Reviews : Search Results for 2006
774 reviews for 2006:
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3 Wake Pig Metal Blade 2006 |
3 may be one of the most enigmatic bands around. The Metal Blade reissue of their third album Wake Pig isn’t really metal, but to call it pop, emo, rock, or alternative would be wrong too. The music is just plain weird. The vocals are all sung, androgynous and, well, strange. The drumming could pass as... Read More » |
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40 Below Summer The Last Dance Crash Music 2006 |
Man... I can't believe people are still peddling nu-metal leftovers. I'll admit to a time in my life (middle school) when I was sucked into nu-metal, but I got out before things got really bad (Vanilla Ice and Tommy Lee eventually tried to cash in on the phenomenon). But I, like everyone else, have moved on.
Anyway, long after I... Read More » |
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A Day to Fall Dying Day Independent Release 2006 |
Graced with plenty of hatred, thick, grating guitar tones and some scary riffs, A Day to Fall’s debut Dying Day is a promising, albeit simple exercise in brutal metalcore from the wastelands of New Mexico. Reminiscent of Bleeding Through’s more recent material, the music here is catchy, somewhat melodic, and heavier than you’d expect. As well, A Day... Read More » |
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Abed The Coming of Soon Independent Release 2006 |
Israeli sextet, Abed, debut with an EP called The Coming of Soon. The four songs on this album remind me a lot of a bewildering mix of earlier Anorexia Nervosa, Peccatum and latter-day Emperor. The band’s use of a string quartet, jazz piano and lots of changes in tempo and vocal delivery style allow for a lot of... Read More » |
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Ablaze in Hatred Deceptive Awareness Firebox Records 2006 |
Ablaze in Hatred are about as staunchly lodged into their creative niche as any artist could possibly be. Coming from Finland’s established Doom scene, they are well versed in the style of their forebears, playing a slow, rich, and highly melodic form of Doom that borrows equally from the modern collective works of groups like Shape of Despair and Swallow... Read More » |
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Abominant Triumph of the Kill Deathgasm Records 2006 |
I have to admit, I had low expectations for this one. I've been slacking on my underground death metal knowledge, and wasn't aware that Elizabethtown, Kentucky had spewed forth Abominant in 1993, and that they've recorded seven full length albums. Consider me educated now, though, as I've just had the pleasure of listening to "Triumph of... Read More » |
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Abominator The Eternal Conflagration Displeased Records 2006 |
Aussie black metal trio, Abominator, throw down eight blasty, blasphemous tracks on The Eternal Conflagration. For me, the fourty-two minutes of material on this disc is an interminable effort in useless concentration, simply because there’s very little that’s not been done before and better by bands like Marduk, Arkhon Infaustus and Immortal. To make matters worse, there are... Read More » |
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Absolute Steel Womanizer Black Lotus Records 2006 |
What is it about a thumping backbeat, pinch harmonics and sugary pop sing-a-longs about strippers and beer that always seems to be pertinent to the current situation? It's stupid fun that lightens the mood, that's what. And Absolute Steel are absolutely shameless in their delivery of the same. You whip out "Womanizer," stick it in and rock 'n... Read More » |
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Abysmal Dawn From Ashes Crash Music 2006 |
Abysmal Dawn’s first album, From Ashes, may only be 32 minutes but it packs quite the punch. This four-piece from California lay down some very wicked and extra brutal melodic death metal in the eight tracks on this disc. We’re not talking about In Flames but with beefy guitars and deep vocals…no, this is the brutal death metal... Read More » |
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Abysmal Dawn From Ashes Crash Music 2006 |
Hailing from Los Angeles, Abysmal Dawn is a welcome addition to the death metal scene right off the bat. The band's debut, From Ashes is a throwback to 90s Tampa death metal with modern speed and brutality and a little black metal influence thrown in. The bottom line: This record smokes, front to back through all nine tracks as much... Read More » |
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Across Tundras Dark Songs of the Prairie Crucial Blast Records 2006 |
In all probability, there are people out there who are going to love what Across Tundras has to offer, the slow seepage of sludgy music from guys who actually admit to past association with the screamo genre. I'm going to be upfront here and admit that I'm not a big fan of sludgecore, and while I did... Read More » |
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Aeturnus Dominion Semper Tyranis Grindhead Records 2006 |
This is an Australian outfit that play it rather old school. They are somewhat thrashy, though they don't get all that fast. I would say they fall somewhere between thrash and traditional heavy metal. The vocals fit thrash better as they tend to be a raw screaming with the occasional high note just for emphasis. The... Read More » |
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Agalloch Ashes Against the Grain The End Records 2006 |
Agalloch’s first full studio release in four years finds the group continuing along the path of progressive neo-pagan folk extreme doom metal with a hefty does of industrial drone tossed in for good measure. Me not being a fan of industrialized drone, I could live without the last seven-minute long track of said styling (appropriately and literally the "grain" that... Read More » |
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Agathocles Mincer Displeased Records 2006 |
Mention Agathocles in certain crust/grind circles and many will speak of the band in hushed, reverent tones. Their legendary status, coupled with many, many obscure releases and five years since their last full-length effort had led me to believe the band was no longer together. Little did I know, Agathocles has released a dozen or so splits in the same... Read More » |
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Ahab The Call of the Wretched Sea Napalm Records 2006 |
fu•ner•al - [fyoo-ner-uh l] - noun - The ceremonies for a dead person prior to burial or cremation; obsequies.
doom - [doom] - noun - Fate or destiny, esp. adverse fate; unavoidable ill fortune: In exile and poverty, he met his doom.
fu•ner•al doom – noun - Ahab
If funeral doom were to be described exactly as above, then The Call... Read More » |
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Allerjen Resurrection Sonic Wave International 2006 |
Manchester, England's trio Allerjen has been around for a few years, claiming to have ditched the "nu-" influence from the band's roots in favor of hardcore alongside its metal foundings. With this, the band's second release since forming in 1999, part of that is apparent. And while this three-track release does showcase a healthy dose of hardcore influence, the nu-metalisms... Read More » |
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Altere Pieces of I Independent Release 2006 |
Altere create extremely minimal music. It doesn't qualify as metal in my opinion, so don't expect any. Describing Altere's music is a little difficult since there are very few comparisons to draw. At times it reminds me of the quietest parts of My Dying Bride, except Altere isn't quite that foreboding. Everything is driven by simple melodies which rely on... Read More » |
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Altere ... Independent Release 2006 |
Well I can't find anything about this band on the web, which is unusual in this day of self promotion. But from reading the liner notes, this is a one man project and the songs are composed and recorded in a very short amount of time. So far it's very trippy, laid back soundtrack type music... Read More » |
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Amber Tears Revelation of Renounced Stygian Crypt Production 2006 |
Amber Tears play what they describe as pagan doom metal. There are slight traces of pagan or folk elements here and there, but actually I'd say there's a stronger side of Scottish jig mixed in. Now what's that you ask? Imagine if you can how a guitar would sound if it mimicked a bagpipe. Well it can... Read More » |
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Amoebic Dystenery Hospice Orgy Deathgasm Records 2006 |
Do I have to tell you this is grind, or can you figure that out all on your own from the cover art and short songs with titles like "Goddamn I Gotta Piss Worse Than A Baby Needs a Casket", the gurgling/screeching vocals, the drum machine, the samples from various gross out flicks? Grind it is! And... Read More » |
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Amon Amarth With Oden on Our Side Metal Blade 2006 |
Ah, Amon Amarth - these guys seem to really polarize the metal militia. Is the group a vibrant Viking metal band or a boring melodic death metal band? Well, I ain't about to try to define what "Viking metal" is based on all the varied groups using the descriptor these days, but I've always dug what Amon Amarth are up... Read More » |
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Amoral Decrowning Candlelight Records 2006 |
Amoral’s second album, Decrowning, is so good it’s going be sending me to the thesaurus any minute now to find all the superlatives I’ll need to describe it. These five Finns do their goddamnedest to write tight, coherent, technical, thrashing death metal that’s well structured and completely engrossing. The whole album is pretty much perfect in this way... Read More » |
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Amoral Decrowning Candlelight Records 2006 |
Amongst technical, melodic metal bands, there seems to be two types of bands: those that are technical first, then incorporate melodies a la Anata and those that are melodic, but happen to shred a la Arsis. Amoral, however, straddle this line on their second full-length effort, Decrowning.
Amoral play what could be called progressive melodic death thrash. Sometimes they take on... Read More » |
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Amorphis Eclipse Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
Tuonela was probably a jumping-off point for many diehard Amorphis. The band, though still quite potent on this release was starting to explore the rock side of their music much more than the metal background. By Am Universum these once mighty Finns had succeeded in watering their sound down far enough that it wasn’t tolerable for more than... Read More » |
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Anata The Conductor's Departure Earache Records 2006 |
Sweden's Anata is a welcome addition to the death metal scene (although they've got a handful of records out already...let's just say they're a welcome addition to my little corner of the death metal realm). At a time when so many bands are rehashing Gothenburg or playing death metal for kindergarteners, along comes Anata with The Conductor's Departure and injects... Read More » |
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Anata The Conductor's Departure Earache Records 2006 |
Anata took the metal world by utter surprise with Under a Stone with No Inscription. The disc took everything that Anata had done right on their first two releases and magnified it until it was almost too big to fathom. The band now has the nearly insurmountable task of following that monstrous release, yet their attempt in The... Read More » |
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Anata The Conductor's Departure Earache Records 2006 |
Anata is one of the few modern death metal bands that has a distinct and original sound that can easily be distinguished. When an Anata song comes on, you know it’s Anata. There’s something about their mix of progressive metal, melody, and brutal death metal that is completely their own, and for that they immediately have my kudos. The fact... Read More » |
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A Moment in Time Metal Mind Records 2006 |
Anathema is an enigma. Crawling out of the primordial ooze of northern England's early-'90s doom scene, they quickly became one of the founding stones of the genre. Then, someone in the band got far too interested in Pink Floyd and their sound meandered for a few albums as they struggled to fuse a more melancholic, atmospheric rock with their decidely... Read More » |
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A Moment in Time Metal Mind Records 2006 |
A Moment in Time is Anathema's second DVD release since their last album back in 2003 and is somewhat arguably the weaker of the two. The DVD includes their entire concert at the 2006 MetalMania Festival in Katowice, Poland, and an additional four songs from a 2004 performance in Krakow.
For those not in the know, Anathema is a legendary... Read More » |
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Angel Blake Angel Blake Metal Blade 2006 |
I was deeply saddened when The Crown broke up. It wasn’t because I’d really miss the speeding thrash tunes, Janne’s phenomenal drumming (well maybe that’s a lie, I’ll miss that quite a bit), or Jonas’ vocal blasphemies. No, it was mostly Marko Tervonen’s songwriting contributions that I’d feel bad about having to forego. You know, the stuff... Read More » |
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Angra Aurora Consurgens SPV 2006 |
Brazil's biggest power metal export, Angra, is back after a few years of relative calm - at least here in the States. Again roping in Portuguese artist Isabel de Amorim, Aurora Consurgens simply looks like another Angra album, but upon cracking open the record, it's quick to see that Angra hasn't released a solid slab of speed-influenced power metal like... Read More » |
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Angtoria God Has a Plan for Us All Listenable Records 2006 |
Cradle of Filth, Covenant and a number of other bands wouldn’t be where they are today without the impressive backing vocals of one Sarah Jezebel Deva. Her addition to these bands’ works is more than just an added layer of depth, it’s an immeasurable extra dimension of personality, atmosphere and character that no other backing vocalist in metal has... Read More » |
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Ten Years in Hell SPV 2006 |
Compiling a bunch of (surely long-since-lost) television footage, interviews, behind the scenes action, and music videos from the early Annihilator years, Ten Years In Hell is surely an Annihilator fan's idea of a comprehensive DVD. The only question, however, might be "does anyone still care?" Not to sound like a dick, but whenever this reviewer admits he likes Annihilator (especially... Read More » |
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Anonymus Chapter Chaos Begins Galy Records 2006 |
Chapter Chaos Begins is a listening experience suffused with a certain nostalgia. Instrumentally, Anonymus cleaves mainly to a proficient death/thrash template; they are good at what they do, but I do also feel like their performance is a bit parochial, and one can only suspect that a reason they have not yet achieved any real visibility by this, their sixth... Read More » |
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Ansur Axiom Candlelight Records 2006 |
Ansur are a Norwegian black metal band who like to combine the old school raw black metal with more industrial and acoustic passages to strange effect. I like what they want to do here, but sadly they fall well short of what they are going for. This is probably due mostly to the drumming, which is rather clumsy... Read More » |
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Antarktis Utopia Self Destruction Demo 2006 |
Here's an impressive demo of high quality, progressive death/thrash that incorporates technical ability with memorable song writing. A smart label would certainly snatch this band up, as the only thing holding them up is their home recording, as opposed to a beefy, professional production job.
Antarktis Utopia mix the stuttering, arrhythmic riffing of Undeceived-era Extol, the progressive thrash of Nevermore (minus... Read More » |
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Antiquus Eleutheria Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Very interesting - and how you feel about those two words in relationship to traditional metal will determine how you’ll react to this album. According to Wikipedia, “Eleutheria” is Greek for “liberty” (and also a Samuel Beckett play) - according to Antiquus, it’s a cryptically-charted paradise island that was being sought by a British sea captain in service to the... Read More » |
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Aphotic Failure Independent Release 2006 |
Well Aphotic are back with what may be their most depressing work yet. Not so much because of the atmosphere, though it is not a cheerful record, but because this is their last record. Yep, if you haven't heard of these guys by now you missed something good. Granted I reviewed all their stuff as I got... Read More » |
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Apiary Lost in Focus Ironclad Recordings 2006 |
Toughguy metalcore with a Dillinger influence. Syncopated double bass/rhythm guitar is inflected with periodic skronks and whines from guitar number two. Tempos stick mostly to a mosh/dance-friendly cadence. Vocals sound like the guy from Neurosis. You've heard it once, you've heard it a million times. These guys have it down pat, and the recording's nice, it's just not interesting anymore.... Read More » |
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Apocalyptic Visions Doomsday Device Independent Release 2006 |
In recent months, many metal fans have praised ‘The Stench of Redemption’ as the best album in years from death metal titans Deicide. That it may be, but what does it have to do with Apocalyptic Visions?
Well, while listening to ‘Doomsday Device’, it ineffably clear that this, ‘Doomsday Device’, and not ‘The Stench of Redemption’, is the album Deicide... Read More » |
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Apostle of Solitude Embraced By The Black Independent Release 2006 |
Indiana’s Apostle of Solitude plays real doom metal and they do it really well. No droning nonsense, no growling, no death metal influence, no goth, no keyboards; just honest-to-Beelzebub doom in the vein of Black Sabbath, Candlemass, and early Solitude Aeturnus. I’m talking all clean vocals, organic production, simple lead work, and slow, groovy riffing. You just don’t hear many... Read More » |
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Apparition Drowned in Questions Casket Music 2006 |
OK, this whole goth metal with the chick singer thing is starting to get really old. This scene has reached the point where there isn't a lot coming out other than the pale impersonators. The music is slow and soft, weighed down by a ton of keyboards, which rarely ever gets a band on my good side. The... Read More » |
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Arallu The Demon from the Ancient World Epidemie Records 2006 |
Arallu claim to be “the pioneers of Mesopotamian underground black metal,” and I’m calling bullshit at the top of my lungs. Sure these guys hail from Israel and their music has a definite middle-eastern sound to it, but they’re anything but pioneers of the genre. In fact, they should just call themselves runners-up and be done with the... Read More » |
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Arcanar Dusty Lord Stygian Crypt Production 2006 |
This is another record that I know I'm not getting the full effect of, due to the lyrics being in Russian, a language I cannot speak. That said, I've been getting quite a bit of metal from there lately and it's all been pretty good. This is no exception. The only real blemish on the album is... Read More » |
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Arsis United in Regret Willowtip Records 2006 |
Arsis have always been on the fast track to success. Some bands churn away for years before getting that ‘big break’, but Arsis seized the spotlight from the beginning. Recently, aside from releasing one of the most stunning EP’s of the new millennium (particularly so for the fact that a single 12-minute song made the purchase worthwhile, regardless of the... Read More » |
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Artery Eruption Gouging Out Eyes of Mutilated Infants Goregiastic Records 2006 |
Where do you draw the line between grind and death metal? I think it has to do with the vocal delivery. Death metal is guttural, but at least verging on being listenable; grind moves the vocal delivery into the utterly undecipherable. Okay, so that's more of a suggestion than a rule...... Read More » |
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Artisian Lament for the Eternal Frost Casket Music 2006 |
Artisan are into the whole primitive black metal thing that kids go nuts for nowadays. That isn't really quite my area of expertise so I couldn't tell you where the rank in that style of music but I thought this was decent. The sound is raw as hell, though it's not just awful. It is on the... Read More » |
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As All Die Victory Flood the Earth 2006 |
As All Die are an industrial noise racket that come to my ears from Flood the Earth records. This reminds me a lot of some of Godflesh's more experimental stuff, most notably Streetcleaner 2. The noise is always backed by the most militant of drumbeats. The vocals are also quite interesting as they are no so much... Read More » |
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As Light Dies A Step Through the Reflection Mondongo Canibale Records 2006 |
Groups such as As Light Dies tend to be a bit overwhelming, in that they utilize so many musical styles it can become too much to take in all at once. This is both a fault and a strength. With a plethora of instruments to tickle your ear drums and an immense array of song structure and writing... Read More » |
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Ashram Shining Silver Skies Equilibrium Music 2006 |
Ashram is not metal. Not even close. The Italian trio play a somber, mellow, brand of neoclassical folk that relies more on mood and simplicity than overwhelming displays of talent. I know, I know- the description sounds like Tenhi, but it's definitely not.
