has to be the vocals. Not many albums can state that the vocals are the best quality of the music, but I think here it is. It�s unlike Devin�s other work. He does his usual clean singing (Love?) and regular harsh vocals, but then occasionally he�ll come out with a very long scream (Love?, Thalamus) that would surely render my lungs unusable.

One of the most stand-out songs is definitely Shitstorm. One of the most negative, hate-filled songs to be ever produced, it really shows Devin Townsend�s state of mind at the time. The song climbs and climbs until it reaches a peak where Devin screams �I fucking hate myself! Everything about this is fucked!�, and then descends back down to normality again. Brilliant.

After the seventh track, your mind needs time to recover from what hit it, so track eight�s Two Weeks is a slower, acoustic piece to bring you back to the real world again. It works as an intermission, and oddly enough, it does its job perfectly. Somehow, it fits with the rest of the album, which by any metal album�s standards, shouldn�t. It�s very�classy. That�s the only way to describe it.

Skeksis is another excellent track, easily my favourite. It�s a long one, which takes over two minutes to get started, but the whole thing is quality. At 4:14, Gene become a human drum machine, essentially playing the same thing over and over until 5:31, yet it never gets boring. Also, at 4:14, a guitar riff comes in from the rhythm guitar that will have you automatically headbanging. Awesome stuff.

It wouldn�t be feasible for me to explain the highlights of every song, because I think I�ve made my point. Basically, this album is the heaviest, and probably will be the heaviest, album of Strapping Young Lad�s discography. If you love heavy death metal, this album has to be in your collection. Let the insanity begin."(review from metal-arhives.com)

Death fucking metal...

2008-08-09T05:43:00.000-07:00

Morbid Angel - Altar of Madness

Old school death metal album from old school death metal band...

"What we have here is a death metal classic from the early days. This one should always be mentioned when discussing the old DM together with Consuming Impulse, Scream Bloody Gore and Left Hand Path. Yes, this is one of the best 10 death metal albums of all time. One can conclude by now this also still is the ultimate Morbid Angel album.

The album has no bad songs. The whole album is one briliant concept which starts en end in quality. The into to �Immortal Rites� is cool in the evil kind of way and not too long. �Immortal Rites� itself is filled with changes in pace and massive aggressive riffs.

�Maze Of Torment�, �Bleed For The Devil� and �Blaphemy� are the fastest and most aggressive tunes here and the �catchy� anthem �Chapel of Ghouls� a fan fave and live classic. Talking about catchy, check out the chorus of �Damnation�. The original CD bonus track �Lord Of All Fevors and Plague� also is one of the best songs on the album. Why they choose this song not to be on all version of the album remains a mystery.

The performance is great. Sandoval rules on drums just like he did on the Terrorizer debut and both these album carved his name in stone forever. Compare the versions on this album to their earlier recordings with Mike Browning and it becomes obvious how important Sandoval is to the speed and intensity fo the material.

Azagtoth and Brunelle both excel on leads and it still is a shame Brunelle isn�t in the group anymore. Last but not least we have mr. Vincent who sounds really great on this album. Most notible difference with other Morbid Angels album (on which he sang) is his raspy voice here. No deep grunt but I remember reading an interview back in those days in which he said he had a cold of something similar when he recorded his vocals for Altars Of Madness. Well all I can say is, make sure you�re sick the next time you record with Morbid Angel because his vocals here are the best in his entire career! They�re beyond evil and eerie.

The sound is utterly briliant. Whereas the next album would sound too deep and polished (thus losing the sense of speed and aggression at some points) with sterile drums this one is still natural, clear and brutal. Guitars have plenty of definition and the whole sound is perfectly balanced to match the concept. This album is a masterpiece."(review from metal-arhives.com)

Metalocalypse rules !

2008-08-08T15:36:00.001-07:00

Dethklok - The Deathalbum

You all probably heard of Deathklok,it's that death metal band from Metalocalypse,the coolest cartoon ever about heavy metal..ergh maybe the only one too.Since Dethklok is a band from a cartoon you're all probably thinking this is crap,well you're fucking wrong.I'm a fan of comedy rock,i like shit like Tenacious D and Flight of The Conchords ,yep i'm a sucker for funny lyrics...that's why i posted this one.

"I find this album to be one of my favorites. The band, or the two guys who play instruments that the cartoons take credit for I should say, has managed to combine elements of melodic death metal, some old school death metal, and hints of black metal. It is funny how a �joke band� has produced better music than some of the so-called �serious� bands.

