Music Reviews

Best of Bootie 2007

2009-09-08

While I cannot confirm that "Best of Bootie 2007" really does contain the best mash-ups from that year, I can assure you that the third release in the Best of Bootie series does contain some excellent tracks.

Taking Some Time

2009-05-19

Street Level Doppler's first EP, Taking Some Time is a nice fusion of the Classic Rock and Folk Rock styles and, at 4.5 notes, is a phenomenal first release.

The System Has Failed

2009-05-06

As always, Megadeth has released a solid offering with The System Has Failed but has changed their sound a little from that of many of their newer releases.

La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1

2009-04-13

White Zombie's La Sexorcisto: Devil Music, Vol. 1 blends fast music with dialog from cult classic movies.

NIN/JA 2009 Tour Sampler

2009-03-26

If the NIN/JA 2009 Tour Sampler is any indication, the tour itself should be a great event.

Famous Monsters

2009-03-26

Famous Monsters by Misfits is a remarkable album blending original music with plots from science fiction and horror films.

Music as Weaponry

2009-03-05

Post Death Soundtrack's Music as Weaponry works well as a cohesive whole and is very unique in its sound.

Swan Songs

2009-01-27

The tracks on Hollywood Undead's Swan Songs are good blendings of Metal and Rap from a group that does not take itself too seriously.

Portrait of an American Family

2009-01-18

Marilyn Manson's Portrait of an American Family is remarkably very well implemented for a first release.

Newer Wave

2008-11-24

Newer Wave, a collection of 80's covers by Industrial and Industrial Metal bands, is both familiar yet somehow different.

As Ugly as They Wanna Be

2008-11-10

While short, As Ugly as They Wanna Be does not feel lacking in any way.

Mythmaker

2008-11-03

With its heavy use of vocal filters, dark atmosphere, use of more traditional sounding instruments, and more ambient sound overall Mythmaker has a more cohesive sound than Skinny Puppy's earlier releases such as The Greater Wrong of the Right

The Downward the Spiral

2008-10-29

The Downward Spiral - or Halo 8 - is full of the energy the fans have come to expect from Nine Inch Nails.

Further Down the Spiral

2008-10-21

Further Down the Spiral, or Halo 10 in Nine Inch Nails' nomenclature, contains remixes of most of the tracks from The Downward Spiral that do not appear on Closer to God or March of the Pigs.

Finally

2008-10-08

Finally is especially good considering it is Raccoon Fink's first album.

Closer to God

2008-09-16

Closer to God, or Halo 9, contains 6 versions of "Closer" a couple of remixes of other tracks from The Downward Spiral, and a cover of Soft Cell's "Memorabilia".

Greatest Hits (Fleetwood Mac)

2008-09-16

Fleetwood Mac's Greatest Hits aptly named album truly is Fleetwood Mac's greatest hits.

March of the Pigs (UK)

2008-09-03

March of the Pigs (UK) - or Halo 7 - contains a couple of tracks that March of the Pigs (US) does not, and the tracks that overlap are in a different sequence.

March of the Pigs (US)

2008-09-02

March of the Pigs (US) - or Halo 7, if you prefer - is one of several singles and remix albums reinterpreting songs from The Downward Spiral.

The Perfect Drug (US)

2008-08-29

The Perfect Drug - or Halo 11, if you prefer - is an anomalous single for a number of reasons.

Nevermind

2008-08-26

Nevermind is one of the defining albums of the 1990's and of the Alternative genre.

The Greater Wrong of the Right

2008-08-12

The Greater Wrong of the Right has to be the most diverse album that I have heard in a long time.

Youthanasia

2008-07-29

Youthanasia lives up to my high expectations of Megadeth albums being an energetic album with quality vocals and having a good balance between rhythm and melody on the tracks.

Love Songs for the Apocalypse

2008-06-23

Love Songs for the Apocalypse is split between two independent punk bands: Johnny Hobo and the Freight Trains and Mantits; this split allows for a variety of sounds.