Deriving their name from a term for a Buddhist holy place, Ashram is at their best... Read More » |
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Asunder Works Will Come Undone Profound Lore Records 2006 |
Forging two songs that total well over an hour, and incorporating various traditional instruments to their plodding death-doom base, California's Asunder walks the line between pretentious and devastatingly complex on this, their second full-length release.
The listener's opinion of their work will depend on a few factors; those with a tremendous tolerance for long, droning, complex songs that meander through... Read More » |
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Atakhama Existence Indifferent Woodcut Records 2006 |
Coming across to these ears as a pairing between Chimera-era Mayhem and the safer aspects of Nile, Atakhama have provided a visceral yet ultimately forgettable offering in "Existence Indifferent." While the sounds of both aforementioned bands are very present, Atakhama lacks the punch of either and while the songs all are relentless, blast-heavy and misanthropic enough to paint that... Read More » |
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Atheretic Apocalyptic Nature Fury Galy Records 2006 |
Atheretic didn't hide any surprises when they named this album Apocalyptic Nature Fury. Somewhat bad grammar, yes. Completely frickin insane, damn right.
Being a technical deathmetal enthusiast this album seemed like a promising notch for this year. I think I got more than I could handle. I love the heavy crushing vibe but goddamn is this heavy. And there is... Read More » |
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Atreyu A Death Grip On Yesterday Victory Records 2006 |
Before writing this review I had to play The Curse again just to see if Atreyu really have always been as lame as they sound on A Death-Grip on Yesterday. The answer is no, they were actually a metal band even one album ago. You see, the 9 tracks on Atreyu’s third album sound lethargic, whiney and uninspired... Read More » |
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Atreyu A Death Grip On Yesterday Victory Records 2006 |
So this is the new Atreyu record. Call me crazy, but I was looking forward to hearing this one, if only to see how much towards the radio dial the band could've gone since 2004's The Curse. That record combined, dare I say it, pop mentality with hardcore-infused metal in a way that was ultimately rewarding, even though I could... Read More » |
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Autumn's End Act of Attrition Hammermill Records 2006 |
When the intro ended and “Eyes of Ignorance” began, it was clear to me that Autumn’s End’s Acts of Attrition, the band’s debut, would be an extremely easy album to play all the way through. This quartet from Phoenix sound a whole lot like Nevermore, but with brutal death vocals (think Novy from Dies Irae) and more of a... Read More » |
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Axamenta Ever Arch-I-Tech-Ture Shiver Records 2006 |
From their artwork, name, song titles, production, and press photos, Axamenta appear to be following the modern ‘Melodeath’ formula—a polished batch of fellows not afraid to sample technology’s gifts (synths, strings, etc.) and with a bit of a dark side to boot. Yet, the awkwardly titled ‘Ever Arch-I-Tech-Ture’s first track opens with a whisper, a gasping croak, really, before laying... Read More » |
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Azure King of Stars - Bearer of Dark Deathgasm Records 2006 |
Azure is a two-piece progressive black metal outfit and this is their second full-length release. Robban Kanto plays guitar and provides the shrieking, dry lead vocals while Mattias Holgren plays the drums, keyboards and sings back up. Kanto's voice borders on hysteria at times, when his tortured vocal chords break with the strain of his efforts. It's an effect that... Read More » |
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Bal Sagoth The Chthonic Chronicles Candlelight Records 2006 |
Pairing up a black metal assault with Cradle of Filth-esque theatrics, Rhapsody's epic fantasies, and an almost power metal-inspired symphonic backing, England's Bal-Sagoth returns after five years of relative silence with a wide-scoping, sci-fi black metal ambition. From the ambitious, swirling, quasi-operatic opening of "The Sixth Undulation of His Chthonic Majesty," the untrained might think this a grimmer approach to... Read More » |
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Barbatos Let's Fuckin' Die Displeased Records 2006 |
(Before we begin, let the records show that ‘Let’s Fucking Die!’ sports one of the worst album names alongside one of most compelling album covers in recent metal history. That done, let’s continue.)
Barbatos is the side-project of underground phenoms Abigail, the noted pioneers of black and thrash metals in Japan and renowned overseas as a cult classic. Perhaps as the... Read More » |
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Barricade Be Heard Blackout Records 2006 |
Channeling the likes of Hatebreed, Sick of It All and Terror, Pennsylvania's Barricade offer up ten tracks in under half an hour on the band's Blackout! Records debut, Be Heard. It's straight-forward, inspired and upset, and with a die-hard touring regiment and an EP already under their belts, Barricade will likely be a very welcome addition to any old-schooler's collection,... Read More » |
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Battalion Winter Campaign Shiver Records 2006 |
Battalion's Winter Campaign is a brutal death metal assault worthy of the record's filthy, grimy cover art - If you dig Frontside, Krisiun or the plethora of other underground bands with a brutal approach, you'll probably like it, but come on...If you're playing a brand of death metal that slices this deep and damaging, where are the blistering solos or... Read More » |
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Battered Battered Candlelight Records 2006 |
Einherjer is dead and gone... I can accept that. After delivering the stunning "Blot" album, the guys decided they'd done what they'd set out to do and folded the band. I don't blame them a bit, even though I'm sad that one of my favorite bands is no more. Therefore, when I... Read More » |
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Battleroar Age of Chaos Black Lotus Records 2006 |
One for the tried and true out there. Those of you who worship at the altar of underground '80s metal a'la Manilla Road, Omen, Cirith Ungol and Heavy Load (with a hint of Grave Digger) will find much to love about Battleroar's latest, while those who demand originality, progression and modernism are advised to stay well away from what these... Read More » |
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Beautician Split w/ Gorephagia Brutalized Records 2006 |
Grinder, looking for meat....Ok, wrong song, but it's definitely in the right vein for this split between Ecuador's Gorephagia and the UK's Beautician. Released on Columbia's Brutalized Records, this son of a bitch is about as brutal as they come: 23 tracks CD-R style with home printer artwork, but hell it fits the brucial songs within, so why not? What... Read More » |
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Behold...the Arctopus Nano-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning 2006 |
Wuh? Damn these guys can play! Comprised of guitar, drums, and touch guitar ("a 12 string instrument played primarily by tapping that covers the range of guitar and bass"), this trio plays instrumentals that could be called avant-garde technical metal, though tagging this band with a label does them no justice.
First I heard of them was... Read More » |
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Belphegor Pestapokalypse VI Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
Like CS gas, this album hits you with all it's got right from the get go, but doesn't increase in intensity with time. Classic tracks like "Pest Teufel Apokalypse" and the to the point "The Ancient Enemy" are off set by the slower sections of numbers like "Chants for the Devil". The trademark Belphegor melodies and rich harmonies are in... Read More » |
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Betrayed Substance Equal Vision Records 2006 |
Finding out that Betrayed broke up shortly after releasing the band's Equal Vision Records debut, I can feel a little better saying that the world isn't missing out on much with the band only releasing a series of an EP and a split before its full length debut in 2006. Gradually moving up from Rivalry and Bridge Nine Records respectively,... Read More » |
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Between the Buried and Me The Anatomy Of Victory Records 2006 |
Well, it must be that time of year again. We know it's time for Ozzfest and Sounds of the Underground to roll around when we start to see limited-edition repackaging and 'deluxe' versions of records only a year old. That might not be the case for Beneath The Buried And Me, which I applaud them for, but what's the next... Read More » |
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Beyond Fear Beyond Fear SPV 2006 |
Teaming up with former Winter's Bane cohort Dennis Hayes, Beyond Fear is Tim "Ripper" Owens' new outlet for music penned by the now-famous singer. Writing 7 of Beyond Fear's songs, and co-writing the rest with lead guitarist John Comprix, Owens finally gets a chance to show off his songwriting abilities, something he was never quite able to do in his... Read More » |
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Biosystem55 2000 Just to Destroy Casket Music 2006 |
These are the hard reviews to write. I want to give the band the credit they deserve for surviving since 1998, for getting into the studio and getting their sounds down, for getting a record deal and seeing the fruits of their labor distributed throughout the world. So, good going guys! You did... Read More » |
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Black Cobra Bestial At a Loss Recordings 2006 |
Black Cobra has done a great job of naming this record. This is an utterly bestial record. I hope you like noise, because they bring it in spades. In fact they remind me of a stoner version of the Unsane. This record is not all slow however. In fact it gets pretty fast at times.... Read More » |
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Black Crucifixion Black Crucifixion Paragon Records 2006 |
"Faustian Dream" marks Finnish band Black Crucifixion's departure from their earlier, raw black metal style. Being unfamiliar with their previous efforts, "The Fallen One of Flames" and "Promethean Gift," I wasn't sure what to expect. According to my promo slip, though, I should have been expecting something earth-shattering - "the band’s most innovative work to date." A word to whoever... Read More » |
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Black Elk Black Elk Crucial Blast Records 2006 |
This is what I’m fucking talking about! A lot of bands today opt for the experimental route and try to mix-n-match influences and sounds, and are truly trying to do something different, so automatically have my respect. However, a lot of this “experimentation” comes off half-baked, disjointed, and ultimately too weird to taken seriously. In other words, experimentation is good,... Read More » |
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Black Trip Demo 2006 Demo 2006 |
Two song demo here from Mexico's Black Trip, who apparently started out playing more death/black metal type music but have morphed into a more traditional speed/power metal band, at least on this demo. The vocals are still gruff, though, at least on the one song on here that has vocals, "Wings of Steel", and that comes off as... Read More » |
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Black Witchery Hellstorm of Evil Vengeance (split w/ Conqueror) Dark Horizon 2006 |
Given that Black Witchery’s latest, Upheaval of Satanic Might, was given no less than two sub-par reviews here at Deadtide, I was little hesitant in conquering this now-classic split. Hesitant of having to sit through more incoherent noise being passed off as black metal; yes? Fortunately taking this step back to 2000 finds Black Witchery extremely competent in crafting pummeling... Read More » |
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Blackmass Gloria Diaboli Sinister Sounds 2006 |
Blackened Brazillian blasphemy. That's what Blackmass are. This is raw, filthy, nasty stuff that only Satan could love. Luckily for these guys I am Satan so I approve wholeheartedly. The music is blindingly fast with not much in the way technicality. However while this is a very fast record there is no blasting. I... Read More » |
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Blade of the Ripper Blade of the Ripper This Dark Reign 2006 |
First of all, I've been of a fan of Adam Neal's music for a while, but weirdly, I didn't know it. I like Nashville Pussy, the Brothers of Conquest, and Hookers, and now am digging on the Blade of the Ripper. But it wasn't until I started researching for the review that I realized Adam was... Read More » |
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Bleeding Kansas Dead Under Decor Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Okay. This whole 99-track promo shit has got to stop (one song is actually 7 or 8 tracks usually). I'm not one to skip through tracks, but I am a big fan of shuffle mode and although hearing random 40 second clips from an album can be interesting, it doesn't work. And this one in particular is labeled incorrectly as... Read More » |
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Blind Guardian Fly Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
The "Fly" single is a three-track teaser for the next full studio release comprised of album cut "Fly" and two only-available-on-this-single songs; an acoustic version of "Skalds and Shadows" and a cover of Iron Butterfly's "In A Gadda Da Vida". Vocalist Hansi Kursch has been saying in interviews that the band is stripping down their approach from the hugely layered... Read More » |
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Blind Guardian A Twist in the Myth Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
It may be an unpleasant topic to consider, but evidence is mounting that power metal is a tired genre. The new kids on the block just don’t have that same spark in their eyes, and most veterans seem to have lost it, either hanging up their hats for good or worse yet, crossing the line separating arena rock from metal,... Read More » |
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Blinded Colony Bedtime Prayers Pivotal Rockordings 2006 |
Blinded Colony kick off their second album, Bedtime Prayers, in pure Swedish style with a pounding catchy riff and more than a touch of mechanized melody. Especially in the vocal department, and most noticeably on the rabid opener, “My Halo,” these guys sound scarily like Peter Dolving fronting a more melodic, more metalcore version of The Haunted.
Soon after the... Read More » |
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Blood Freak Live Fast, Die Young... And Leave a Flesh-Eating Corpse! Razorback Records 2006 |
Blood Freak’s Live Fast, Die Young, And Leave a Flesh Eating Corpse! album is made up of 23 short, quick gore n’ role tunes soaked in b-movie horror sound bytes and thrash shredding. Overall, the album’s pretty easy to listen to, as the songs fly by at a frantic pace and occasionally contain an excellent riff, solo or funny... Read More » |
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Bloodlined Calligraphy Ypsilanti Facedown Records 2006 |
Named after its Michigan hometown, Bloodlined Calligraphy's second effort, Ypsilanti, is a slab of metallic hardcore fronted by growling leading lady Ally French. Potential gimmicks aside, Ypsilanti is for the most part a straight forward 32-minute, 11-track stomp through familiar territory in today's metal-influenced hardcore scene. Mixing more of a straight-forward, old-school hardcore style with thrashy guitars and double bass... Read More » |
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Bloodshoteye An Unrelenting Assault Galy Records 2006 |
Canadian deathcore act Bloodshoteye brings a heavy-handed, death metal-influenced mindset into the metalcore realm with the band's second record, An Unrelenting Assault. For the most part, the album's title makes perfect sense: these guys (and gal) lay down blast beats and breakdowns while vocalist Jessica Desjardins throws in her throaty growl through all the record's nine tracks. "Mourning In Silence"... Read More » |
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Bludgeon World Controlled Magic Circle Records 2006 |
Chicago’s Bludgeon open their sophomore release, World Controlled, with guns blazing, and they don’t let up until the album ends. It’s intense, and the band’s mix of fast thrash and hardcore is played with the purpose of inflicting permanent damage. Additionally, the cold, mechanical production accentuates Bludgeon’s penchant for violence. What the band often forgets, however,... Read More » |
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Blut Aus Nord Mort Candlelight Records 2006 |
With more dissonance per bar than all your Voivod and Gorguts albums put together, this might be a polarizing album for most folks, who will likely either worship or reject it outright. While the same interesting electronic beats featured on their earlier albums break up what might otherwise be a very hypnotic sound, the other instruments break into some of... Read More » |
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Live in L.A. Escapi Music 2006 |
Marking the return of Ice-T and his infamous heavy metal band Body Count, Live In LA is Escapi Music's foray into the world of rap rock from a time before the term actually existed via the modern technology of DVD. Used as a pre-cursor to the band's latest studio album, Live In LA is a low budget, although entertaining look... Read More » |
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Boris Pink Southern Lord 2006 |
Let me preface this buy saying that this record is good; damn good; the dreamy directions and meandering melodies coupled with the wistful vocals ultimately create a damn fine event of minimalist dronerock, but then we have assholes and opinions, and here are mine:
Whereas I am usually always a fan of the heavy, and I was pretty hyped on checking... Read More » |
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Borknagar Origin Century Media 2006 |
Metal veterans Borknagar have released yet another completely unique album, as we have come to expect them to, only this times there's a twist. Apparently when the band's mastermind Øystein G. Brun composes a song for the band, the writing is always started acoustically, then transposed to its full electric glory. On this release, however, the band did away with... Read More » |
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Born from Pain War Metal Blade 2006 |
Hailing from the Netherlands, Born From Pain got together start in 1997. Ten years and they are STILL ripping off Hatebreed's Satisfaction is the Death of Desire. Although I suppose if you had to pick a pummeling metallic hardcore album to emulate over and over, that's a pretty damn good one.
