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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03.09.2007 by J-Sin
Music Reviews of Metal, Grindcore, Death, Black, Thrash, Progressive Rock
Charnel Valley — The Igneous Race Buy it at Amazon
Worm and Czar formed Charnel Valley to give an answer to what they saw as problems in the burgeoning black metal scene. Sounding a bit old school and in the vein of Mayhem, Burzum, and Darkthrone, Charnel Valley does their thing with a bit of punk mixed in. Guttural vocals and crushing lo-fi recordings give “The Igneous Race” a defiant yet sincere sound. Raw and unadulterated black metal that refuses to jump on any bandwagon.
- J-Sin
Outgunned — Vol. I: Answering the Ceaseless Need Buy it at Amazon
After the band broke up and the new members were fired, Andrew Saunders was so distraught that he decided that clearly the music must go on. Here he assembled “his” music and allows Outgunned to be a studio “artist” though he’s leaving the door open if the right musicians are out there—watch out though fellow musicians, as Saunders will fire your ass if you don’t grow musically. Well speaking of growing musically, volume one of Outgunned is nothing more than a rehashing of old Voivod tunes with less than special musicianship and quite terrible singing.
- J-Sin
Project: Failing Flesh — The Conjoined Buy it at Amazon
Thank you Project: Failing Flesh for putting Northern Virginia on the map for extreme metal! Having done amazing things like their incredible cover of Venom’s “Warhead” and being spotlighted on a variety of compilations, Project: Failing Flesh write brutal metal opuses that are incredibly fast, aggressive, and violent all the while maintaining a sick sense of technicality that most other bands forgo. In addition, Eric Forrest (ex-Voivod, E-Force) is on vocals and has given them some well-deserved name recognition already in the metal community. Chaotic song structures and discordant harmonies are the backdrop to the twisted guitars and amazing musicianship.
- J-Sin
Canvas Solaris — Cortical Tectonics Buy it at Amazon
Technical metal prowess is at the crux and heart of everything Canvas Solaris puts out. Wild and energetic with massive time signature challenges, “Cortical Tectonics” is yet further proof that this instrumental technical metal trio from Georgia has more up their sleeves than your average heavy talented act. Some of their songs are so hard to follow, I only wonder how on earth the group ever remembers how to play them live or otherwise. Intricately arranged opuses feature epic guitar landscapes, well textured percussion, and thick bass ala King Crimson, Dillinger Escape Plan, and Voivod.
- J-Sin
Weedeater — God Luck and Good Speed Buy it at Amazon
Weedeater formed from the remaining bits and pieces of the infamous Buzzov-en back in the middle of the ‘90’s and its grunge-a-thon. Swamp rock that drudges onwards with grimy guitars and stoner rock riffage, “God Luck and Good Speed” was actually recorded by one of the hallowed stars of the grunge era from which they emerged—the legendary Steve Albini (Nirvana, Neurosis, High on Fire, Pillow Theory) who also produced and mixed the album. Doom metal star Dave “Dixie” Collins is Weedeater’s frontman and bassist. Having previously recorded under the watchful eye and tuneful ears of Billy Anderson (Melvins, High on Fire, Neurosis), Weedeater finds that Albini focuses on creating a loud live drum sound with crunchy heavily distorted guitars. Sick discordant harmonies and raw throat vocals make this one of the heaviest albums to come out so far this year.
- J-Sin
Glorior Belli — Manifesting the Raging Beast Buy it at Amazon
Unholy alliances of black metal and classic heavy metal have birthed “Manifesting the Raging Beast”, the latest from French black metal outfit Glorior Belli. Raging with heart-eating intensity, Glorior Belli conquers the dark black metal scene with their innate knack for suffocating vocals, buzzy guitars, and crashing percussion. Emerging on the scene with a rumble, they unleashed their first demo a short two years after their formation in 2002. Oddly the group always seems to manage to craft black metal that still rings with catchy infectious melodies while still just as grym as your favorite corpse painted black metallers.
- J-Sin
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
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