The main highlight of this album, in my opinion, is the lead and rhythm guitars. The rhythm guitar riffs are very simplistic in such songs like �Go Into the Water�, �Murmaider�, and �Dethharmonic�. During these songs, however, the lead guitar plays its vital role in providing the perfect level of harmony to the music. The guitar solos are simply amazing. In the cartoon, they say that their lead guitarist is the fastest guitarist in the world. I would not say that these are the fastest solos I�ve heard, but they work very well with the rest of the music.

The bass is hard to hear in most of the songs. Once again, in the cartoon, they say that they usually mix the bass out. However, the bass can be heard very well in the song Thunderhorse. The bass lines are nothing like Alex Webster, but they add a certain flavor to the song. The drums are another highlight. The double-bass kicks are present, but not constant. They hold on to the rhythm, and they do not overpower as most drums do in ninety percent of most metal.

The vocals are something interesting. On the surface, it sounds like your normal death metal vocals. However, they are not so deep and rough that you cannot understand the lyrics, which are one of the defining aspects of Dethklok. In most of the songs, they seem to be used very little, but this is only to allow for the guitars and drums to show their musicianship.

I recommend this album. I think anyone who can get over the concept of Dethklok being a �joke band� then they will enjoy this."(review from metal-arhives.com)

Black fucking metal...

2008-08-08T12:03:00.000-07:00

Negura Bunget - OM

OM is one of the best black metal album from my country,if not THE best...just read the fucking review.

"It is with "struggling perception" that I write these words in the context of this latest Negură Bunget release - "OM" is a complex and layered piece of work and I feel reviewing it would serve an injustice. Music reviews tend to "trap" music by defining it, and I feel this conflicts with "OM" because it's a piece of work which I consider one of the most "vast" I have ever heard.

"OM" can not be approached from a typical Black Metal perspective. To do so would completely ridicule the amount of work that has gone into this new release and pigeonhole it.

This is not an "album": after listening to it countless times, watching the DVD which accompanies the music, accounting for the bands spirituality, combined with the complete visual presentation, I will say that "OM" is "a document", but I use this term as "vastly" as I can. Perhaps saying it's an "experience" is a better portrayal.

"OM" indirectly extends from the treat we got with the Inarborat Kosmos EP, but does so on a truly epic scale. One could almost say that Negură Bunget's entire existence has built up to this release: it combines their journey so far, but then leaps above to a new, almost unfathomable level.

This release is almost "sacred", it is highly conceptualised. Every note played or sung, every drum beat every growl or shriek and every ambient interlude seems to have a clear metaphysical and natural expressive purpose. The album seems to be written and performed in such a way that it is like air: everywhere, flowing through everything, almost physically touchable, having colour and yet having none.

Without being able to decipher the lyrics, I can only draw upon my feelings: this music is about cosmic life. It is about existence on a spiritually vast, yet physically small level. Our physically minute place in the universe, and the vast size of our metaphysical selves. This is what the music, using Black Metal (as a foundation only) speaks to me.

I say Black Metal is used as a foundation because this is where Negură Bunget's path has logically led to. Black Metal influences are still there as they were on "'N Crugu Bradului", but now the music has grown into something with more breath, and funnily enough, I think we first got hint of this higher maturity on "'N Crugu Bradului".

There are more sweeping (note, NOT melodic) elements to the music, we are treated to more ambient soundscapes, sounds of nature itself and excellent use of folk instruments as Negură Bunget have never shown us before. For those seeking the Negură Bunget Black Metal elements, fear not, they are still present, but now balanced with a majestic element to the music, a strikingly obvious and higher maturity delivered via exceptional musical execution.

"OM" can not just be listened to, it must be experienced via multiple senses: emotion, visual and aural in order to make complete sense. I found I came to this realisation more so when I had watched the DVD (more about this realisation in a moment).

The DVD component of "OM" (and I do consider it to be part of "OM" as much as the audio CD is) is jawdropping, the work that has gone into it is truly impressive: the band interview is fascinating and a must-see in order to gain more insight into the music. Every pixel of the artwork, every audible sound and spoken sentence has been paid attention, and despite some material on the DVD being pre-OM, it is VERY relevant to this release.

I highly suggest that people watch the DVD first, and THEN listen to "OM" itself. Because of the spiritual nature of this release, it is a necessity to comprehend and understand what their expression is about. It will make "OM" much more logical to take in.

It has been a long wait, but a wait that has been worth it like few albums have. This is not for the faint of heart, nor for the those seeking mindless aggression from their music.