So as you have probably already guessed, War is yet... Read More » |
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Boysetsfire The Misery Index : Notes from the Plague Years Equal Vision Records 2006 |
Boysetsfire’s After the Eulogy was an iconic cornerstone to what was the end of emotional hardcore and the beginning of what the consuming pop culture knows as emo. That record just painted the outlines of what perfect could possibly be (for the genre). After stepping into major label fuckdom and then dissolving, Boysetsfire is back with what could possibly be... Read More » |
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Brand New Sin Tequila Century Media 2006 |
New York hard rockers, Brand New Sin bring us their third album Tequila and prove that their previous work, Recipe for Disaster was indeed a sophomore slump. Though this disc doesn’t quite do what their self-titled debut did, it’s far more solid and worthy than the last. Tequila has a much stronger balance between the heavier, faster songs,... Read More » |
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Brian Posehn Live In : Nerd Rage Relapse Records 2006 |
You should all know Brian Posehn from his role on Adult Swim's "Mission Hill," and his occasional appearance on "Just Shoot Me," but those of you that haven't heard his stand-up are the ones that are really missing out.
Starting off the set with an inverse-erection joke, Posehn's brand of nerdy hilarity consistently entertains, especially if you're a guy that isn't... Read More » |
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Anthology Sanctuary Records 2006 |
Ye gods, someone likes me. Three whole discs of Bruce Dickinson's solo career, and I didn't even have to pay for it. Sweet deal this is, but enough bragging onward to the review!
Disc 1
This disc has two concerts on it, Dive Dive Live, from the Tattooed Millionaire tour and Skunkworks from the tour for the album of the... Read More » |
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Bullet for My Valentine The Poison Trustkill 2006 |
Along with Trivium, Bullet For My Valentine is pretty much taking over the metal world. Well, at least the UK metal scene...While the fire might not have caught on as much as the band, or Trustkill for that matter, might have hoped for on this side of the pond, there's no denying that Bullet For My Valentine has the buzz... Read More » |
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Burial Within Burial Within Independent Release 2006 |
You know I remember joining bands whose style didn't really mesh with mine, and trying desperately to force them in the right direction only to be disappointed with the results. Not that I'm an egomaniac or whatever, but I know how difficult it can be to not be able to convince other members that their list of influences and... Read More » |
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Burn in Silence Angel Maker Prosthetic Records 2006 |
Burn in Silence come to me by way of Prosthetic Records. For those of you unfamiliar with their catalog Prosthetic specialize in metalcore. Burn in Silence are no exception. They are pretty technical and of course heavy as hell. There are plenty of jagged breakdown moments on this album if you are a worshipper of the... Read More » |
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Burning Skies Desolation Lifeforce Records 2006 |
The United Kingdom's Burning Skies, right off the bat, is clearly part of the new breed of modern metal. They started post-2000 (2002 this time around), released a debut in 2004 and are now back with a second full-length and some touring under their belts to compliment the band's weighty death metal influence. Only one of the dudes has long... Read More » |
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Bury Your Dead Beauty and the Breakdown Victory Records 2006 |
Massachusetts' Bury Your Dead named tracks from the band's last release after Tom Cruise movies. How do you follow that one up? Well what the hell, why not just name an entire record after fairytales, complete with fairytale book-esque layout? Somehow managing to sell 60,000 copies of the last record, Cover Your Tracks, despite being heavier than a kick to... Read More » |
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By Night A New Shape of Desperation Lifeforce Records 2006 |
"Cold, sterile and machine-like" is what the press hype would have one believe about Sweden's By Night, and on the band's second record - both for Lifeforce, it seems like for once the publicity tag bequeathed to a band could actually be correct. Filled to the brim with heavy riffs, mechanically operating rhythms and hulking bass lines alongside vocalist Adrian... Read More » |
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Cadaveric Crematorium Serial Grinder The Spew 2006 |
Now this is some groovy deathgrind! Italians are of course well known for their outrageous horror movies, so it's a little surprising that I haven't heard of too many killer grind bands from the Big Boot. But along comes Cadaveric Crematorium to set things straight and put Italy on the map of musical sickness.
After the obligatory... Read More » |
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Caliban The Undying Darkness Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Call 'em Killswitch Engage clones all you want, but Germany's Caliban are actually doing something altogether different from the increasingly stale American metalcore scene. Right off the bat, the band has been pounding away (mostly in Europe, but 2004's The Opposite From Within saw them enter the American limelight) at their brand of hardcore-influenced metal since 1997, Caliban definitely has... Read More » |
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Caliban The Undying Darkness Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Caliban is one of modern metalcore’s longest-standing acts, predating the likes of Killswitch Engage and Unearth by a number of years. Now, pushing a decade as a band, Caliban put forth their fifth full length ‘The Undying Darkness’ as a continuation of their consistent, highly melodic formula that has, arguably, served as a template for countless imitators in both the... Read More » |
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Caliban The Undying Darkness Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Well, seeing as how these dudes have already set the release date for their upcoming release, I figured I'd go ahead and do this review while it is still halfway relevant. Better late than never, right?
As much as this style of semi-glossy metalcore is wearing thin on me, I've got a lot of respect for this German act; they've been... Read More » |
![Callenish Circle, "[Pitch.Black.Effects]"](/___media/reviews/albums/_page/album_covers/medium/callenishc_pitchblack.jpg "Callenish Circle, \"[Pitch.Black.Effects]\"")
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Callenish Circle [Pitch.Black.Effects] Metal Blade 2006 |
Callenish Circle has returned to us with their followup to My Passion \ Your Pain. They have continued in the vein of their previous albums, capturing the spirit, and the riffing, of the Gothenburg scene. This album however they changed things up by incorporating a lot more synths, and more than a few passages that remind me of... Read More » |
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Canaan The Unsaid Words Aural Music 2006 |
Italy's Canaan play "dark rock." I used quotations there because upon doing a little research via the internet, dark rock is what everyone else is calling this. However, dark rock seems to be a pretty lazy summation of what Canaan are doing musically.
The Unsaid Words is, indeed, a dark album. Samplers, keyboards, and various synthesized elements play an important... Read More » |
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Cancer Bats Birthing the Giant Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Birthing the Giant, the debut full-length from Toronto’s Cancer Bats, is an energetic, fun album that simply wants to kick your ass. The band mixes elements of hardcore and punk with a heavier metallic vibe and a healthy helping of southern-fried groove. The albums is a bit of a mixed bag with some excellent rocked-out riffing offset by a heavy... Read More » |
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Cannibal Corpse Kill Metal Blade 2006 |
For many, Cannibal Corpse defines death metal. Since swapping out Chris Barnes for Corpsegrinder, the band has been about as constant in sound as Bolt Thrower or Dismember. Every album’s had more or less the same basic, depraved themes, sadistic intent and barbaric heaviness that the figurehead of death metal should have to hold such a place of... Read More » |
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Canopy Serene Catharsis Disconcert Records 2006 |
I first approached Canopy’s first full-length ‘Serene Catharsis’ with the indistinct belief that the band was from Florida. I cannot say precisely what convinced me of this, but I suspect it was the brief encounter I had with their debut EP ‘Will and Perception’, which left a generally positive yet unspectacular impression of chunky death metal with gloomy album art.... Read More » |
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Canvas Solaris Penumbra Diffuse Sensory Records 2006 |
While Canvas Solaris's debut, Sublimation, was a little out of place on Tribunal's primarily mediocre metalcore label, the brutal-jazz, space odyssey that is Penumbra Diffuse fits much more comfortably on Sensory Records.
Ultra-technical, futuristic instrumental jazz/metal is the order of the day, served with a side of kick-ass. Fans of Gordion Knot and Spiral Architect will rejoice, but fans of Don... Read More » |
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Casey Jones The Messenger Eulogy Recordings 2006 |
Featuring Evergreen Terrace's Josh James on vocals, Casey Jones is another hunk of old-school, straight-edge hardcore, the like of which have bands inspiring pile ons and sign-alongs, something Casey Jones has been doing while on the road in the past few years alongside Evergreen Terrance, Scars of Tomorrow, The Warriors, and Caliban.
Fed up with a lack of straight-edgers out... Read More » |
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Catacombs In the Depths of R'lyeh Moribund Records 2006 |
Like a brooding fiend awaiting the arrival of fresh flesh, Catacombs is pure, uninhibited murk awaiting the next soul to contentedly envelop. From the sullen, drenched opening notes of “In the Depths of R’lyeh” to the last droning bass rumble of “Awakening the World’s Doom,” In the Depths of R’lyeh is a cathartic journey of the slowest lurching funeral doom... Read More » |
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Cataract Kingdom Metal Blade 2006 |
It seems like a no-brainer for Metal Blade to pick up these Swiss metalcore madmen, who've been plying their trade since 1998 on smaller labels like Ferret and Lifeforce. Cataract fits well into the current Metal Blade stable, which has become increasingly more metalcore over the last few years, and I have to admit that Metal Blade... Read More » |
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Cattle Decapitation Karma Bloody Karma Metal Blade 2006 |
Cattle Decaptitation have good taste, great political/social ideals and a distinct handle on their music. This has all become quite evident since their signing to Metal Blade with their album To Serve Man . Sparing no expense they have hired master death metal artist Wes Benscoter to adorn the covers of all their work since. They’ve also... Read More » |
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Celestiial Desolate North Bindrune Recordings 2006 |
Desolate North, the second album from Funeral Doom outfit Celestiial, is aptly titled. Though not a product of Scandinavia, as the name might suggest, Celestiial does hail from the most Nordic and symbolically ‘Northern’ state of the American union, Minnesota.
Composed of a single member, Celestiial does not rely very heavily upon complex instrumentation or particularly unique songwriting (in... Read More » |
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Celtic Frost Monotheist Century Media 2006 |
Celtic Frost return after 13 years and present a beastly, monolithic gothic doom metal album. Frost was once a metal innovator, and if you weren't around back in the day, you can't really appreciate what they were about - but you should appreciate that these guys were once the architects of many of today's sub genres.
As shocking as it may... Read More » |
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Century Faith and Failure Tribunal Records 2006 |
When it comes to metalcore, the listener can almost always assume whatever it is they are listening to will lack in originality. The most you can hope for is a well-written, well-executed album of slightly interesting tracks. Century, however, are one of the few metalcore acts out there that are still dedicated to taking metalcore to new places.
Much like Burst... Read More » |
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Chain Collector The Masquerade Sound Riot Records 2006 |
Aiming to create hard music, but still stay melodic, Norway's Chain Collector has been kicking around since 2003 after signing with Sound Riot in 2004 and releasing The Masquerade through the band's new home. Boasting members from Carpathian Forest, Green Carnation and Trail of Tears, Chain Collector has a wide base from which to pull sounds and draw inspiration. The... Read More » |
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Chainsaw Dissection Remnants of the Slaughtered Independent Release 2006 |
Metal Archives lists Chainsaw Dissection with having six albums. Chainsaw Dissection’s website lists them with having three. I have two. Remnants of the Slaughtered is listed neither on the Archives nor the official site, but whatever. Goddamn do I like this band anyway. Bob Macabre has certainly come a long way from Blood, Gore and Grindcore, his debut full length... Read More » |
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Chaosfear One Step Behind Anger Independent Release 2006 |
Chaosfear are from Brazil, but let's not jump to confusions. They don't like sound Krisiun, Abhorrence, or any of their other blast-bloated brethren. In fact they have a far more Swedish sound. I mean Swedish like, Defleshed, Impious and the first two Haunted records. Sadly they are much closer to Dew-Scented and Impious in terms of... Read More » |
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Chemikiller Evilspeak : The Passion of the Antichrist Autopsy Kitchen Records 2006 |
Very much borrowing from the Venom playbook, Chemikiller plays the "it's so old-school that it might be tongue-in-cheek" brand of metal that 3 Inches of Blood and Goat Horn have been reviving. The production is god awful, the lyrics are ridiculous as well as satanic, and the musicianship could probably be cranked out by a competent eight grader, but Evilspeak,... Read More » |
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Chrome Division Doomsday Rock 'n' Roll Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
When this works, it greases my leather chaps. When it doesn't, I'm puzzled and pissed because this whole album should pummel me until I'm begging for mercy. Chrome Division is one of those project bands that started out as a diversion for a couple of guys from Dimmu Borgir, Shagrath and Nagash, during the... Read More » |
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Chthonic Seediqbale Down Port Music 2006 |
Being Taiwan's longest-running black metal band, and winning awards overseas as "best rock group," I am embarrased to say that this is my introduction to these guys, though it's certainly not a bad one. They play loud, flashy, chaotic music that stays true to the intent of commercial black metal while infusing the music with Asian elements, such as the... Read More » |
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Chthonic Seediqbale Down Port Music 2006 |
Who the hell knew that Taiwan had atmospheric, original, Black Metal bands?? Cthonic plays really fast Black Metal, but incorporates some traditional Taiwanese instruments, to derive an ancient feel to it. I guess it isn’t far from some of the things that Sigh did early on, but metal wise, the band is a little more straightforward. They have borrowed elements... Read More » |
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Clawfinger Hate Yourself with Style Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
Witty, tongue-in-cheek societal observations and 18 years (at least upon the 2006 release of Hate Yourself With Style) aside, Clawfinger is pretty much a boring nu-metal band, point blank. Sure they may have been controversial, if only their own self-fulfillingly ironic way, pointing out the flaw against those actually causing controversy, but Hate Yourself With Style is still a painful... Read More » |
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Clifton We Never Change Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Clifton is a 5-piece melodic metalcore band out of Salt Lake City, Utah of all places. I bet Joseph Smith and Brigham Young are rolling in their graves as we speak.
If you haven't guessed already, there are plenty At the Gates butchering riffs going on as well as a more American sound a la Darkest Hour on Clifton's debut... Read More » |
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Clitorture Disassembling the Human Form (split w/ Goreality) Pathos Productions 2006 |
Here’s a nice little split from the now defunct Clitorture and the relatively new Goreality. Both offer healthy doses of brutality by way of blasting death/grind fury.
Clitorture have the more interesting half of the split. They definitely lean to grind side of things but inject lumbering, sludgy breaks that absolutely crush when offset by their blasting. For the most part,... Read More » |
![Clown Alley, "Circus of Chaos [reissue]"](/___media/reviews/albums/_page/album_covers/medium/clownalley_circusofch.jpg "Clown Alley, \"Circus of Chaos [reissue]\"")
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Clown Alley Circus of Chaos [reissue] Southern Lord 2006 |
Clown Alley has so many selling points it's ridiculous. Vocalist Dave Duran did time in Jerryz Kids. Lori Black is not only the bassist for Clown Alley, she also stepped in and filled the bass position for Melvins on a few albums and her mother was none other than SHIRLEY TEMPLE. Guitarist Mark Deutrom produced the first two Melvins albums,... Read More » |
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Coldseed Completion Makes the Tragedy Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
In recent years, I haven’t had much respect for Speed Strid’s choices in metal. Aside from his (utterly unnecessary) vocal help in Disarmonia Mundi, I don’t think the guy has done anything positive for the scene in a long, long time. His most noteworthy travestiese recently have been his part in ruining Soilwork and turning Terror 2000 into... Read More » |
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Commando Talk of the Town Cyclop Media 2006 |
Hailing from Quebec City, Commando is a hardcore band with a heavy lean towards rock and roll. Not exactly something typical of Deadtide, but it's worth a listen regardless.
So now that we have established that this isn't trve, kvlt, br00tal, tech or whatever the hell else, we have to remember what makes rock and roll great... getting fucked up and... Read More » |
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Communic Waves of Visual Decay Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
This one is tough to review, because I like the record but have major reservations about recommending it. Communic is a very talented band mixing trad, thrash, prog and extreme metal into a solid ball of rock and this is a good album, but I want more from the group than what they're giving. Okay, that's not fair - I'm... Read More » |
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Conglomeratorz Naturally Heavy NanoFusion Music 2006 |
Despite having the second worst band name I’ve ever encountered in my reviewing duties (the worst was Bunnygrunt), Conglomeratorz aren’t too bad at all. If I had to guess without listening, the name Conglomeratorz seems kind of “nu” to me, but this trio cranks out some pretty decent proggy thrash.
I’ll start with the good. As evidenced by tracks like... Read More » |
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Conqueror Hellstorm of Evil Vengeance (split w/ Black Witchery) Dark Horizon 2006 |
Mentioning Canadian war / black / metal without uttering the name Conqueror is much akin to an internet with no pornography. Released after and featuring four tracks from their now essential War Cult Supremacy, their half of Hellstorm of Evil Vengeance is not far removed from Black Witchery’s, yet not the same either. Much more violent in it’s range and... Read More » |
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Convergence Points of View Casket Music 2006 |
I'm usually pretty even handed when it comes to reviews. As in, I appreciate the effort it takes to get an album's worth of songs recorded, mastered, and mass produced, so why take a band to the mast and lash them until strips of flesh litter the deck?