Ed Hunter

2008-06-23

Ed Hunter contains Iron Maiden's 20 best songs as rated by fans on Iron Maiden's official web site; given this, most fans of Iron Maiden should enjoy the album.

Violator

2008-06-19

Violator is not quite as good as 101 - the album that I consider Depeche Mode's best work - but comes very close.

101

2008-06-18

101 is Depeche Mode's definitive early work and is one of the very few good live albums that I have heard.

Nurse

2008-06-16

Ireland doesn't often come to mind when I think of metal, but with groups like Therapy? around maybe it should.

Head Like a Hole (US)

2008-05-14

Unlike Head Like a Hole (UK), even if you do not like "Head Like a Hole" you still may enjoy this single; there are ten tracks but only five of them are "Head Like A Hole" remixes.

Nihil

2008-04-07

Nihil is a fast-paced album with a good mix of keyboards and guitar.

Truth Will Out

2008-03-29

Okay, I will admit it, I like the Industrial genre. Anyone whose checked out the reviews on this site so far will be able to tell this. However, in Truth Will Out's case, I will make an exception.

Pretty Hate Machine

2008-03-11

Pretty Hate Machine is Nine Inch Nails' first album, but still has a polished sound that isn't often present in initial releases. The intros and outtros to all of the songs flow seamlessly into eachother and - if it weren't for the slight pause between tracks - would sound like one long song.

Front by Front (Wax Trax!)

2008-03-07

Front by Front is a typical example of industrial from the late 1980's and early 1990's.

Happy Hour

2008-01-28

Happy Hour is a humorous album packed with a mix of humorous and musical tracks.

Rust in Peace

2008-01-22

Rust in Peace is one of Megadeth's better known albums, and possibly their most popular.

Fixed

2008-01-15

Fixed, the remix EP of Broken, has a completely different feel than it's counterpart; whereas Broken sounds like fire crackling, Fixed sounds muted as if listening to the album through water.

Sin

2008-01-14

Sin, or Halo Four on Nine Inch Nails' numbering system, is typical of single releases from Pretty Hate Machine in both content and rating.

Down in it

2007-12-29

Down in it is the first release by Nine Inch Nails (Halo 1 for those keeping track using Trent Reznor's numbering system) and paved the way for Pretty Hate Machine on which the song would later be featured.

Mezmerize

2007-12-29

I first heard this album long before the launch of Ballweb.

Hypnotize

2007-12-28

System of a Down (SoaD) is a group I never just have on in the background.

Gravity Kills

2007-12-27

Gravity Kills is, in some ways, typical of industrial albums from the early and middle 90's. It employs loud, angry sounding vocals, metallic scratching sounds, and fast tempos.

Head Like a Hole (UK)

2007-12-19

Okay, let me start off by saying, if you don't like Head Like a Hole you will not like this single.

Dancing Undercover

2007-12-18

Ah, the 80's. When hair metal ruled was in, and Ratts weren't just pests.

Broken

2007-12-15

You can tell an album is good when even the two lead-in instrumental tracks are rated four notes. Broken has a harsher, angrier sound than Pretty Hate Machine and is more guitar and distortion oriented than Nine Inch Nail's first release. If you are looking for Trent Reznor playing melodic tunes on a keyboard, this album is not for you; however, if a heavier sound is what you are after, Broken is definitely worth a listen.

Dehumanizer

2007-12-05

I will start off by admitting that I am biased - I prefer Ozzy over Dio. Regardless, I am impressed by Dehumanizer.

Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?

2007-11-28

Although overall a mediocre album, two of Megadeth's best songs are on Peace Sells...But Who's Buying?. These are Good Mourning/Black Friday, and, of course, Peace Sells.

Hidden Treasures

2007-11-20

Hidden Treasures, while mostly an eclectic mix of songs originally published on other albums, the tracks are arranged in ways that flow well.

Countdown to Extinction

2007-11-20

Countdown to Extinction is another solid offering from Megadeth full of what they are known for: driving guitar, lots of bass, and socio-political messages. Symphony of Destruction, Foreclosure of a Dream, and Countdown to Extinction are excellent examples of the politically charged tracks that this album has to offer.