"OM" is pure expression, done in ways that Metal has not seen the likes of before. In my opinion, it is a landmark release: Negură Bunget have finally achieved their higher level of expression. For what I believe in the first time of the history of Black Metal, taken us on a true journey of transcendence.

An outstanding piece of work.
10/10"(review from metal-arhives.com)

Feeding on me,growing inside,this parasite...

2008-08-07T11:00:00.000-07:00

Six Feet Under - Haunted

I'm a big fan of groovy shit and i'm also a big fan of agressive shit so this album is a classic for me...

"Departure of Chris Barnes from Cannibal Corpse, just before recording of "Vile", was a direct shock to all death metal fans worldwide. Many of them said CC is dead and that nothing can save them. Well they were damn wrong - Alex and company released some of the best albums in career afterwards, while Barnes formed one more kick ass band - Six Feet Under. In the start, this was a super-project, featuring legends of death metal such Allen West (ex-Obituary, Lowbrow) and Terry Butler (ex-Death, Massacre), together with less known Greg Gall. Barnes stayed on vocals of course. All those people that had doubts about this new band could say nothing to "Haunted". This debut album of Six Feet Under was released in 1995 and it features classical, raw death metal. If you don't like it, you don't like death metal in general - it's that simple! This mid-tempo death metal stayed out of new brutal death metal wave and brought smiles to the face of old-school fans. "The Enemy Within", "Lycanthropy", "Beneath A Black Sky" and "Suffering In Ecstasy" are simply the metal hymns. Nothing more, nothing less. Guitars are heavy, some could say simple, but very catchy. Riffs are memorable, and you will hear yourself soon singing the powerful chorus. Barnes' vocals are dominant and nothing stands in his way. Not overproduced like on the last two SFU's releases, but simply heavy as a ten-ton hammer. You won't hear much leads, only few, here and there. But anyway, songs sound really good, you won't miss them. I think this is most honest album of Six Feet Under. The spirit of true death metal is here! It is true that their playing same simple death metal music, but hey, it's not all about playing something complex and new! Sometimes you just need a brutal music, you need a bunch of energy slapped into your face - and here you will find it - get haunted damn it!"(review from metal-arhives.com)

I'm already running out of stupid titles,god dammit.

2008-08-07T05:16:00.000-07:00

Grip .inc - Incorporated

This band is the side project of Dave Lombardo,the drummer from Slayer...

"For their fourth album, Grip Inc. has solidified into a terrifically cold and destructive metal machine. While a lot of underground acts in the early 2000s strived to emulate the increasingly popular medieval torture devices (so to speak) of Scandinavia's finest, Incorporated is thoroughly modern, an impressively clinical and precise record, fully industrialized and loaded with razor-sharp riffs, ballsy vocals, and thunder drums. European producer and guitarist extraordinaire Waldemar Sorchyta is Grip Inc.'s main creative force, but on-again, off-again Slayer drummer Dave Lombardo gives the band a chilly technical edge that is uniquely the product of the mind-bogglingly influential skinsman. Add in vocalist Gus Chambers' powerful, full-bodied vocals -- refreshingly, there are no affected death growls here, just a deep well of a throat that refuses to shy away from a thick melody -- and Incorporated successfully bucks many of metal's genre-specific trends (i.e., mindless death metal brutality, mosh-happy retro-thrash, grating black metal scrapes, boneheaded hardcore grunt'n'shoves). The album is simultaneously mechanistic and tribal, at times flavored with Middle Eastern melodies and electronic flourishes, Sorchyta's steamroller mix blotting out the sun and meshing perfectly with compellingly twisty arrangements. The guitarist's artery-bursting riffs churn, bubble, and boil during precision speedsters "Curse (Of the Cloth)" and "Endowment of Apathy," while midtempo march "(Built To) Resist" spotlights Lombardo's in-the-pocket prowess (he inarguably has the best feet in metal) while piling on, fugue-like, a vaguely sinister string arrangement and dense melodic layers, eventually building to a mountainous, weighty climax. Point being, Incorporated is a collection of top-flight riffs smartly choreographed into 11 spot-on tunes highlighted by performances brimming over with personality (although Lombardo reins in the experimentalism of weirdo Mike Patton project Fantômas and his solo work) and chops to spare. It's another impressive effort -- like 1999's hopelessly overlooked Solidify -- for Grip Inc., whose increasingly impressive discography has been met with a collectively indifferent shrug from too many metal aficionados. Here's hoping Incorporated enlightens more to this well-seasoned, pseudo-supergroup collective, which seems disparate on paper, but truly is greater than the sum of its parts." (review from allmusic.com)

90s classic...