In this case though, the whippings shall continue until morale improves.... Read More » |
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Coprofago Unorthodox Creative Criteria Galy Records 2006 |
Jazz/tech/prog/thrash from Chile? Could this possibly be any good? Galy Records usually delivers the goods and Coprofago's (means shit eater) Unorthodox Creative Criteria follows that tradition.
Be warned, there is a reason I listed jazz first in the paragraph above; jazz is every bit as prevalent as metal on this release, if not more so. Sure, the metal is jazz-influenced, but... Read More » |
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Crescent Shield The Last of My Kind Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Quality American power metal out of Los Angeles featuring former members of Onward and Destiny's End. The band cranks out battle-proven anthems in the style of '80s-era Manilla Road, Brocas Helm, Fates Warning, Jag Panzer, Helstar and of course, Iron Maiden. Michael Grant provides the vocals and he's reminiscent of James Rivera, utilizing a deadpan, theatrical delivery (minus the omnipresent,... Read More » |
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Cries Hannah Beloved...I Caught You When You Fell Crash Music 2006 |
Bands like this are why metalcore gets a bad name. Metalcore, in and of itself is by no means abhorrent - in fact, I dig a lot of recent metalcore large and small alike (Killswitch Engage, Unearth, All That Remains, War of Ages, Dead Man In Reno, etc) - but it's the third- and arguably fourth-tier stuff like Cries Hannah... Read More » |
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Criminal Element Career Criminal Emetic Records 2006 |
Supergroups are formed when individual players from already popular international touring groups decide to combine their powers to protect mankind. Once suitably swank headquarters are found, they set up shop and get into titanic battles with various super villains and extra-terrestrial creeps. Like the diabolical Dr. Narbando! At this moment, deep in the... Read More » |
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Crimson Falls The True Face of Human Nature Shiver Records 2006 |
Some parts of the vicious breakdowns or throat-searing vocals from Crimson Falls' The True Face of Human Nature surprisingly aren't too far off from Behemoth or Aborted (with the latter making sense since Svencho makes an appearance on "Control-Alt-Delete" as well as handling the album's artwork) territory. To their credit, though Crimson Falls' sound delineates from the Poles and their... Read More » |
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Cronian Terra Century Media 2006 |
Cronian, a quietly promoted mind-meld of Øystein G. Brun and Vintersorg, both of Borknagar fame, is named ‘Progressive Metal’ by a number of sources. Ice and snow are said to be strong inspirations, and even the promo sheet that accompanied the CD is an electric blue, I suppose in imitation of the glaciers on the album cover. This atmosphere, combined... Read More » |
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Crown the Lost Reverence Dies Within Independent Release 2006 |
From the instrumental opener all the way through the seven-minute album closer, Reverence Dies Within mixes power metal vocals, traditional metal musicianship and a vile thrash attack from an oddly European sounding metal band from Pennsylvania known as Crown the Lost. Injecting a healthy fuse of rhythmic thrash attacks alongside the typical ripping guitar gallops thrash all but defines, vocalist... Read More » |
![Cult of Daath, "The Grand Torturers of Hell [reissue]"](/___media/reviews/albums/_page/album_covers/medium/cultofdaat_thegrandto.jpg "Cult of Daath, \"The Grand Torturers of Hell [reissue]\"")
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Cult of Daath The Grand Torturers of Hell [reissue] Battle Kommand Records 2006 |
Unholy death worship, Cult of Daath play blackened ritual hymns to the darkness and the blood. The Grand Torturers of Hell (this being a re-release of the defunct Warhammer Records) finds these Chicago goat herders in fine form, eight tracks of hateful death rattle and razor-wire guitars. “Ritualistic Impurity” brings the first slow slices followed by the demon thrashing of... Read More » |
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Cult of Luna Somewhere Along The Highway Earache Records 2006 |
On their fourth record, Somewhere Along the Highway Sweden's Cult of Luna have crafted yet another album of luminous beauty and crushing dissonance.
Continuing in the same direction of 2004's Salvation, Somewhere Along the Highway sees the band expanding their artistic vision even further with more delicate textures and vast, instrumental seagues than ever before. These drifting, expressive passages are... Read More » |
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D.R.I. Dirty Rotten LP (on CD) Beer City 2006 |
Alright, let's get this done... time to rev up and speed down memory lane. First of all... I'm a fan of D. R. I., and have been since I was a freshman at Bellaire High School in Houston, a year after the infamous Dirty Rotten EP came out in 1982. I didn't own the EP, hell... Read More » |
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Dark Disciple Kill Everything Independent Release 2006 |
Dark Disciple play some pretty heavy shit on Kill Everything Worship Nothing, their second album. Most of the music resembles a groovy mix of Cannibal Corpse and Dying Fetus, as the tempo’s fast, the guitars are chunky and the vocals are all low and brutal. Moreover, these guys push as many lyrical boundaries as they can, despite the... Read More » |
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Dark Water Transit Dawn of the Goblin Morphius Records 2006 |
There are many wholly unfamiliar with the band Goblin, and that’s an awful shame. They were, succinctly, an Italian prog-rock band of the 70s and 80s whose specialty was horror movie soundtracks. Along with Argento classics like Profundo Rosso and Suspiria, they happened to score a couple films that actually made their way stateside: Night of the Living Dead, and... Read More » |
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Darkest Hour Archives A-F Records 2006 |
Having been at the top of America's death metal/hardcore crop for more than a decade, Darkest Hour now sees fit to release a collection of their earlier work. That's all fine and dandy, but isn't it a little suspect for a band whose members have barely hit 30 to do something like this? For one thing, it smacks of... Read More » |
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Darkness Eternal Misanthropic Annihilation Autopsy Kitchen Records 2006 |
Being one of the few one-man metal bands to actually display talent on more than one instrument, Darkness Eternal is the sole work of George Velaetis, who started the band nearly a decade ago. Many of the 9 songs here have an underlying vibe similar to "Formulas Fatal..."-era Morbid Angel, with a healthy dose of New York death metal adding... Read More » |
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Darkthrone The Cult is Alive Peaceville Records 2006 |
After Sardonic Wrath, I was expecting a lot out of Darkthrone’s follow-up, The Cult is Alive. Sadly, however, Darkthrone don’t deliver the goods here. The album does have the mandatory “cold” production and buzzing black metal guitars, but the songs are all simple, punk-based and lack pretty much all the sophistication that adorned the band’s prior effort. ... Read More » |
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Darsombra Ecdysis At a Loss Recordings 2006 |
As it often occurs in the world of journalistic metal music review, an anomaly will slip through the cracks—black sheep in the manger, so to speak. These are often the ‘metal by association’ artists coming from two extremes—on one is the pop/punk, VH1 sponsored masquerade, and on the other is something so indigestible and clearly non-musical that only the most... Read More » |
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Dawn of Azazel Sedition Ibex Moon Records 2006 |
Sedition is Dawn of Azazel’s second album, and with the band’s scathing material and excellent packaging/artwork, it’s sure to put this New Zealand trio on the map. Though the nine songs on this disc don’t quite reach half-an-hour, it’s excusable here because there isn’t a wasted millisecond on the album. Every moment is filled with sour riffing, chaotic... Read More » |
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Dawnbringer In Sickness and in Dreams Battle Kommand Records 2006 |
I cannot speak for Dawnbringer's past catalog (three full lengths since 1996), but if In Sickness and In Dreams is any indication, Chris Black (Pharaoh, Nachtmystium, Superchrist) and company have been churning out damn fine melodic genre-defying metal for nigh on a decade. Mid tempo melodic riffing that would fit expertly in the canon of the related Pharaoh are spiced... Read More » |
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Day Without Dawn Day Without Dawn Independent Release 2006 |
About 7 years ago (before researching I was thinking it was only 4 or 5 maximum), I stumbled across the song "Amputees Make Bad Swimmers: Chapter I" by a band called The Postman Syndrome. I swear I must have played that song a few thousand times over the next few months, but sadly the band fizzled out and I never... Read More » |
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Daylight Dies Dismantling Devotion Candlelight Records 2006 |
Daylight Dies is one of the few bands that can pull off the whole melancholic, doom-laden eight-minute songs without either being wimpy or putting me to sleep. In fact, 2003's No Reply caught me by surprise and was a pleasant introduction into the world of gloomy melodic death metal with melancholy sadness. That world might not be too densely populated,... Read More » |
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Dead Man in Reno Dead Man in Reno Candlelight Records 2006 |
Now here's an interesting acquisition for Candlelight Records: Tuscaloosa, Alabama's Dead Man In Reno isn't quite what would be expected through the band's affiliation with the English label predominantly specializing in black metal. Instead, Dead Men deal in a decidedly metalcore sound. I hate using the term, but here it applies: breakdowns and screams lie in proverbial sin with Swedish-influenced... Read More » |
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Dead Rabbits Sin Eater Overit Records 2006 |
Dead Rabbits may seem like a shitty name for a death metal band, but since these guys are all about the hard-edged, southern-fried rock on their debut Sin-Eater, it almost seems appropriate. This disc is a mean 65-minutes of hard grooves, fuzzy guitar tones, and a style that uses everything Pantera and Eyehategod taught us, but with more rock... Read More » |
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Dead to Fall The Phoenix Throne Victory Records 2006 |
Villainy and Virtue was a little bit more metal than Dead to Fall's debut, Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces and here we are with album number three, The Phoenix Throne, and DtF have once again upped the metal ante.
Rest assured kids, they still bring the mosh; however, as noted above, there is a lot more metal happening here. Where... Read More » |
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Deadsoil Sacrifice Lifeforce Records 2006 |
Much like fellow Germans Caliban, Deadsoil have been around for a good number of years, but haven't really capitalized on the popularity of the metalcore / metal-hardcore / whatever boom of the last few years. Both have always had a bit of promise, of which Caliban actually pulled off on their earlier, less sing-songy records, and both have put in... Read More » |
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Death Before Disco Barricades Lifeforce Records 2006 |
Racking up a fairly impressive back catalog since the band's 2001 debut, Barricades marks Death Before Disco's fourth release, gradually working up from Eye Spy Records to Goodlife and now to Lifeforce for worldwide distribution.
Taking an airy, artsy approach to melodic rock with the slightest hint of a hardcore background and a healthy handful of screams thrown in for... Read More » |
![Death Before Dishonor, "Friends Family Forever [reissue]"](/___media/reviews/albums/_page/album_covers/medium/deathbefor_friendsfam.jpg "Death Before Dishonor, \"Friends Family Forever [reissue]\"")
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Death Before Dishonor Friends Family Forever [reissue] Bridge Nine Records 2006 |
Proving to be true road dogs in the hardcore world after the 2005 release of Friends Family Forever on seminal hardcore label Bridge Nine, Death Before Dishonor and Bridge Nine have teamed up to remaster the seven song EP, throw in 2 tracks from a limited release 7" split and toss on a five-song live set from CBGB's for good... Read More » |
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Death Breath Stinking Up the Night Relapse Records 2006 |
I'm a Nicke Andersson fan. Shucks -- the guy is prolific as hell, knows his shit inside and out whether he's on drums or guitar, and just seems like such a genuine kinda guy. It's pretty much a given that I'll like whatever he gets into. But reprising death metal? I had to wonder... does he still got his... Read More » |
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Deathwork Evolve to Extinguish Independent Release 2006 |
Death thrash is the name of the game for Italy's Deathwork, and on the band's six track mini CD Evolve To Extinguish, that's exactly what they do. Utilizing a warm, analogous sound and fuzzed out guitars results in a decidedly lo-fi listen, but the drums are free of triggers, the nearly-off kilter riffs are as fast as they are fuzzy... Read More » |
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Decadence 3rd Stage of Decay HTI Records 2006 |
Sweden’s Decadence may currently be metal’s best kept secret. The band is a speeding thrash powerhouse with songs that are smartly penned and utterly ferocious, fronted by Kitty Saric, a red-headed firebrand who, in my mind, gives Angela Gossow of Arch Enemy a serious run for her money in all respects. On the band’s third album, aptly... Read More » |
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Decapitated Organic Hallucinosis Earache Records 2006 |
Once hailed as the whiz-kids of death metal, Poland's Decapitated carry right on down their musical path with this, their fourth album. The engineering is "modern" sounding, so expect triggered drum sounds and a very digital vibe.
"Day 69" is a great track, thanks in no small part to some dissonant bent riffing by serpentine guitarist Jacek. "Post Organic"... Read More » |
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Defcon 4 File Under Fuck Black Box Records 2006 |
Fifteen songs, twenty-four minutes. I think you can guess what these guys do for a living. They're actually a little more hardcore than grind to be honest, but short and to the point is what they do. These guys aren't even speedcore like Crossed Out or Infest. This is just short and to the point hardcore/punk.... Read More » |
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Degree Absolute Degree Absolute Sensory Records 2006 |
"Degree Absolute" is the baby of guitarist/vocalist Aaron Bell and the debut release features a heavy and busy style of prog metal. The label recommends the album to fans of Fates Warning and Watchtower (as well as the prerequisite Dream Theater), and I can't say I disagree with the promo team - elements of both Fates (dark atmosphere, brooding compositions,... Read More » |
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Deicide The Stench of Redemption Earache Records 2006 |
‘The Stench of Redemption’ marks part two of Deicide’s comeback combo. Though legends and pioneers within the Floridian Death Metal scene, most of their middle albums were scoffed at by critics and dismissed by fans. However, once their contract with Roadrunner was up, they signed with Earache and made a strong bid with ‘Scars of the Crucifix’ to reinstate themselves... Read More » |
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Deicide The Stench of Redemption Earache Records 2006 |
Everyone has undoubtedly heard all the drama/gossip surrounding the line-up changes involving this band by now. If not, the information is readily available through a variety of sources. Bottom line is that Deicide has two new guitar players to replace the departed Hoffman brothers.
Musically, there now seems to be more of a focus on melody and harmony than... Read More » |
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Despised Icon Demos 2002 & 2004 (Split w/ Ion Dissonance) Galy Records 2006 |
I opened up a package lastnight, and inside it was this disc; a demo re-release split? I'd have to say this is a first for me. To clarify, this disc is Ion Dissonance's 2002 demo and Despised Icon's 2004 demo packaged together as a split.
First off, this is the most pointless, stop-gap release I've ever encountered, as all five... Read More » |
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Destroy Destroy Destroy Devour the Power 2006 |
A piano intro leads into an engaging and fist-pumping mixture of styles combining elements of trad/power with melodic death and Viking metal (both in terms of speed and groove). Vocalist Bryan Kemp utilizes several different voices, the most prominent being his screechy screaming that sounds something like Children of Bodom's Alexi Laiho mixed with Cradle of Filth's Dani Davey. Children... Read More » |
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Deviant Larvaeon The Spew 2006 |
Sweden’s Deviant, not to be confused with Norway’s The Deviant, play brutal death metal on their debut, Larvaeon. What makes this album something that can’t simply be dismissed is that these guys somehow manage to twist their sound into something new and frighteningly cool. I’m not saying that it’s going to rewrite the book on brutal death, but... Read More » |
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Die Verbannten Kinder Evas Dusk and Void Became Alive Napalm Records 2006 |
From the first note on this thunderously intriguing album, the listener gets the impression that there is nothing typical about it. It's far more than any genre can contain, beautifully fusing copious classical /operatic influences with every ounce of the crushing melancholy of Tenhi, which is the closest thing to a contemporary that there is for this duo. Fronted by... Read More » |
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Diecast Internal Revolution Century Media 2006 |
With the band's third full release, Boston's Diecast returns with another slab of metalcore (yes, the breakdowns are there, the metal riffing is here and the melodic vocals are also present, hence the tag) after 2004's mildly amusing Tearing Down Your Blue Skies. The question at hand, though, a good two years later is and yet another lineup shift: Does... Read More » |
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Dim the Lights Dim the Lights 2006 |
I really hate doing this to a new band struggling to get a foothold in the scene, but I’ve got to beat the shit out of Dim the Lights’ self-titled debut EP because we don’t need more of their kind of music. This six-track outing is a generic mishmash of deathcore riffs and vocals. The genre got full... Read More » |
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Dimentianon Promo 2006 Demo 2006 |
What a mess, but a pretty good mess, all things considered. The sort of mess one might get if FM radio went metal and someone hooked it up to an amplifier with the reverb set at 10 and then spun the dial, mashing each station and the static between together.
