Music Reviews of Metal, Grindcore, Death, Prog-Rock
Band Spotlight
Chiodos
Perhaps no one can explain the sheer ferocity and timid quietness it is better than when vocalist Craig Owens says “we don’t want to let the kids down” when discussing the group’s intense vocals live at shows. Well they never let a single kid down with their vicious assault on the ears and grip on the jugular...
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Skinny Puppy - Mythmaker
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The Geeks - Every Time We Fall
Limbeck - Limbeck
WinterKids - Memoirs
03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Metal, Grindcore, Death, Black, Thrash, Progressive Rock
Spheric Universe Experience — Anima Buy it at Amazon
“Anima” is the sophomore release from the French progressive metal outfit entitled Spheric Universe Experience. The sheer scope of the songwriting and arrangements alone will cause most prog fans to faint. When you take that and add in that it was mastered by the legendary Tommy Hansen (Helloween, Circus Maximus, Wuthering Heights) in Denmark, you’ve got yourself an all-out winner. Who knew that the French could conquer the prog-metal scene with such ease?
- J-Sin
killwhitneydead — Nothing Less Nothing More Buy it at Amazon
The fourth studio album by North Carolina metal group Killwhitneydead is just as outrageous as their previous albums have been. But this time around they up the ante even more with lush arrangements and hot guitar riff sludge. Perhaps only if you took hot lava to the face would you be more scorched by something in this world. Produced once again by Jamie King, Killwhitneydead has proved that they’re not a novelty act but a solid grind metal act that is scary good.
- J-Sin
killwhitneydead — Hell to Pay Buy it at Amazon
The exclusive follow-up to Killwhitneydead’s fourth studio album “Nothing Less Nothing More” is only available at the band’s live performances or online. However you’re able to get your greasy fucking hands on it, make sure you do. Crusty grind metal that is of course punctuated by sick ass samples from a variety of movies is the namesake to Killwhitneydead. Wicked blast beats and total vocal destruction has made KWD one of metal’s best stories of recent years.
- J-Sin
From the Shallows — Beyond the Unknown Buy it at Amazon
Thudding fast double bass kicks, melodic finger picking scattered across all the guitars, and sick vocals make From the Shallows entrance on their debut “Beyond the Unknown” an unforgettable one. Produced by Joey Sturgis who’s known for his efforts with the Devil Wears Prada and Gwen Stacy, “Beyond the Unknown” is a thrash metal meets deathcore fist fuck unlike any you’ve ever heard. It’s only a matter of time before all the metalcore kids realize that this is the direction they should be headed with its mammoth breakdowns and incredible guitar solos.
- J-Sin
Sixx: A.M. — The Heroin Diaries Buy it at Amazon
Nikki Sixx still sucks. Or is that 'suxx'? About his life as a drug and alcohol abuser while he was still famous playing in Motley Crue, the soundtrack to his book is just an E! True Hollywood story that no one really cares about set to bad music.
- J-Sin
Crionics — Neu Throne Buy it at Amazon
Polish black / death metal group once again unleash a torrid array of doom-riddled and twisted mayhem. Formed in ’97, Crionics have been blitzkrieging the universe of extreme metal with a vision of domineering sludge, grindy rhythms, and a cacophony of chaos whirling around. Whiplash inducing percussion is matched by a vomiting mass of wretched vocals and Vader-esque guitars. Loud and ever evolving, Crionics’ “Neu Throne” is a mighty one that they alone can claim the royal rights to. I won’t even get into how intense the production of this gem is.
- J-Sin
Entombed — Serpent Saints Buy it at Amazon
I have to admit, I was quite eager when I heard that Swedish Grammy-award nominee Entombed was about to unleash another album upon us. European death metal pioneers Entombed once again up the ante in the metal world with their crushing guitars and orchestrated songwriting. One of the few bands that can sound truly heavy when they slow everything down or when they add piano to the equation. Loud open mouth guttural vocals smack you upside the cranium and they finish everything up by employing incredibly fast double bass punishments. Fuck yeah!
- J-Sin
Terhen — Eyes Unfolded Buy it at Amazon
Blackened death metal that hits a steady fast gait and never looks back, Terhen boasts gothic edges and melodic undertones that is as crazy as it is sick. “Eyes Unfolded” may only have five songs but the length is almost 54 minutes of twisted blackened gold. Crushing guitars are armed with thundering percussion and gnarled vocals so evil, it drips blood and puss.
- J-Sin
Fall of the Leafe — Aerolithe Buy it at Amazon
Progressive metal giants Fall of the Leafe churn out prog hits with wonderful abandonment. Melodic vocals stretch overtop of “Aerolithe” without nary a strain. Vicious guitars slay while the bass and rhythm section are steady and thoughtful. Great songwriting makes Fall of the Leafe a band that you’ll want to pay attention if you consider yourself a prog-metal fan.
- J-Sin
Caina — Mourner Buy it at Amazon
Sickly twisted black metal that is experimental and avant-garde in a way that makes “Mourner” profoundly different from the slew of corpse-painted Neanderthals. Andrew Curtis-Brignell, a 20-year old musician from the U.K. is the sole force behind this dark ambient nightmare of coalescing noise and abstract harshness. Surreal visions that will haunt your every move are bludgeoned with droning distortions that wail about Hell.
- J-Sin
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