2008-08-07T02:43:00.000-07:00

Strapping Young Lad - City

Devin Townsend is a fucking lunatic.

"A sense of humor is something that very few artists in underground metal possess -- and that's precisely why Canadian Devin Townsend and his wall-of-noise industrial-thrash outfit Strapping Young Lad stand out amongst the melee. City is a fine example of Townsend's metal-mad scientist approach (dubbed "Devy metal" by affectionate followers): An absolutely manic cyber-grind propelled by the elephant stampede kicked up by drummer extraordinaire Gene Hoglan (ex-Death, Dark Angel), thickened by frenzied, nigh out of control guitar riffs and existing in a cloudy electro-haze of pulverized circuit boards crushed to dust, shot into the atmosphere, and breathed in by all involved parties. So this album's predecessor, Heavy as a Really Heavy Thing, was appropriately titled, although City is a smidgen more focused, mature, and, yes, heavy, although Townsend's subsequent solo projects, Ocean Machine, Infinity, Physicist, and Terria, are less overtly metallic, more fully realized, prog-influenced, and ambitious. What makes Strapping Young Lad most compelling isn't the band's capacity for schizoid arrangements, but rather Townsend's realization that the over the top clichés of the metal genre -- which he robustly embraces with a maniacal grin -- are innately absurd. So he trots out irony-packed tunes such as "Oh My Fucking God," "All Hail the New Flesh," and "AAA" with such ridiculous bombast and bizarre, borderline non sequitur lyrics (a quick sample: "Devy in the corner of his teen year/Born to run away/Children in the middle with the village idiot/So he never made the potty grade" from "AAA"), all used to skewer the inherent ludicrousness of not just metal, but life in general. On the surface, City is a noisy excuse to put yourself in a neck brace, but closer inspection will reveal Townsend's mentally depraved genius, his mind weighted down with, um, really heavy things."(review from allmusic.com)

All souls can fly...

2008-07-15T12:17:00.000-07:00

Soulfly - Conquer [2008]

After their last album The Dark Ages,Soulfly rose in my eyes.Normally my expectations for this album were high,and by the time the first track was over i came to one conclusion...Max does it again ! I'm gonna pick this sucker up...

No comment...

2008-07-14T15:05:00.000-07:00

The 'groove' in 'groove metal'

2008-07-14T09:56:00.000-07:00

Droid - Droid (2007)

Droid is a groove metal band with death metal influences,they have released only one album until now that i find great.Listen to songs like "My Oath","Built To Last" and "No Gods No Master",they're truly adrenaline fueled and heavy as shit...but hell the whole album is all killer no filler.

"Talk about being in the right place at the right time -- the way Long Beach, CA metallists Droid got signed was by playing a show at the Whisky-A-Go-Go, which was attended by Korn guitarist Munky. It just so happened that the man known for his admiration of seven-string guitars was also scouting bands to sign to his about-to-be-launched label, Emotional Syphon Recordings, and Droid was the first act to get the nod (and as an added bonus, getting to tour with Korn before having any recordings in the shops). Which brings us to their 2007 self-titled debut -- with none other than Munky serving as "executive producer." With all these Korn-konnections, it shouldn't come as a surprise that Droid's sound at times reflects their big brothers during their irate moments -- but they're more of a straight-ahead metal band (few artsy fartsy bits reside here). In fact, judging by such ditties as the album opening "The Resurrection" and "God of Anger," the quintet isn't bashful in breaking out the death metal (especially the group's growler/screamer, James "Buddy" Eason). And wouldn't you know it, another Korn-approved pal drops by for a bit -- Deftones' singer Chino Moreno -- on the bash n' rager, "Vengeance Is Mine." This is one Droid whose power supply appears to be bubbling over with anger."(review from allmusic.com)

All you need is a long beard,cheap glasses and a guitar...

2008-07-13T13:43:00.000-07:00

ZZTop - Tres Hombres

A blues-rock classic,a masterpice,those are just two tags that perfectly describe ZZTop 's third album,Tres Hombres.In my opinion this is ZZTop's best album,cause it almost makes you forget that this band released synth-pop influenced songs like "Legs" and "Gimme all your lovin'".