Dimentianon are a new act formed by veterans of the New... Read More » |
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Dio Holy Diver Live Eagle Records 2006 |
This one is long, even by my standards, so I'll cut to the chase right up front - this double CD is a must have for Dio fans and is well worth investigating for trad metalheads. For those of you with time on your hands, here's the rest of review:
Okay, honesty is the best policy - so right up front,... Read More » |
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Disillusion Gloria Metal Blade 2006 |
‘Back To The Times of Splendor’ received some of the most rave reviews of 2004 for being a sophisticated, inspired, and above all free-standing work. The band’s members are relatively independent from other bands, independent from the German scene they sprang from, and genre-defying in style. That album crossed the spectrum of death, symphonic, progressive, modern metal and then some,... Read More » |
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Dismember The God That Never Was Candlelight Records 2006 |
Death metal legends Dismember return hand-in-hand with the band's now trademark fuzzed out grooves, flawlessly melodic guitar hooks, and relentless vocal barking, all of which retain death metal roots, yet unequivocally scream (from within the halls of a burning church) one thing: Dismember. While the band may have taken some slack for its incorporation of melody as of the past... Read More » |
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Dissection Reinkaos The End Records 2006 |
It's finally here. After an eleven year wait, I am holding a mint copy of the new Dissection album in my hands and I don't hate it, not because it's Dissection but because Reinkaos is a solid albeit a generic melodic death album. Yes, you read it right; Reinkaos has Swedish melodic death metal written all over it. While by... Read More » |
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Dissolute Cleveland Daredevil Records 2006 |
Not as intense as Dillinger Escape Plan. Not as complex as Meshuggah. Not as wild as Converge. Get me? These guys play competent math metal -- but it's been done before. And, without any hooks, there's nothing to hold my attention. The guitars complacently lock in to a small section of the fretboard and chug away at syncopated rhythms. ... Read More » |
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Dohrn Dohrn Ethospine Records 2006 |
Fifteen songs, eight minutes. That's all you need to know about this gang of speedcore freaks. This album blazes by faster than you can spit, though the vocals are on the hardcore side and there are no blast beats. This is right in your wheelhouse if you love Crossed Out, Capitalist Casualties, Infest and Asprin Feast. ... Read More » |
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Dol Ammad Ocean Dynamics Electronic Art Metal 2006 |
"Fishes aint's gots no metals to listens to."
-Skwisgaar Skwigelf of Dethklok
Well now the trout, marlin, and power metalheads of the world need look no further than Dol Ammad for their cheesetastic aquatic metal. Basing their brand of gigantic-sounding, synthesizer and effect-laden power metal on the foundation of a 14-piece chorus, Dol Ammad will, at the very least, impress their sheer... Read More » |
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Dornenreich Durch Den Traum Prophecy Productions 2006 |
Playing a melancholy, progressive style of black metal, Dornenreich is an interesting band if nothing else. Boasting folk instruments, non-linear song structures, and talented musicians, the band weaves a sound that will , at least, provoke a reaction. Some say the all-German whispered vocals are bad and cheesy, others say that they add to the effect of the music. Some... Read More » |
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Dr. Satan The Real American Psycho Demo 2006 |
Dr. Satan is a DIY grindcore one-man band from Terre Haute, Indiana. Still reading?
Okay, so this is an independent release of thirteen songs, most of which are under a minute long (in the grindcore tradition) but a couple of them top five minutes. It's recorded in a murky lo-fidelity swamp; the guitar is a total wash... Read More » |
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Draconian The Burning Halo Napalm Records 2006 |
Right up front I must say that I love this band, but they are assuredly an acquired taste, as gothic death doom is not a style for everyone. That said, if you ever find yourself in the gloomy mood to give it a go, you won't find a band better at the style than Draconian. The "beauty and the beast"... Read More » |
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Drag the Waters Fulci Film Commentary Novelty Cross Records 2006 |
Drag the Waters’ debut EP, Fulci Film Commentary (don’t ask, I don’t fucking understand the title either) may not be the absolutely most original work of 2006, but it’s damn good. This quintet from Georgia will probably be pissed at my categorization, but the music sounds like brutal, melodic metalcore in the vein of Himsa, but possibly heavier. ... Read More » |
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Dragobrath Scripture of the Woods Stygian Crypt Production 2006 |
Dragobrath are a black metal band from the Ukraine, though where they come from doesn't really influence the sound any. To be honest they could be from anywhere and you wouldn't notice. They play mid-paced black metal that only a true devotee could get off on. The vocals are nice and raspy, the production is decent, though... Read More » |
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Drawn and Quartered Hail Infernal Darkness Moribund Records 2006 |
Seattle death metal warriors Drawn And Quartered have been plugging away at the dirtiest, grungiest, most evil end of the death metal spectrum since 1996's self-titled demo. They've put out records on Washington state's Moribund Records ever since, and with Hail Infernal Darkness, Drawn and Quartered is poised to show everyone that with 10 years and 4 albums under the... Read More » |
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Dream Evil United Century Media 2006 |
Damn, time flies. I can't believe Dream Evil is already on their fourth full-length album. The band is producer/guitarist Fredrik Nordstrom's project, created to let loose and have some well intentioned fun with the genre that he's devoted his life and career to. Many punters can't get into the groove and take offense at the more comical jabs that Fred... Read More » |
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Dreams of Damnation Epic Tales of Vengeance Say It In Blood Records 2006 |
It's weird, but after being around for six years, this is only the second release from Dreams of Damnation, ex-Dark Angel Jim Durkin's current band. After 2000's "Let the Violence Begin" EP, it seems that line up changes had to be made. Filling the metal-toed boots of the vocalist's spot is one Loana dP Valencia.... Read More » |
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Dreamscapes of the Perverse Gignesthai Tribunal Records 2006 |
This album is everything that symphonic black metal should be. Melodic, epic music that's serene when necessary, filled with blistering instrumental work, magnificently crafted classical passages, and a crystal clear production that even includes the forgotten instrument of metal- the bass guitar! What's surprising about this album is that Gignesthai is the band's first full-length release, and even more surprising... Read More » |
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Drug Honkey Hail Satan Everflow Records 2006 |
Drug Honkey's Hail Satan would be the perfect soundtrack to a hate-fueled, drug-induced bout of psychosis. The album is nearly an hours worth of over-driven guitars, heavily distorted bass, and incredibly huge vocals with synths flittering in the background.
Drug Honkey roughly sounds like a more doomed-out Godflesh, but these guys really can't hold a candle to Broadrick and company.... Read More » |
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Drugs of Faith Drugs of Faith Selfmadegod Records 2006 |
If you like your grindcore raw, caustic, and crusty with a hint of sludge, Drugs of Faith are your new favorite band. They just don't make 'em like this (that often) anymore.
What we have here on this self-titled EP are 8 tracks of pure agression that run a little over 15 minutes, some of which appear on earlier demo releases.... Read More » |
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Ebola In Borrowed Plumes Casket Music 2006 |
Italy’s Ebola put a new spin on metalcore with their debut EP In Borrowed Plumes. The five tracks, though definitely still on the heavy side of the genre, borrow from black metal and the chaos present in more recent Akercocke albums to produce some seriously harsh, dissonant stuff. Though I wouldn’t go so far as to say this... Read More » |
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Eidolon The Parallel Otherworld Escapi Music 2006 |
This band was formed back in 1993 by Glen Drover (guitars) and Shawn Drover (drums). The brothers are currently in Megadeth, thus I don't know the fate of Eidolon. For this album, the Drover boys have brought Pagan's Mind vocalist Nils K. Rue into the fold, and a powerful addition he is. I've heard some of Eidolon's previous work and... Read More » |
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Electro Quarterstaff Gretzky Willowtip Records 2006 |
I have to be honest. The main reason I wanted to hear this album was because it was named after The Great One. I am a ridiculous hockey fan if you didn't already know that. While I wouldn't say that this record is comparable to the greatest offensive force in hockey history, I would say it is... Read More » |
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Elis Griefshire Napalm Records 2006 |
With the tragic and unexpected death of Elis' front woman, Sabine Dunser, "Griefshire" was a greatly anticipated gothic metal release for 2006. Although, "gothic" may not be entirely accurate. Elis has uniquely melded together some rather heavy and catchy guitar riffs with female vocals; both surrounded in gothic undertones of which are portrayed by light synths an carefully... Read More » |
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Elvenking The Winter Wake Candlelight Records 2006 |
"The Winter Wake" is the third release from this merry band of Celtic-influenced power metallers from Italy. I picked up the debut, "Heathenreel", back in the day, but I wasn't impressed by vocalist Damnagoras' efforts, thus I didn't buy their second record "Wyrd". Well, as Fate would have it, Damnagoras left the band in 2002, so he wasn't on the... Read More » |
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Emeth Reticulated Brutal Bands 2006 |
Although it took them just about forever to get around to releasing a full-length, Emeth have in fact been around since the mid-90’s. However, with two Emeth members also appearing in the prolific Aborted, finding time for this ‘side-project’ is understandably difficult.
Yes, Emeth are part of the Belgian conglomerate—that venerable community of musicians who cycle in and out of... Read More » |
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Empheris The Rituals of Possession in Blasphemy (Split w/ Thanathron) Kerzakraum Records 2006 |
Despite its protests to the contrary, black metal is often a grandiose enterprise. Even when the quality of the music itself is mundane, the egos of its performers refuse to be quenched. Such is the case with this 2006 split, ‘The Rituals of Possession in Blasphemy’. The Polish duo of Thanathron and Empheris both boast appropriately sinister/majestic logos, professionally laid-out... Read More » |
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Empire Auriga Auriga Dying Dark Horizon 2006 |
These madmen claim to be for fans of Burzum and Coil. Yeah, those are my first two guesses for a hybrid too. Luckily for me, and these guys, I am a sucker for this sort of militarized industrial metal. This is some of the stiffest metal I've ever heard, never deviating from the beat, when there is... Read More » |
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Empyrios "...And the Rest is Silence" Burning Star Records 2006 |
empYrios, or just Empyrios if you think that is completely ridiculous, are an Italian progressive metal outfit. They have a rather heavy, thrashy take on the genre that has the technical and melodic aspects of acts like Evergrey and Ark, but also has kind of a Nevermore-ish vibe with the weirdo vocals and penchant for quick, heavy riffing.
Despite being much... Read More » |
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Empyrium A Retrospective Prophecy Productions 2006 |
Let's face it, greatest hits records are only good for two things- making the band and label more money and exposing new fans to a band's material. With the right promotion, Empyrium will easily accomplish both with this somber folk-metal masterpiece. The album beautifully chronicles the musical progression of this incarnation of Ulf Theodor Schwadorf and Thomas Helm, the... Read More » |
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End of Everything Three Casket Music 2006 |
When did you first imagine there might be something wrong?
Well, it was pretty early, I guess. When I saw the album cover. There were some numbers, you know, and the font—I don’t know. Like something that Filter might have put out, in 1998, or so. You know. [Patient is unresponsive for several moments]
And they were English, of course.
You don’t like... Read More » |
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Enforsaken Sinner's Intuition Crash Music 2006 |
Chicago’s Enforsaken have succeeded yet again with their third album, Sinner’s Intuition. Despite the fact that the opening track, “Witness to the Fall” is relatively incoherent, and the packaging is one of Crash Music’s chop-shop, low-budget affairs, this disc is extremely strong. Following in the footsteps of their earlier work, Enforsaken plow forward with their potent blend of... Read More » |
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Engorge Cold.Black.Ejaculation Dark Horizon 2006 |
After an ominous two-minute long dreary intro, Engorge makes it clear what they're all about as vocalist Kyle Powell vomits the phrase "NecroBlackDeath Machine" at the top of his lungs.
Cold Black Ejaculation sees New Jersey's Engorge boasting a line-up complete with Ronnie Deo and Jim Roe (both ex-Incantation) and a sound much akin to Dark Horizon's black metal leanings.... Read More » |
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Enochian Crescent Black Church Woodcut Records 2006 |
Being overlooked is nothing new for Enochian Crescent. While its stellar musical resume speaks for itself, it is other Finnish acts that get more recognition, sell more albums and tour larger venues. Life is not fair because this is a band unlike anything out there and should be heard by everyone into underground metal. That being said, I secretly hope... Read More » |
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Ensepulchred The Night Our Rituals Blackened the Skies Autopsy Kitchen Records 2006 |
Lo-fi, slow, synth driven, ambient black metal reminiscent to the first few Limbonic Art records, Ensepulchred presents a concept that's interesting in theory but fails miserably in practice. Non-existent guitars, poorly programmed drum machine, shitty vocals, and amateurish songwriting make The Night Our Rituals Blackened the Stars sound like it was written by a group of suicidal teenagers with a... Read More » |
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Enslaved Ruun Candlelight Records 2006 |
When it comes to black metal, I'm admittedly a noob. For the longest time I was put off by the genre because of the cheesy corpse paint, awful production jobs, and general lack of listenability. In fact, if I had opened up this review a few years ago, I would have probably already moved on to another review. I wonder... Read More » |
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Ensoph Project X-Katon Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Avant-garde, blackened gothic prog with strong electro-industrial overtones is sort of a new thing for me. I'm also willing to bet it's a fairly new thing for you. Hell, I can't think of one single band that these guys sound like. Sure, there are bits and pieces of this and that, but the genres represented here are so disparate and... Read More » |
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Enthrallment Smashed Brain Collection Grindethic Records 2006 |
Pretty much standard fare death metal, from the cover art to the splatter-rific song titles, drilling the brain pan samples, guttural/screeching vocals, high tuned drums and relentless guitar assault, but Bulgaria's Enthrallment does have a certain sick charm that I find enjoyable. I quite like that the bass player isn't buried six feet deep in the mix,... Read More » |
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Estradasphere Palace of Mirrors The End Records 2006 |
This is the first I've heard of Estradasphere, though "Palace of Mirrors" is their fourth full length album. I wish I'd known about them earlier! After one listen, I became a fully converted Estradaspherian, gave up my earthly possessions, shaved my head, and am currently wearing a robe covered with esoteric magical symbols and... Read More » |
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Eternal Majesty Wounds of Hatred and Slavery Candlelight Records 2006 |
Eternal Majesty doesn't screw around when they make a record. This is some really old school black metal with a martial style beat to it. The vocals are a lovely cold rasp that sound like it comes from beyond the grave. The riffs are very much from the Darkthrone school; although the production is much better in... Read More » |
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Event Horizon Naked on the Black Floor Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Event Horizon is Italian power/prog-ish metal with lots of keyboard sounds filling in the spaces created by the start-stop rhythm section and the chunky ass guitars. There's some musical talent on display here, and the songs are generally well crafted. Even the bass player gets a funky solo, and when was the last time you... Read More » |
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Everfest Rising Mausoleum Records 2006 |
Here's a pleasant surprise - despite the horrible moniker, Everfest turn out to be a cool band, sounding something like tossing Metal Church into a blender with Queensryche. The group hails from Germany and mixes the big power chords of traditional metal with chuggy thrashing, sugary power balladry and tosses in some contemplative proggy acoustics. There's a lot of mellow... Read More » |
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Everything for Some Identity Casket Music 2006 |
Everything For Some - somehow - comes off as a mid-90s radio rap-rock band in an age where the style has been dead for years, even a good chunk of time after the Rage Against The Machine dudes went their own ways early in the new millennium. Forming back in 2001, late even then, in the United Kingdom, Everything For... Read More » |
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Evildoer Terror Audio Scarlet Records 2006 |
So, have you ever sat around wondering what the fuck happened to The Haunted. Where did it all go wrong and why have they failed to recapture the destructive death/thrash frenzy that was their first two albums. I think I know what happened. Evildoer stole their mojo. This album reminds me very much of the first Haunted... Read More » |
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Exhale (Sweden) Prototype Emetic Records 2006 |
Exhale are Swedish grind, who owe more than a little to Nasum. In fact I would say they owe quite a bit from the riffs to the vocals. It wouldn't shock me to find they got the name Exhale from the album Inhale/Exhale in fact. Lyrically they also seem to be on the same wavelength as Nasum,... Read More » |
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Exit the King Split w/ Man is Mostly Water Howard Records 2006 |
Hot on the heels of their excellent, self-released demo, this is Austin, TX natives Exit the King's split with fellow Texans, Man is Mostly Water.
In case you didn't check out my review of their demo, Exit the King play a style of technical hardcore that is chaotic, but maintains a level of memorability and song writing sometimes lacking in similar... Read More » |
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Exitium Outsourcing Morality Deepsend Records 2006 |
What's the deal with Deepsend releasing 26-minute discs and calling them full-lengths? I honestly don't even care if they sell them for the same price as full-lengths, but actually passing 26-minutes of music as a full-length is ridiculous.
Anyway, here we have Outsourcing Morality, the debut offering from Oklahoma's Exitium. It's a fairly short grindcore record that leans heavily toward death... Read More » |
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Eyes Averted Paralyzing Passion and Notion Independent Release 2006 |
Sporting a caustic, dissonant approach to hardcore, Fulton, New York's Eyes Averted comes off as a quirky, artsy take on the technical hardcore and screamo genres plaguing today, leading the band's latest effort, "Paralyzing Passion And Motion," to come off as a jazzy bitchslap to the throngs of Dillinger Escape Plan clones out there.
Opting instead for a calculated take... Read More » |
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Eyes of Fire Prisons Century Media 2006 |
While Southern California has rapidly become a haven for mall-ready, Hot Topicore, Eyes of Fire are here to show us the place can't be all bad.
Boasting ex-Mindrot noise mongers, Eyes of Fire are yet another band writing material in the same morphine-filled vein of Old Man Gloom, Neurosis, and the like. A lot of similar stuff gets unfairly lumped in... Read More » |
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F Kaksi Perkelettä Varjot Productions 2006 |
The standard format of split review has been (at least for your humble narrator) a brief overview outlining the similar characteristics of the groups and the general impression gained. This rarely becomes problematic, since split records tend to pair like-minded projects. But on ‘Kaksi Perkelettä’, Solgrav and F have made finding those common threads quite a chore.
Perhaps the disparity... Read More » |
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F.K.Ü. Sometimes They Come Back...to Mosh Head Mechanic 2006 |
Freshly finished wailing all over Terror 2000 for writing what could be the stupidest album ever recorded, Terror For Sale, I’m all ready to stomp on F.K.U. for trying the same thing on Sometimes they Come Back…To Mosh. The fact, however, is that I can’t because F.K.U. actually ARE FUNNY and the music on this CD is pretty good... Read More » |
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Fairyland The Fall of an Empire Napalm Records 2006 |
Let's face it lads (and you one or two lasses reading this), few forms of music are as gay as heavy metal. The fanbase is comprised mostly of males that pack themselves into small clubs and then get all sweaty together. It's music by men, for men, and that's gay (just ask Rob Halford. Straight guys make poppy dance music... Read More » |
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Falchion Legacy of Heathens World Chaos Productions 2006 |
There is something instinctively catchy about the music this band makes. That coupled with my soft spot for epic viking metal helps Falchion nestle into the warmth of my musical palate. Uh, yea, something like that.
Melody and a beautiful mix of folk elements with fairly mid-tempo (for the most part) metal and raspy vocals, thats what Legacy of Heathens... Read More » |
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Fall of Serenity Bloodred Salvation Lifeforce Records 2006 |
Germany’s Fall of Serenity cut fucking loose on their fourth album Bloodred Salvation. These guys play extremely catchy, heavy, thrashy, melodic death metal that reminds me a lot of Illdisposed by way of Dew Scented (or vice versa), and flavored with some extremely cool, moderated synthesizer work that Soilwork only wish they could imitate. Tracks like “A Piece... Read More » |
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Faulter Darling Buds of May Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Faulter is the type of band that everyone expects to be huge. The lead singer reminds me of John Waite (or however you spell his name), and the music is the typical post emo/Weezer rock music that so many bands play. It is another in a long line of bands that are talented and write decent songs, but are forgotten... Read More » |
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Fear Before the March of Flames The Always Open Mouth Equal Vision Records 2006 |
Denver's Fear Before The March of Flames is back, but Equal Vision Records doesn't want you thinking it's the same old March of Flames. For one, on The Always Open Mouth, the band's fourth release - and third full-length -, sees screamer David Marion and singer Adam Fisher flopping vocal duties this time around, resulting in an even more indie-rockish... Read More » |
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Fear of Eternity Spirit of Sorrow Moribund Records 2006 |
Melding more efficiently into one cohesive trance of fuzzed out black dankness and casket-stench-reeking haunting symphonics, Fear of Eternity have again crafted a brooding ghost of haunting black metal and ethereal, bleak horror-scapes. Shifting seamlessly into one unit of lingering keys and stalking guitars, Spirit of Sorrow flows effortlessly from start to bitter end. The electronics sound more professional in... Read More » |
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Few and the Proud Stampede Organized Crime 2006 |
Waving the flag for Chicago's straight-edge hardcore scene, Few and The Proud carries the burden well, even if it does come off a bit Neanderthalic. Take a look at the equation: 11 songs, 22 minutes of music, amplified simplistic riffs, an unrelenting and unvaried throaty yell and a down-for-the-cause, punk attitude makes Stampede a nostalgic listen for the long-since initiated... Read More » |
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Fields of the Nephilim Mourning Sun SPV 2006 |
Sorry guys, the whole Gothic Metal scene has been done. I know you've been around since I was born (granted with a 13-year hiatus from 1991 to 2004), but being old doesn't necessarily make you good. You've really got to do something interesting with the general idea of Gothic Metal to make it exiting, and nothing on this album makes... Read More » |
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First Blood Killafornia Trustkill 2006 |
Coming headfirst out of the Trustkill camp, First Blood's Killafornia may be the band's full-length debut, but it sure comes off as much more than that. Not only has press already taken quite the liking to it, but they've also already landed stateside tours alongside hardcore heavyweights Comeback Kid and Sick of It All. First Blood has got the camo... Read More » |
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Fleshgore May God Strike Me Dead This Dark Reign 2006 |
Pummeling death metal from the Ukraine, Fleshgore aren't doing anything you haven't heard before, but they do it well. With a love for pinch harmonics that brought warm memories of Forced Entry flooding into my pants and a way over the top vocal attack, not to mention a flaying drummer, "May God Strike Me Dead" is an... Read More » |
![Fleshgore, "Killing Absorption [reissue]"](/___media/reviews/albums/_page/album_covers/medium/fleshgore_killingabs.jpg "Fleshgore, \"Killing Absorption [reissue]\"")
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Fleshgore Killing Absorption [reissue] This Dark Reign 2006 |
Fleshgore’s debut album ‘Killing Absorption’, in all likelihood, is getting more reviews in 2006 than it ever did in 2004, when it was first released. This backwards process renders the original intent of its re-release rather useless, as it no doubt was intended to promote the 2005 release of ‘May God Strike Me Dead’, which garnered the group significant praise... Read More » |
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Fleshgrinder Coroner's Inquest Suit Goregiastic Records 2006 |
Next up on the chopping block we've got Fleshgrinder, gore drenched sociopaths and menacing musical manglers. They've been putting out albums since 1993, and the latest infestation upon your aural cavities is "Coroner's Inquest Suit", 18 tracks of purest Brazilian gore-grind. You know the drill by now, it's been pushed in and out of... Read More » |
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Fleshmould The Lazarus Breed Shiver Records 2006 |
Something about the word ‘Flesh’ in a band’s name makes one automatically expect a plethora of sloppy blasts and grunts. Fortunately, Belgian group Fleshmould aim for more professional heights, and since they formed in 2000 have released three albums of name-defying, un-gory death metal. 2006’s ‘The Lazarus Breed’ continues in their established vein of mid-paced technical death metal that still... Read More » |
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Formicide Formicide Due Process Records 2006 |
Three members of Formicide would later go on to form the band Only Living Witness, who I know nothing about. Due Process records are apparently big fans of these guys as they went so far as Poland to track down a tape of the third demo, explaining why the recording is a bit on the raw side. Well... Read More » |
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Four Days to Burn Four Days to Burn Dada Drumming 2006 |
Four Days to Burn's eponymous debut resonates with a vibe that could come only from the South. The band has played together under this name for only a couple years, but most members have prior experience in similar groups and are far from neophytes in the field of aggressive, down-tuned sludge. Consequently, the two tracks on this 7" – "Casino... Read More » |
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Fragments of Sentience Hiatus Independent Release 2006 |
It's technical enough and has plenty of jazzy bass lines and original guitar work, but the thin production will be a huge detriment on Hiatus for all but the truest of the black metal elite. Maybe that's what they were going for, though, because Fragments of Sentience sounds black metal enough to appeal, but they still utilize deep-throated death metal... Read More » |
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Fragments of Unbecoming Sterling Black Icon Metal Blade 2006 |
Fragments of Unbecoming have done their damnedest to make Sterling Black Icon a hard album to review. It’s a full 50-minutes, teeming with professionally played melodic death metal that very often seems good but isn’t very catchy. The music sounds a lot like The Gallery-era Dark Tranquillty mixed with brutal death metal. The dual-layered vocals and tightly... Read More » |
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Frightmare Bringing Back the Bloodshed Razorback Records 2006 |
Wow, so let us not judge the book by the cover, but would you not expect one-sided generic gore-grind from none other than an outfit named after the little known 1974 nightmarishly depraved crazy people flick Frightmare? Well, knowing Razorback and knowing horror grind, I would have totally pigeonholed this one sans a listen. Good thing I did, because whereas... Read More » |
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From a Second Story Window Delinda Metal Blade 2006 |
Initially, I was pretty into FASSW's debut EP, Not One Word Has Been Omitted. I thought it was a good mix of different metal elements to make a schizophrenic, but enjoyable listen. As time wore on, I still enjoyed the album, but it doesn't get nearly as much rotation these days. There is just something about it that makes it... Read More » |
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Fuck the Facts Stigmata High-Five Relapse Records 2006 |
Holy Hell, this is a fierce son of a bitch! Taking cues from the sleek, modernized grindcore of Pig Destroyer, some slightly spazzy elements, and a sneaky sense of melody, Fuck the Facts have crafted a sound that comes off somewhat progressive and innovative and certainly one of the stronger grindcore releases of 2006.
In general, you can expect several twists... Read More » |
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Fuelblooded Inflict the Inevitable Copro Records 2006 |
Fuelblooded, formerly known as Sacramental Sachem have apparently been around since 1989, but Inflict the Inevitable is the band’s debut under the new moniker. This five-piece from The Netherlands play semi-melodic thrash with some death elements and the result sounds like a less proficient version of Darkane. Whereas the aforementioned Swedes have been treated to nothing less than... Read More » |
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Funerot Invasion from the Death Dimension Razorback Records 2006 |
Washington’s Funerot offer up some deliciously gory old-school thrash on their Razorback Records debut, Invasion from the Death Dimension. The album is silly, and the songs are short, but all the tracks are played fast, and with energy that is more often found in 80’s thrash and older garage punk albums. Whether the band’s busting out the jams... Read More » |
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Funerot Invasion from the Death Dimension Razorback Records 2006 |
Though they may call the slimy Razorback Records home, and sport a rather ‘deathy moniker, Funerot are about as far from death metal as Michael Jackson is from black. Falling somewhere between Sci-Fi serials and a group of snotty punks playing thrash covers, Invasion from the Death Dimension is 12 speedy photon-blasts of screeching riff, snide vocals, and too much... Read More » |
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Furze Trident Autocrat Candlelight Records 2006 |
Furze is the brainchild of black metal weirdo Woe J. Reaper. Originally released in 2000, Trident Autocrat is the band's first official release, though the material on 2003's Necromanzee Cogent was written before it and had a much different style.
On Trident Autocrat, Reaper drops most of the strange doomy psychedelic elements from Necromanzee Cogent in favor of a more straightforward,... Read More » |
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Furze Necromanzee Cogent Candlelight Records 2006 |
Originally released in 2003, the material on Necromanzee Cogent was actually written well before 2000's Trident Autocrat but for whatever reason didn't get released until later. Truth be told, the releasing order actually feels about right as this is a more experimental and interesting listen than their 2000 release and seems like it would come afterward. Whatever.
This is a damn... Read More » |
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Ganon In the Dead of Sleep Acerbic Noise Development 2006 |
While the description provided by the label, "The voluminous atmosphere conjured up by Michigan's Ganon is a churning, bubbling brew of alluring psychedelic doom," would certainly fit the sound of Yob, it is sort of misleading with Ganon. The music produced by the quintet is neither psychedelic, nor doom. A more fitting description would be "The derrivative, yet competent sound... Read More » |
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Gaza I Don't Care Where I Go When I Die Blackmarket Activities 2006 |
Dark and moody and reminiscent of Converge in an artsier, more disturbed, less spastic moment. Gaza has strung together some lopsided bits of low-end/screechy/noodly guitar and mixed in a mentally-unbalanced rhythm section to serve up some very gloomy stuff here. Sometimes it works, sometimes it gives me a headache. Probably their objective to begin with, eh?
One thing that’s definitely... Read More » |
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Gezoleen Black Spaces Between Stars Acerbic Noise Development 2006 |
Is it noise as music, or the music of noise? Either way, those of you who have an interest in music that's experimental, noisy and off beat (in other words, if you're familiar with bands off the Release label like Merzbow or Tribes of Neurot) will want to give this a listen. Jeff McLeod has... Read More » |
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Ghoul Splatterthrash Razorback Records 2006 |
Ghoul, the mysterious thrashing gore band from Creepsylvania have shown their faces for the third time with yet another strong, full-length album. Splatterthrash is the title and it’s quite the succinct summary of the musical content found on the disc. Featuring guttural vocals, silliness and theatrics wholly unique to Ghoul, and thrash and death metal riffs that would... Read More » |
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Ghoulunatics Cryogenie Galy Records 2006 |
Playing catchy, simple death n’ roll with excellent guitar production, Ghoulunatics Cryogenie is an album that’s very easy and worthwhile to digest…though you’ll need to know French to understand even a word of what they’re singing about. That’s right, these guys are French Canadian, and just about everything on this disc, including credits is in the language best used... Read More » |
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Giant Squid Metridium Field The End Records 2006 |
So I saw "The Perfect Storm" back in 2000. I was hungover, hadn't eaten anything all day and was just unfortunate enough to have to take a front row seat in the packed-to-capacity theater. I made it a good hour and forty-five minutes through the film, but eventually those giant rogue waves (or was it Marky Mark's acting?) were too... Read More » |
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Glass Casket Desperate Man's Diary Abacus Recordings 2006 |
On its sophmore release, the follow-up to the 15,000 strong We Are Gathered Here Today, North Carolina's Glass Casket turns up the metal and technicality even further than on the last go around. This go through, Desperate Man's Diary showcases some serious chops, an ever-increasingly more guttural vocal attack, and some definite grind influence.
Showcasing a knack for moody melody... Read More » |
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Gnostic Hatewar 666 Infernus Rex 2006 |
Featuring members of Texas’ disbanded cult act Thornspawn, Gnostic is unholy American black metal; seething and oozing with war-metal hate. Featuring tracks from the Bloodwars of Heretic Supremacy, Necrodawn and Vistigium De Monastrium demos, Hatewar 666 is fourteen attacks on the soul. Scathing, buzz laden guitars, buried drumming and a quite audible death rattle, Gnostic is amazingly tight in their... Read More » |
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Goatwhore A Haunting Curse Metal Blade 2006 |
Back with their third installment of sludgy death/black metal, NOLA's Goatwhore easily eclipses their previous releases with A Haunting Curse. As always, the group had more catastrophe to deal with between albums, this time fleeing the flood waters of Katrina. Had the band been on the shore playing songs from this new album when Katrina arrived, she might have just... Read More » |
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Goatwhore A Haunting Curse Metal Blade 2006 |
OK, first of all if you don't like old Celtic Frost don't bother with this album. Weakling. However they are not so much into ripping off Celtic Frost as expanding on their early works. These guys are blacker and faster than Frost ever was. However they are nice enough to play fast, but with minimal blasting.... Read More » |
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God Dethroned The Toxic Touch Metal Blade 2006 |
Ignoring the surprisingly lame intro “Faithless,” God Dethroned’s The Toxic Touch starts of pretty well with three of the four best tracks on the album. “Hating Life,” “2014” and “Falling Down” are varied, well played and catchy. The best part is that they hint at the possibility that God Dethroned may finally be shaking the bonds of staleness... Read More » |
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Godless Rising Rising Hatred Pathos Productions 2006 |
Godless Rising’s Rising Hatred EP may sound somewhat familiar to you, but that’s simply because Jeff Gruslin and Paul Flynn, both formerly of Vital Remains, are on vocal and guitar/songwriting duties. The six tracks on this album are all well-written and performed efforts in brimstone and blasphemy, and the similarity to Vital Remains' Let Us Pray and Into Cold... Read More » |
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Gojira From Mars to Sirius Prosthetic Records 2006 |
Gojira is a band that is very hard for me to explain. Especially since this album is my first real exposure to them. Some bands you need a little while to take it all in, so that you may appreciate it for what it is. Gojira are one of them. Off the bat I would say... Read More » |
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Good Clean Fun Between a Christian Rock and a Hard Place Equal Vision Records 2006 |
Positive hardcore. It's a strange little genre. Full of goofy straight-edgers who gang around in self-congratulatory "crews," yet home to some of the tightest punk rock around -- bands like 7 Seconds, Gorilla Biscuits and Minor Threat.
Good Clean Fun come from this scene and wear their posi-HC hearts a little too cloyingly on their sleeves. They were basically formed as... Read More » |
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Goreality Disassembling the Human Form (split w/ Clitorture) Pathos Productions 2006 |
Here’s a nice little split from the now defunct Clitorture and the relatively new Goreality. Both offer healthy doses of brutality by way of blasting death/grind fury.