"res Hombres is the record that brought ZZ Top their first Top Ten record, making them stars in the process. It couldn't have happened to a better record. ZZ Top finally got their low-down, cheerfully sleazy blooze-n-boogie right on this, their third album. As their sound gelled, producer Bill Ham discovered how to record the trio so simply that they sound indestructible, and the group brought the best set of songs they'd ever have to the table. On the surface, there's nothing really special about the record, since it's just a driving blues-rock album from a Texas bar band, but that's what's special about it. It has a filthy groove and an infectious feel, thanks to Billy Gibbons' growling guitars and the steady propulsion of Dusty Hill and Frank Beard's rhythm section. They get the blend of bluesy shuffles, gut-bucket rocking, and off-beat humor just right. ZZ Top's very identity comes from this earthy sound and songs as utterly infectious as "Waitin' for the Bus," "Jesus Just Left Chicago," "Move Me on Down the Line," and the John Lee Hooker boogie "La Grange." In a sense, they kept trying to remake this record from this point on -- what is Eliminator if not Tres Hombres with sequencers and synthesizers? -- but they never got it better than they did here."(review from allmusic.com)

I need some food...

2008-07-11T04:29:00.000-07:00

Zico Chain - Food

A hard rock trio from UK...not much to say about this band except the fact that it rocks !

"
Feeding off the meat of Metallica, Tool and Mudhoney for years has led up to a rough n’ ready, rugged and garish debut album that builds upon a concrete base of tempo switching guitars and the gnarly, grizzly vocal leanings of Chris Glithero. Right from the ironically titled ‘Pretty Pictures’, The Zico Chain build in eerie atmospheric, instrumental deviations driven from a foundation of throbbing and menacing bass, and so begins Food. The latter element is also provided by Glithero who controls the tempo and the mood adeptly with his varied contributions. A love of 80s alternative music seeps through this eleven track stomp that features spasms of paranoid release and intense build-ups. The racing title track oozes youthful bemusement and the James Hetfield in Glithero comes crashing out. For a trio, The Zico Chain possesses variety and bite from the hounding 80s, garage rock veined ‘Roll Over’ to the haunting and metallic tinged ‘Preach’. For the latter jaunt, the lyrical simplicity that speaks of megalomaniac tendencies bears out best the vocal range on display, as a soft and sombre touch gives the frantic howls that often follow, more poignancy. Guitar fluidity is on refreshing display for the downtrodden ‘No Hoper Boy’, it draws attention away from the slightly clichéd and uninspiring lyrics.

‘All Eyes On Me’, represents the biggest departure for this tortuous trio, in the form of the racing rockabilly style instrumental commencement and the post-grunge, mournful kick that builds in later on, as the vocals get throatier and deeper. Lyrically speaking, it is the deepest that Zico gets and it bears out searching, coming of age poetry. The album gets lyrically stronger as it progresses and the clanging percussion and churning guitar driven final track ‘Anaemia’, sets things up neatly for Glithero to authoritatively spill out a tale of bewilderment. The stop and start nature of the track adds to the drama and gives it a slight rock opera feel. ‘Food’ is a debut full-length that is probably going to grow in critical acclaim, as this fledgling band grows and produces more albums. It will certainly be one to look back on and is a step towards justifying the saviour of British rock tag that is being slapped on them, by desperate commentators looking for life and fight in this discipline."(review from http://www.musicemissions.com)

Rock'n'Rollin' with the Death

2008-07-06T12:43:00.000-07:00

Entombed - To Ride,Shoot Straight and Speak The Truth...(1997)

I'll say just three words..Instant Classic..owh wait those were two.

"This review may seem somewhat dated as this release has been available on import since March, but with the good people at BMG giving _To Ride..._ the domestic treatment here in Canada I thought I'd review it. Not to mention that this was one of the best records of 1997; those who haven't heard this gem of a record should keep reading. _To Ride..._ truly embodies the phrase "death n' roll" as it has been accurately described. Simply put: this rocks! The guitars are still heavy (check out the opening title track) and L-G's vocals are as powerful as they've always been. Tracks such as "Like this with the Devil", "Damn Deal Done" and the rampaging closer "Wreckage" (the name of Entombed's new EP) show how Entombed have grown and can still belt out some heavy ditties. Production-wise this sounds a little rougher than the band's last outing _Wolverine Blues_, but then again, who says rock and roll was pretty? Entombed are a force to be reckoned with, so those who haven't picked this up yet are urged to do so immediately. As for what's happening with the band now? The latest news is that drummer Nicke Andersson has left the band to devote his time to his other project The Hellacopters. Plans for Entombed to play North America haven't as yet been cancelled, so early next year you may be able to see this band crush at a club near you. In the meantime, check out their last release and bask in the heaviness that is Entombed."(review from chroniclesofchaos.com)

a new kind of breed...CROWBREED

2008-07-05T05:33:00.000-07:00

Kingdom of Sorrow - Kingdom of Sorrow

Kingdom Of Sorrow is a nice combination of Jasta and Windstein's other bands. It has elements of harsh and fierce metalcore, but also a southern metal/stoner groove. You'll hear slow to mid-tempo songs with a lot of melody and a lot of aggression along with metallic hardcore influenced, breakdown infused brutality.