Although Clitorture has the more stylistically interesting side of the split, Goreality are far more impressive musically. They play technical (but not over the top) NY style death metal. Think Unique Leader style, but... Read More » |
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Gorelord Norwegain Chainsaw Massacre Red Stream 2006 |
If you've got an ear to the underground, Frediablo is already a known quantity, based on his work with various bands like Wurdulak, Necrophagia, Grimfist, and others. But if you dig gore metal like I do, Frediablo means one thing... Gorelord! And Gorelord means Frediablo, as he is in complete and utter control of the... Read More » |
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Gorelord Norwegain Chainsaw Massacre Red Stream 2006 |
When I heard that Gorelord was one of Frediablo’s pet projects, I was psyched. His contributions to Grimfist have been impressive, and it seemed quite plausible that he could do something sickening for the gore scene as well. Shortly after firing up Norwegian Chainsaw Massacre it became apparent that Gorelord is far more into playing Stockholm-style old-school death... Read More » |
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Gorephagia Split w/ Beautician Brutalized Records 2006 |
Grinder, looking for meat....Ok, wrong song, but it's definitely in the right vein for this split between Ecuador's Gorephagia and the UK's Beautician. Released on Columbia's Brutalized Records, this son of a bitch is about as brutal as they come: 23 tracks CD-R style with home printer artwork, but hell it fits the brucial songs within, so why not? What... Read More » |
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Goretrade Perception of Hate Displeased Records 2006 |
Not resigning themselves to rehash the gore laden literature of their debut, Ritual of Flesh, the equally decrepit named Goretrade are offering their guttural approach with a fresh stance of rising above, and avenging humanity. Perception of Hate is a brash onslaught of tight rhythms, dirty Columbian hyper-blasting and caustic, brutal riffing. The opening melody of “Impregnate With Deceit” immediately... Read More » |
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Gorgoroth Ad Majorem Sathanas Gloriam Candlelight Records 2006 |
Few bands outside Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir’s quasi-black metal domain have caused the level of metalhead polarization that Gorgoroth has. They are alternately idolizedby their fans, scorned as ‘untrue’ by their critics, or simply ignored by those with the good sense not to get involved in such conflicts.
Recent conflicts within the band (disgruntled departure of prominent songwriter... Read More » |
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Gorod Leading Vision Willowtip Records 2006 |
I've said on many occasion that my ears seem to be growing more and more unsatisfied with death metal. Among every true pioneer in the genre lies a heap of groups hellbent on parodying early-90s extreme leanings and remaining inherently faceless in the process. But 1993 isn't quite so extreme anymore, is it?
Gorod has been yielding acclaim from... Read More » |
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Goryptic Demo 2005 Demo 2006 |
Although this promo CD is a diminutive two songs and clocks in at just over six minutes, French brutal death metal act Goryptic pack as much punch as they possibly can in such a short timeframe. Doing away with sound clips and samples (which have become so popular in brutal death metal), they burst in and pummel the listener with... Read More » |
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Graf Orlock Destination Time Yesterday Level-Plane Records 2006 |
Alright, I'll get the bad out of the way right off the bat. This band has some godawful high-art concept shit going on. The band calls it "cinema-grind" because they splice in samples from late 80's early 90's action films to "create a potent social commentary in a theme that permeates lyricism and live shows." Whatever the hell that means.... Read More » |
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Grave As Rapture Comes Century Media 2006 |
Grave made their comeback in 2002 with Back from the Grave. I saw them live around then as well. I was pumped up on Swedish death metal. I couldn't get enough of it. Grave's comeback album was kicking my ass on a daily basis.
However, I ended up missing Fiendish Regression which was released in 2004. I guess it would have... Read More » |
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Grey Skies Fallen Two Way Mirror Xanthros Music 2006 |
Right up front, I like these guys because: A) their sound is different, B) their web site is entertainingly unassuming and, unlike many bands, actually worth reading and C) for a DIY band, everything they're fronting is utterly professional. If you're a believer that great art only comes from great suffering, you oughta love what these cats have dished up... Read More » |
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Gut Shrubbery Independent Release 2006 |
I thought Gut’s Shrubbery EP would be a serious workout in gurgling, splattery gore/death metal. In reality, however, these guys play a strange mix of stoner-infused thrash with harsh, barked vocals. The idea, though quite novel, and probably something that may even be successful for Gut in the future, sounds a little sterile and dull on this effort.... Read More » |
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Guttural Secrete Reek of Pubescent Despoilment Unmatched Brutality Records 2006 |
In that wonderfully inept musical form, goregrind, Guttural Secrete are masters. From the opening Silence of the Lambs sample to the tongue in cheek stab at gold digging princesses, to the groove laden blasting, groaning and battering, Reek of Pubescent Despoilment is just as sickening as the name implies. Razor sharp riffs, ear piercing pinch harmonics, and the best damn... Read More » |
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Gwynbleidd Amaranthine Independent Release 2006 |
With Amaranthine we have a self-released slab of early Opeth worship with more of an organic, folky feel to it. That being said, you can expect the slow moving progressive death of Orchid or My Arms Your Hearse (lengthy songs included) mixed with celtic sounding accoustics and clean interludes.
The first half of the 4-song EP, "Nostalgia" and "New Setting" are... Read More » |
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Hacavitz Venganza Moribund Records 2006 |
You don't have to speak Spanish to know that "Venganza" means vengeance. That's clearly what Mexican quartet Hacavitz are after on this solid album of sinister black/death metal. Each song is an unholy blasting sandstorm of cruel riffage and haunting rasps/growls/screams. And the drums toy with every composition, threatening to send them spiraling into chaos, yet keeping them tightly lashed... Read More » |
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Hammer Ready Motherfucker Independent Release 2006 |
This is a power-trio from Italy playing hard rock/metal in the British tradition, circa 1980 or so. "Ready Motherfucker" is a six song EP of hard charging metallic thumpers, delivered with irony-free excess. While not exactly well recorded, it certainly hearkens back to a wilder time in metal history. I hear the usual suspects... Read More » |
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HammerFall Threshold Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
For the past few releases, HammerFall have been suffering from the inevitable backlash resulting from their nigh single-handed resurrection of the power metal genre (aye, others were at it before and during the same time period that HammerFall launched, but it was the ‘Fall’s sales and triumphant tour with Death (?!) that brought them to the forefront of the movement... Read More » |
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Hammers of Misfortune The Locust Years Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Hammers of Misfortune is a "thinking man's" metal band; with "The Locust Years," they're edging closer to becoming a thinking man's rock band (thanks to the incorporation of the mighty Hammond B3 organ that we're all familiar with thanks to Jon Lord and Deep Purple - and if you're not familiar with it, delve into your roots for fuck's sake).... Read More » |
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Handful of Hate Gruesome Splendour Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Nine tracks of competent "norsecore" from a frozen tundra of ... Italy. The lads in Handful of Hate are an experienced bunch with three full-lengths under their belts and it shows. And while Gruesome Splendour is not mind-blowing, it is still professionally played, ripping, malevolent black metal.
"Livid" is a perfect opener as it showcases the range of... Read More » |
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Harlots This is the Second Death Corrosive Recordings 2006 |
Harlots are a metalcore band that comes to us featuring former members of Today is the Day, Dead to Fall and Eyes Upon Separation. It was the Today is the Day part of this that really caught my attention being a huge fan of their first four records. The resemblance to Today is the Day is minimal, though... Read More » |
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Hate A Haunting Gospel of Malice & Hatred Listenable Records 2006 |
OK, just to let you know, the title of this album is no joke. They are not kidding or fucking around in any way here. If you have never heard Hate before all you need to know is that they are Polish death metal. In other words they do three things, crush, kill and destroy. Their earlier... Read More » |
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Hate Profile Opus I : The Khaos Hatefile Cruz Del Sur Music 2006 |
Hate Profile are a fun slice of blackened death metal brought to us by Hortus Animae guitarist Amon 418 and HA drummer Grom. The music and lyrics were all written by Amon 418, and they do a wonderful job of summoning pagan times past. (How I miss them, Christians can be such a bore.) Naturally he also... Read More » |
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Have Heart The Things We Carry Bridge Nine Records 2006 |
This album has its moments, and to my ears falls into the "new school hardcore" genre, if a classification is required. You have to appreciate the effort vocalist Partick Flynn puts in; you can hear the emotion in his delivery as he pushes his throat beyond the limits most singers seem to rest upon. "About Face" has a chorus... Read More » |
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Hawg Jaw Don't Trust Nobody Emetic Records 2006 |
When your ears take a trip down to good ol' NOLA, what usually pops into your head? KATRINA! Syke... sludge of course, or most things generally stoney, drug addled, bar fighting, raw and stench filled. Containing members of everybody's favorite hatred-spewing band Eyehategod, Hawg Jaw is one of those bands that you listen to and know that... Read More » |
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Head Control System Murder Nature The End Records 2006 |
From the minds of Daniel F. Cardosa (ex-Sirius, Re:actor) and Kristoffer Garm Rygg (Ulver, ex-Arcturus, Borknagar) comes this odd project which started off as a Cardosa solo project called SinDromE but gradually morphed into HeadControlSystem once Garm became involved. This is some cool music; Cardosa's drumming is outstanding, Garm's voice is as warm and soothing as usual,... Read More » |
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Heinous Killings Hung with Barbwire Unmatched Brutality Records 2006 |
Anyone with some knowledge of underground metal will know what to generally expect from Unmatched Brutality by now, and this CD is no exception. "Hung with Barbwire" is basically a slamfest from start to finish, with enough thought put into the drum machine programming to give the songs a realistic appeal. A cool counter-effect is often achieved by having faster... Read More » |
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Hell-Born Curse Infernal Steel Ibex Moon Records 2006 |
Hell-Born is aptly titled, first and foremost. Mix the unrelenting assault of death metal with a sprinkling of grime and grandeur from the black metal world, utterly indecipherable lyrics and pummeling rhythms and you've got these Polish heavy metal machines. Coming off as a less technical version of an unholy Hell-spawn creation of a four piece, combining Behemoth, Vader and... Read More » |
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Her Candane No Battle! Tribunal Records 2006 |
This is definitely a different kind of release for Tribunal. Her Candane is one of those bands that has a lot of weird timing and lots of screaming, but not necessarily mixing well together. It brings to mind the Isis remix records where things were deconstructed a bit and made for really weird parts. They do have some straight forward... Read More » |
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Heresi Psalm II - Infusco Ignis Hydra Head Records 2006 |
Somewhere between older Dissection or Emperor and Khold lurks the mysteriously necro black metal sound of Heresi. The band’s Psalm II is a quick, five-song study in how this style of black metal should be done. They simply pack all the right amount of atmosphere, keyboarding and fuzzy darkness into their straightforward black metal sound, resulting in a... Read More » |
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Heresi Psalm II - Infusco Ignis Hydra Head Records 2006 |
Falling safely into the canon of the other luminaries catering to a better polished, proper production, Psalm II by Sweden’s Heresi is a necrotic offering of stout black metal riffing with just the right amount of cackled death (see the break-riff 1:55 into ”Liothe”). Heresi likes to keep it simple, employing very few riffs into 5-8 minute songs, but with... Read More » |
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Herman Rarebell Too Late for Peace Selfmadegod Records 2006 |
Whooo hoo! I got in my car last night, determined to make a run to Green's for some decent ales (Green's has a far superior selection than most of the package stores around here) and needed some fun, aggressive music to power me down the road and in to the arms of Young's Special London Ale. ... Read More » |
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Herod Rich Man's War...Poor Man's Fight Lifeforce Records 2006 |
I don’t know if I’m more embarrassed for myself or for Herod after listening to Rich Man’s War…Poor Man’s Fight. The band’s prior album, For Whom the Gods Would Destroy was a brilliant mix of metalcore and doom that worked, at least in part because Judah Nero’s vocals were strong enough to make it happen. It found it’s... Read More » |
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Herratik Wrath-Divine Copro Records 2006 |
Formerly known as Abortus, Herratik’s debut, Wrath-Divine represents the band’s third release. Much like their first two albums, these Aussies just love razor-sharp, caustic, slightly-blackened thrash, and they deal it out with plenty of vitriol and conviction. For an idea of what’s in store for you here, think of God Dethroned before they became complacent, mixed with Carnal... Read More » |
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Hevein Sound Over Matter Candlelight Records 2006 |
The combination of metal and symphonic elements is really nothing new. We've all heard the good, the bad, and the ugly when it comes to the combination of these elements. Everything from the breathtaking beauty of Therion, to Metallica's questionable S&M, to synth-laden black metal. Rest assured, Finland's Hevein mix the elements with the utmost of taste and delicacy.
Hevein remind... Read More » |
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Himsa Hail Horror Prosthetic Records 2006 |
Has anyone else noticed more and more former “metalcore” acts jumping ship and streamlining their sound in favor of the “American Metal” sound? As if toning down their breakdown-heavy attack for a more thrash-based approach to ripping off the same Gothenburg sound really makes that much of a difference. I guess it is cool that these bands are trying to... Read More » |
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Historiae De Karmica Meditatione (Split w/ Mournful Grace) Independent Release 2006 |
This attractive little 7” brings us a pair of fresh Italian minds playing the sort of doom and black metal vinyl was made for. Apparently, the main man of Historiae used to be in Mournful Grace, but split with the band before the group took off. Therefore, there are certainly creative differences between these two groups, but there are also... Read More » |
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Honey for Christ The Darkest Pinnacle of Light Rundown Records 2006 |
This Northern Irish power trio plays an honest, passionate (if a bit unpolished/unfocused) brand of metal that draws from a variety of influences -- everything from death metal to bad thrash metal balladry. I have to say, I'm feeling a bit whiplashed after listening to this EP. "Satan And Swastika" comes right out of the gates with its nostrils flared... Read More » |
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Horde of Worms Unearthly Desolation Bloodbucket Productions 2006 |
Canada’s Horde of Worms grace us with a quick 13 minute EP called Unearthly Desolation. The band is comprised of two musicians, and apparently a drum machine, yet they insist on calling themselves “Canadian Blast Metal” without even having a human on the kit. Still, the drum machine plays pretty fast (duh!).
Vocally, these guys have it totally right,... Read More » |
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Horncrowned Satanic Armageddon Ketzer Records 2006 |
Horncrowned are about as subtle as your average thermonuclear practical joke. This is blazingly fast black metal that covers the usual themes, war and Satan. Think Panzer Division Marduk, if it hadn't just been a half hour blastbeat. These guys actually do like the change up the tempo a bit here and there. I admit they... Read More » |
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Hostility Uncompromised Independent Release 2006 |
Hostility gets immediate props for being the first band I've ever reviewed that sent along a promo pic. Well, maybe there have been others, but I think Muxlow must keep them in a secret gallery deep within his underground layer. Anyway, back to the chugga chugga, pinch harmonic, screaming gargled vocal, pinch harmonic, screaming gargled vocal,... Read More » |
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Human Factor Unleashed Mausoleum Records 2006 |
Hell yeah, this was what I needed to refresh my palate! Speedy power metal (emphasis more on the speed than the power... light on the cheese and nary a dragon or elf in sight) featuring a howling banshee of a singer, a shredding guitarist, a quick and clinically sound drummer, good production, good songs... it burnt a blister... Read More » |
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Hyades Abuse Your Illusions Mausoleum Records 2006 |
These thrashers might be from Italy, but they could have fooled me. Move them to the Bay Area, and they're right at home, because this is a killer thrash album released in a time when too few bands stick to their guns. Much like fellow Italians Hatework, these guys mean (thrashtastic) business, and they've got a mean attitude to boot... Read More » |
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Hyperion Through Centuries Deathgasm Records 2006 |
Hyperion’s Through Centuries EP is a 6-track workout in adequate, average blasting yet melodic blackened/death metal. The music is played fast, recorded very poorly (lots of that digitized cymbal crackle that sounds like it’s a bad copy from an MP3), and aside from the aggravating use of keyboards, pretty easy to listen to. The title track and “Rise... Read More » |
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Hypnosis Seeds of Fate Bent Records 2006 |
Contrary to their rather ‘hip’ sound, Hypnosis of France have been around a surprisingly long time—since ’93, to be exact. Listening to their fourth full-length ‘Seeds of Fate’, one could hardly guess it, as this cyber/death hybrid is precisely the sort of mishmash made popular in recent years, the appeal of which frankly eludes me.