Thrash is not dead...yet

2008-07-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

Evile-Enter The Grave (2007)

This album is a straight forward thrash album,it has everything you can expect from one :speed,horror and brutality.

"TTTHHHRRRAAASSSHHH!!! When you have a band member wearing an ONSLAUGHT shirt in the back cover of the promo copy...well, let�s start with a 6/10 grade by default (even if the CD is blank inside), huh! I don�t know if there actually is a UK New Thrash Wave floating round in the island (I�d be informed by now...) but with EVILE and "Enter The Grave" let�s start one (again), you muthas!

Britain is honored to have developed most (if not all) Metal styles. It is also pointed as diminishing them after some years, to develop the next one(s). Anyway, in �extreme� Metal terms there are not much to chat about UK�s contribution since names like ONSLAUGHT, ACID REIGN, SABBAT, XENDRIX, WARFARE and (influential or influenced) VENOM, NAPALM DEATH and CARCASS speak for themselves. EVILE breath life for not more than a handful of years but seem rather confident for a first album and - if things move on naturally - Britain has just obtained another Thrash star.

The Drake brothers have done a helluva job in the guitars section, with tons of old-school riffs spreading like hell, accompanied y demonic soloing and firing leads. Matt�s hands are more than steady, bringing on headbanging chords while Ol has studied a lot his lessons in violence �penned� by his favorite 80s Thrash Metal teachers. As regards the rhythm section, Mike Alexander is 100% pounding (even if I�d like his work to be more in-the-front) while few can be said �bout Ben Carter�s drumming. Complex yet imminent, powerful but sharp, he likes Dave Lombardo a lot and he�s a strong �ace� in the band�s ranks.

The songs themselves will fulfill your 80s Thrash needs by default. Riffs, breaks, grooves, speed, evil singing, lunacy, mid-tempo moshing, soloing paranoia, extreme harmonies, etc. No tune stands way ahead from the others, but I did bang my head endlessly to the monstrosity of "Thrasher", "Man Against Machine" and "Armoured Assault". EVILE perform great music that sounds fresh enough, even if bringing mega bands like SLAYER (mainly), ANNIHILATOR, (old) METALLICA, (mid) SEPULTURA, SACRED REICH and (80s) EXODUS to mind. One reason for this result being the band�s intelligence in avoiding the �retro� trap by demonstrating enhanced individual playing, the other one (and a strong promotional tool) can as well be the man in charge of "Enter The Grave"�s production. Flemming Rasmussen (METALLICA, PRETTY MAIDS) handles the production and you will feel his magic touch first thing at night (when you should naturally listen to the CD for the first time).

August 27th (Europe) and September 25th (USA) are the dates you�ll be looking for your next �anticipated� CD release. EVILE hail from Britain, their Thrash Metal music is US-inspired and - with sufficient support - "Enter The Grave" can turn out to be a �classic� debut in the thrash Metal series of musical violence in our beloved music, plus the band (if achieving to remove some of the enough SLAYER components in the future) can eternally, from now on, fulfill our needs for pure...hmmm...huh... TTTHHHRRRAAASSSHHH!"(review from metal-temple.com)

Remember the bullseye Les Paul ?

2008-07-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Zakk Wylde - Demo Tape For Ozzy (1987),Book Of Shadows (1996)

Everybody knwos who Zakk Wylde is so i'll just skip the introduction...the first thing i've posted is the demo Zakk recorded for Ozzy way back in 1987.You can see why Ozzy chose him,he masters the electric guitar as much as he does with with the classic.The second release is his first solo release,Book of Shadows.It's some kind of southern-folk rock,with a lot o acoustic guitars and crap...

"A largely acoustic offering from the former Ozzy/Pride & Glory guitarist, this disc was originally released in 1996, then reissued in '99 on Spitfire Records with a second, bonus CD. There is sometimes a Southern, P&G feel, but mainly what you have is a unique atmosphere and ambiance that is created in no small part by Wylde's soulful, yearning vocals. This release really showcases those abilities, much more so than any of his other projects, in fact.
"Sold My Soul" has a great chorus and mood, with a kick-in electric solo. Both "Road Back Home" and "Throwin' It All Away" are good, with "1,000,000 Miles Away" having an electric-fueled rhythm flow.
"What You're Look'n For" has that classic Southern acoustic feel, "Way Beyond Empty" is a heartfelt tune, and the very laid back "I Thank You" has a surprising, back-breaking distortion crunch hidden within.
From the bonus disc, all three tracks are calm and serene."(review from metal-reviews.com)

Something more different from Matt...

2008-07-04T06:24:00.000-07:00

Kalas - Kalas

This is a band founded by Matt Pike after the disbanding of Sleep and before High on Fire.They haven't actually released something during that time,the selftitled album was released in 2006..i know it's hard to imagine,but Matt only handles vocal duties,and it's harder to imagine that this band plays a kind o deep,emotional metal..when Matt Pike's voice sounds like a tortured Lemmy.Actually his voice fits fine with the music which is great.I believe you guys are gonna enjoy this one.

"Stoner Metal is a genre often associated with blaring volume, slow tempos, and hypnotic, pounding, Sabbath influenced riffs. The genre was popularized by bands like Kyuss and Electric Wizard(for a more Doom feel), however no band reigned supreme over the legion of stoners like Sleep and its leader Matt Pike. After breaking new Stoner ground with Jerusalem and Dopesmoker, Pike found himself in the most popular and respected Stoner Metal band. He became famous for churning out crushing riffs over a feedback haze and taking long experimental solos with the help of his hypnotic rhythm section. Pike went on to form High on Fire, another well respected and popular Stoner Metal Band. High on Fire brought in a more technical and modern rock associated feel, however it was not a serious departure from his work with Sleep. It was not until 2006 that Matt Pike would finally fulfill his creative potential, slashing away the ties of his Stoner Metal past and creating his finest album and band to date, Kalas.

Kalas has only managed to release one CD so far; however they have already cemented a place in Stoner Metal history. Since bearing the name of Matt Pike earns instant gratification in genre, the release of their self titled debut was highly anticipated. Furthermore, questions of the sound that Kalas would possess were buzzing everywhere. Nobody wanted Matt Pike to create the same band yet a third time, and it was obvious that in order to regain his place in the metal world he would have to make some drastic changes from his previous work, and he came through 100 percent. The first major and most apparent difference with Kalas is the production. The sound is much tighter and well produced, with all the instruments being perfectly audible. From the second the Bass and Guitar come crashing in at the 18 second mark of Monuments to Ruins, the band embodies a monumental force which slowly trudges over Matt Pikes raspy vocals. Gone are the fuzzy freakouts and incoherent feedback of Sleep, Kalas’s sound is tight and clean, an instrumental behemoth that shatters anything in its path. It is also obvious that Pike has matured as a musician throughout his years as an artist. Kalas possesses none of the immature subject matter so common in Stoner Metal. There isn’t a single song solely dedicated to Marijuana! Although the Sacred Leaf was embraced by many years ago, it is hard to take bands which revolve around it as their sole creative supplement seriously, and thankfully Matt Pike chose not to dwell on it too much for his new band. Subject matter revolves around corruption, rebellion, personal dilemma, addiction, journeys, and self discovery. Yes, Matt Pike’s writing has indeed come a long since the days of Sleep. Surprisingly, a large portion of the disc is quite catchy(Voyager), with head banging riffs and commanding vocals. But by far, the most interesting new aspect of Kalas’s sound is the all new atmosphere they have introduced. Breaking completely away from the Stoner Metal trend, they have adopted a progressive rock feel extremely reminiscent of Isis. Placed all throughout the CD are intros and bridges which rely on clean guitar playing and arpeggios to bring a whole new sound to the table. Take a listen to a track like Frozen Sun or Due Time to see what I mean. These sections are not only enjoyable and extremely well done, but build up the heavy sections and climaxes to be that much more enjoyable.

Apart from a change in sound, Kalas have also upped their technicality and songwriting ability. Although the band is largely the brainchild of Matt Pike, don’t underestimate the talented band of musicians which accompany him. Pike also does not play guitar in Kalas, so he is responsible for little of the instrumentation and excellent solos. Although Pike is the only well known artist in the group, his fellow musicians are famous around the East Bay Area, hailing from bands such as Econochrist, Grimple, Samiam, Medication Time and Cruevo. Brad Reynolds on the Bass guitar has countless riffs and grooves that cement an excellent foundation for his fellow guitarists Andy Christ and Paul Kott. Christ and Kott cover everything from traditional downtuned powerchord assault to ambient clean passages. There are so many excellent riffs in this CD that just make you move. The solos are great throughout the disc, always fitting the song and never falling into self indulgence or excessiveness. They are tasteful and technical, setting a new standard for Stoner Metal to come. Scott Plumb on the Drums keeps the music crawling along, but he really shines on the softer sections with interesting patterns that give the music an extremely rhythmic feel. Once again, think Isis.

Matt Pike and Kalas have created what I consider to be one of the best and diverse Stoner Metal albums ever released. It is even hard to classify it as Stoner Metal since so many other influences are brought up on the table, however Pike’s identifiable vocals and the crushing groove force it into the genre. Combining the traditional Sleep sound with more modern influences like Isis proves to be a massive success and with improved recording, technicality, and songwriting Kalas has created a Stoner classic that is unique, heavy, and shockingly catchy. The only real downside which keeps it from being classic is that so much of the sound has already been done before. Sleep would never have been capable of writing something this diverse and magnificent, it is a must-have for fans not only of Stoner Metal but of Metal and Rock in general. It satisfies on so many levels, bringing the groove time and time again that I spin it on my CD player."(review from sputnikmusic.com)

From the Homme/Goss family

2008-07-04T02:58:00.000-07:00

Goon Moon - Licker's Last Leg (2007),The 5:15ers (live arthurball)(2007)

Goon Moon is a industrial rock band compromised of Chris Goss (Masters of Reality) and Jeordie White (Marilyin Manson,The Desert Sessions,Nine Inch Nails)...they recorded two LPs,i thought of posting the second one:Licker's Last Leg.It's a good album even though it has the industrial label,it keeps the desert rock essence that made the Masters of Reality what they are today.

The 5:15ers are a project started by Josh Homme and Chris Goss.They haven't released anything solid,they just played a few shows,covering some songs from Era Vulgaris,Mark Lannegan albums and Masters of Reality.Some of these shows have been floating around the internet.I got my hands on one of them...so here it is.

I told you not to damage it...

2008-07-03T10:55:00.001-07:00

Prong - Cleansing(1994),Power Of The Damager(2007)

Prong's first album,Cleansing,released way back in 1994 was an instant industrial metal clasic,i mean common how only "Snap Your Fingers,Snap Your Neck" could have made this album special,those powerful riffs rock your socks off , even though they are a little bit repetitive the music is filled with adrenaline.The second album i've posted ,Power Of The Damager,is their latest release and it's good even though a comparison with Cleansing is hard to make because they are now more groove metal than industrial metal.Enough talk,check these two albums out or die !

"ome albums, no matter how hard you try, can't be given any descriptive tags. You can't add a "nu-" or a "proto-" or a "post-" or a "pop-", there are no experiments or genre-shifting - it's just a solid example of a particular type of music at its core. Cleansing, the fifth full-length by the New York semi-supergroup (featuring Swans and Killing Joke members), is an excellent metal album that's nothing but.

Prong aren't trying to impress anybody with Cleansing - not that they aren't technically competent (they certainly are), but the band prefers to stick to more simple (and impressive) thrashing throughout the album, rather than toss off a few experimental filler tracks or attempt to go beyond the boundaries of what metal usually allows. This could lead to a repetitive and tedious album in the wrong hands, but Victor is a talented songwriter and covers as much territory within the confines of "metal" as he possibly can. He throws in some interesting twists now and then - like managing to use the familiar monotone "this is only a test" recording as a semi-melodic hook in "Test" - but nothing that'll cause anyone to hit the 'skip' button.

It's not a perfect album; the songs tend to drag on when there's nothing left to say, and Victor's lyrics aren't always brilliant. However, although it's hard to discern a definite meaning from his words, he's always (vaguely) trying to get some sort of message across. There's no songs about girls 'n' beer on here.

To sum it all up, if you like metal, get this album. There really isn't much more you can say. The musicians are impressive, the songs are all solid and unique enough to keep them from running together, and you'll either love it or hate it, because it's all the same style (powerful riffs; growled, thrash-style vocals; mid-to-fast tempo). Definitely a 4/5, because it impressed my non-metal-loving self and it'd be hard to find a better example of the genre during the time period it was released."(review from sputnikmusic.com)