Their songwriting consists of handfuls... Read More » |
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I Between Two Worlds Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
Putting on the debut from I, Between Two Worlds, will be a slightly strange experience. Hearing the first track begin, “The Storm I Ride”, feels a little bit like those times that some record you’ve been listening to ends, and lapses into silence—and then comes the secret track: an extreme metal cover of a cherished 80s classic. The guitar tone... Read More » |
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I Suffer Inc. Chronicles of Lost Purity Burning Star Records 2006 |
The signs are all there, the techno style opening seconds of “Blood for Blood,” the vocalist’s scenester hair and the mention that he was in an emo band before. Yeah, you’ll know right away that Italy’s I Suffer Inc. and their album Chronicles of Lost Purity isn’t going to be pretty, and by pretty, I mean good. Musically,... Read More » |
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Ian Drain Your Dreams Album Preview Independent Release 2006 |
I'm not quite sure how to approach this one. Ian has put himself out there, no doubt about it. And when you valiantly expose yourself, it leaves you open to all sorts of things, most of them bad. Ian, at least, appears unconcerned about what those reactions might be, positive or negative. ... Read More » |
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Iconoclasm The Ultimate Crescendo of Hell (Split w/ Panchrysia) Shiver Records 2006 |
Iconoclasm rounds out the second half of this all-Belgian blast-filled black metal affair. This foursome forgoes the corpse paint and adds a much healthier dose of death metal to their attack. Actually it could be argued that the band is a death metal bland that adds a blackened edge to their music, which I think is their strongest quality.... Read More » |
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Idefi Bloodlust Casualty Casket Music 2006 |
Ok, I admit it: Manchester, England's I-Def-I has been sitting in my pile of review material for a long time. A real long time. But it hasn't occupied that nook on my desk for so long because I've been avoiding it, it's simply because I couldn't really find much of interest to spur two- or three-hundred words or so about... Read More » |
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If Hope Dies Life in Ruin Metal Blade 2006 |
Straight up: yes it's metalcore. Also straight up: This is good music...This is the music the throngs of young, aspiring core-oriented bands should be churning out instead of the schlock that crosses the Deadtide desks week after week. Wanna-be metal bands should take note.
After a promising 2003 (then re-released in 2004 through Metal Blade) album, The Ground Is Rushing Up... Read More » |
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If I Had Eyes If I Had Eyes Independent Release 2006 |
A gang chant of "GET FUCKING BENT" opens this CT five-piece's self-titled three song demo/EP. After that initial showing of attitude, we are greeted with three tracks of competent New England styled metalcore with liberal amounts of brutality and grindy textures.
At just three songs in eleven minutes, it is difficult to make a harsh judgement against If I Had Eyes.... Read More » |
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Ignite Our Darkest Days Abacus Recordings 2006 |
Orange County's long-running punk / hardcore hybrid Ignite leans much more to the punk end of the spectrum, focusing on melodic singing, catchy songwriting, and mostly upbeat songs filled with inspirational lyrics than recent hardcore acts. A few songs in, and Ignite is catchy and memorable enough to snag some shelf space in the punkier end of my CD collection.... Read More » |
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Ihsahn The Adversary Candlelight Records 2006 |
So, good ol' Vegard Sverre Tveitan (who sometimes goes by Ihsahn) is at it again, this time shedding the black metal look. This is his first solo album, branded by its maker as being "A contunation of my work within the metal genre. It incorporates influential elements from all periods/stages of my background since I first picked up the guitar... Read More » |
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Immolation Dawn of Possession Metal Mind Records 2006 |
In the beginning… (i.e. 1984) there existed Mantas and Morbid Angel. After a slew of demos from both bands and a name change (Mantas to Death), the 90’s rolled around and American Death Metal truly was born. The New York and Tampa schools began in earnest, with pioneers such as Deicide and Suffocation releasing the ‘seminal works’ that eventually lead... Read More » |
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Impaled Nazarene Pro Patria Finlandia Osmose Productions 2006 |
Well, they're back, and they're drunk. The band 's style has changed a bit here, though not much from the last two records. This isn't as black 'n roll and sounds a bit more death metal to my ears. The aggression quotient however is unchanged, as the anger goes up to 666%, just like their blood alcohol... Read More » |
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In Flames Come Clarity Ferret Records 2006 |
After my interview with frontman Anders Friden, keeping objectivity to this release seemed a bit tricky for me. They absolutely kick ass live, Anders and Jesper are nice as hell, and I was already a huge fan before that. With objectivity in mind, however, I listened to the latest album by one of the Gothenburg masters, and still was legitimately... Read More » |
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Incantation Primordial Domination Ibex Moon Records 2006 |
Incantation and the McEntee/Severn collective spit forth yet another slab of unrelenting, twisted, despondent death metal. Primordial Domination finds it way out on McEntee’s own Ibex Moon Records, and comes remarkably hot on the heels of 2004’s Decimate Christendom (preceded by the in-short-supply Thieves of the Cloth seven inch). The same formula is present; twisting, volatile riffing and malevolent harmonics... Read More » |
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Incarnate Exist to Extinct Independent Release 2006 |
Finland’s Incarnate release their second demo-like, self-financed album, Exist to Extinct. Aside from the clumsy album title, the eight tracks that make up this disc totally rip. The band seamlessly mix deathy thrash with vocals that land somewhere between black metal and gore for maximum effect. Sounding like a blend of Sodom or Kreator with Exhumed but... Read More » |
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Incarnated Pleasure of Consumption Selfmadegod Records 2006 |
Meat... bloody meat, in fact... as the album art is a winner any day. So props to Poland's Incarnated for adding to my collection of notable bloody chunks of meat. Given the meaty nature of the album art, I was fully expecting either some hideously deformed vegan grindcore or adverts from the Meat Council.... Read More » |
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Indian The Unquiet Sky Seventh Rule Recordings 2006 |
The Unquiet Sky. This is not only the title of the album. It's a warning of what is to come. These guys are yet another practitioner of the noise/dirge phenomenon that is starting to really catch on lately. For an old school Neurosis fan like me this is not a bad thing. Indian do this... Read More » |
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Infected Malignity The Malignity Born from Despair Unmatched Brutality Records 2006 |
Early Suffocation-influenced death metal by way of Tokyo, Japan – a very fitting geography for a band with such a claustrophobic sound. Everything on this album is packed together as densely as possible, like so many people on the streets of one of the largest megalopolises on the planet. Given that space is at a premium over there, I can... Read More » |
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Infinite Hatred Hateful Spell Kerzakraum Records 2006 |
What we have here is rather primitive black metal from Korea. It’s a bit grating, though we can’t assume that wasn’t intentional. Track 3, “Black Metal Warlord,” is interesting in that it’s nearly seven minutes of exactly the same riff—itself composed mostly of one note—excepting for those parts where the player seems to tire even of moving his hand, and... Read More » |
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Insense Soothing Torture Candlelight Records 2006 |
Hailing from the cold Norwegian city of Oslo, Insense has a surprisingly un-black metal sound, despite coming from the frozen tundra that has spawned forth so many vile-spewing bands before. Combining sparsely-used clean singing alongside chunky, thrash influenced guitar rhythms, resulting in a thrash metal / hard rock hybrid. According to the band, Insense, on its second release, Soothing Torture... Read More » |
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Insomnium Above the Weeping World Candlelight Records 2006 |
Finland's best melodic death band, Insomnium, have matured noticeably while still staying true to their original brand of melancholic melodic death here on their third full-length album. Here the young Finns have slightly altered their style; instead of delivering bleak, cold, hauntingly beautiful soundscapes throughout the album, they choose to infuse more thrashy, staccato-riffed passages, which give the album a... Read More » |
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Insomnium Above the Weeping World Candlelight Records 2006 |
Ever since Finland’s Insomnium released In the Halls of the Awaiting I have been hoping that there’d be some justice in the metal world and that this band would find instant critical acclaim and their album sales would go through the roof. With their third release Above the Weeping World, I’m totally convinced that this group is the single... Read More » |
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Into Eternity The Scattering of Ashes Century Media 2006 |
After a vibrant heyday during the 1990’s, Melodic Death metal was slapped with the stigma of being boring and moribund. After numerous years of stagnation, imitation, and general dullness, even some true believers once steadfast were losing confidence.
But then again, Decca Recording Company said in 1962 that ‘guitar music is on the way out’, too…
Playing highly technical death metal that... Read More » |
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Intronaut Null Goodfellow Records 2006 |
Boasting Sacha Dunable (Anubis Rising - guitar, vocals), Leon del Muerte (ex-Impaled, Exhumed - guitar, vocals), Danny Walker (Uphill Battle - drums), and Joe Lester (bass) one might assume that Intronaut would be a furious grind act as their pedigree might suggest. However, these guys are an entirely different beast.
After recording and self-releasing the Null EP, the guys were so... Read More » |
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Intronaut Void Goodfellow Records 2006 |
Intronaut are comprised of some relatively divergent tastes: we've got a guy coming from grind territory, another from doom land, none other than Leon del Muerte of Exhumed on guitar and vocals, and a bassist with a BA in music from UC Santa Cruz. So where does that leave us? Not where the album title suggests, I know that much.
Rather... Read More » |
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Ion Madre, Protégenos Equilibrium Music 2006 |
The problem is, new-age ethnic claptrap is still new-age ethnic claptrap, even if it’s put out by an underground label and not sold in Starbucks.
Metal has always had a weird kissin’-cousins relationship with ambient, folk and neoclassical musics; those genres are kind of what would happen if you took the metal out of metal and recorded what’s left. So to... Read More » |
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Ion Dissonance Demos 2002 & 2004 (Split w/ Despised Icon) Galy Records 2006 |
I opened up a package lastnight, and inside it was this disc; a demo re-release split? I'd have to say this is a first for me. To clarify, this disc is Ion Dissonance's 2002 demo and Despised Icon's 2004 demo packaged together as a split.
First off, this is the most pointless, stop-gap release I've ever encountered, as all five tracks... Read More » |
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Iron Fire Revenge Napalm Records 2006 |
This is the band's third release and first in five years. The only original member left in the group is vocalist Martin Steene, who has been singing for Force OF Evil of late. After half a decade, it was a surprise to see Steene back in the trenches with another Iron Fire album. I picked up the debut due to... Read More » |
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Iscariot Lifeless Design 567 Records 2006 |
Iscariot played their first show in 2004 and recorded a demo EP that same year that has since sold 2,000 copies with very little promotion outside of the band's own hard work. This strong work ethic has helped to build them a respectable following in the midwestern underground. And while that DIY attitude is certainly respectable, I can't imagine this... Read More » |
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Isolated Demonss Conclave Independent Release 2006 |
Polish quartet Isolated play brutal, blasting death metal on their five song EP, Demonss Conclave. Much like a number of their already-established country mates, these guys are heavy, godless and appreciate technical arrangements. The music’s fast, well produced and relatively interesting. Having heard numerous other bands play this style of death metal, though, it’s hard for me... Read More » |
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It Dies Today Sirens Trustkill 2006 |
It’s been a while since I heard a metalcore band that favored their melodic punk influences more than the metal side and also actually sound passable. It Dies Today’s second release Sirens is one of these albums, and unlike overly sappy, dramatic bands like Atreyu, this quintet sound like decently high quality punk when their vocals are clean. ... Read More » |
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It Will Come Bound/47 December's Ghost Records 2006 |
This is a compilation of both of the band's demos, with the first three songs being the 47 demo and the last three being the Bound demo. Now let's get this party started.
47 This is the band's newest demo. As the band mentions, they got their name from a My Dying Bride song of the same name.... Read More » |
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Jack Frost Out in the Cold Screaming Ferret Wreckords 2006 |
Jack Frost is back with his sophomore solo effort, adding yet another disk to his impressive collective output. On "Out in the Cold" he works with bunch of people from the metal world, using seven vocalists, six bassists, three drummers, and one keyboardist to help bring the Frost sound to the public. Essentially this is neo-traditional... Read More » |
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Jorn The Duke Candlelight Records 2006 |
So of course Jorn Lande's vocals are way up front on this, the latest solo offering from the former Masterplan vocalist. And yes, I'm somewhat of a sucker for his vocals; looking at his discography, I've got at least half of it in my permanent collection, from Ark to Masterplan to The Snakes to Mundanus Imperium and... Read More » |
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Jotunspor Gleipnirs Smeder Candlelight Records 2006 |
This is the latest project from former Gorgoroth members King ov Hell and Kvitrafn. Between the two of them they handle everything on the album, though there isn't a ton going on. This is rather primitive black metal in the Norwegian tradition. All of the lyrics are in their native tongue as well, so I have no... Read More » |
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Jucifer If Thine Enemy Hunger Relapse Records 2006 |
Jucifer’s If Thine Enemy Hunger starts off with a slow, droning stoner/sludge/doom track “She Tides the Deep,” though the one key difference is that this duo have a female singer with silky, sweet vocals that remind me quite a bit of Mazzy Star. The best part is that it seems to work pretty well. The second track “Centralia”... Read More » |
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Live Vengeance '82 Columbia Music Video 2006 |
OK, I was psyched as hell when I saw that this was up for grabs. Just in case you don't know Screaming for Vengeance is one of the five greatest metal records ever. To get my hands on a DVD of a show from this tour, let's just say I was ready. My enthusiasm was highly misplaced.... Read More » |
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K.O.Kaine Accelerator Casket Music 2006 |
How to make a K. O. Kaine: equal proportions of glam rock, sleaze, industrial, and hardcore mixed over ice and poured into a chilled glass. Add brandy floater and set on fire. I've had a few of these by now, and my back teeth are starting to float, but I've been to this bar before... Read More » |
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Kampfar Kvass Napalm Records 2006 |
Does "Lyktemenn" mean long-winded? It's a little odd to have the same riff repeating for two to three minutes before the vocals come in on the first song. Just the guitar and drums locked in midtempo autopilot… for two minutes.
Finally the screams begin. Powerful enough to rouse any beast from its deepest hibernating sleep – if it weren't for... Read More » |
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Karsten Hamre Broken Whispers Flood the Earth 2006 |
Karsten Hamre is an artist in all things art. Writing, photography, design, and music, the man is little less than prolific, to say the least. Broken Whispers is a collection of ambient sound weaving and noise making, ultimately somewhat engaging but sadly uninteresting. The tracks do little more than focus on a central idea, rather it be sonic warbling (“Abandoned... Read More » |
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Kataklysm In the Arms of Devastation Nuclear Blast Records 2006 |
Another year, another Kataklysm album. What else is new?
In the Arms of Devastation is Kataklysm's 8th release, some of which are EPs, but regardless, Kataklysm is becoming one of those prolific stalwart death metal bands. Whether they should continue putting out albums or not is an unclear debate with both sides of the argument having reasonable arguments. That, however, is... Read More » |
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Katatonia The Great Cold Distance Peaceville Records 2006 |
Three years and two compilations after "Viva Emptiness," Katatonia have finally returned with "The Great Cold Distance," an album that exceeds even their magnum opus, "Last Fair Deal Gone Down," in terms of opressive, overt depression. It is, as it's title implies, emotionally frigid and profoundly affecting; it's powerful enough to bring down even the cheeriest disposition drive anyone tottering... Read More » |
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Katatonia The Great Cold Distance Peaceville Records 2006 |
Here comes Katatonia with their seventh album, "The Great Cold Distance," an album that has been called "cimplex," "intriguing," and "melancholy," at least on their promo sheet. And it is all of the above, if the contemporaries that Katatonia is being compared to are the crap bands played on your local hard rock station. It's more complex, intriguing, and melancholy... Read More » |
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Keep of Kalessin Armada Candlelight Records 2006 |
Norway’s Keep of Kalessin is pure fucking black metal, and their fourth release, Armada, demonstrates the band’s supreme power. Usually when people use the word “shredding” to talk about a metal band, it’s in reference to lead guitar work and technical hot-dogging. For Keep of Kalessin, shredding is just about all they do, but it has very little... Read More » |
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Keep of Kalessin Armada Candlelight Records 2006 |
Somewhere between the planes of Celtic Ireland and modern-day Texas, Proscriptor McGovern is waiting on his royalties check. This is not to say that Keep of Kalessin is truly an Absu knock-off, but the similarities are strong and unmistakable. Interesting that this comparison has not been made more often.
‘Armada’ has been one of the year’s most perplexing releases in terms... Read More » |
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Kenoma Split w/ Mouth of the Architect Translation Loss 2006 |
The experience and sounds of sludge metal are often compared to the ocean. Both seem to stretch on interminably, massive roiling currents that can either soothe or overwhelm the senses entirely. For both Mouth of the Architect and Kenoma (splinter groups of the underappreciated Rune) this is an appropriate metaphor, though the two groups embody it differently.
Kenoma is the... Read More » |
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Khlyst Chaos is My Name Hydra Head Records 2006 |
The world seemed a little duller and dimmer the day that Khanate disbanded. Rather unrecognized by the metal community at large, they amassed a respectable discography in relatively few years before splitting for personal reasons. The instrumental aspect of their dolorous drone doom was engaging but not exceptional— what truly made Khanate were the vocals of Alan Dubin, whose absolutely... Read More » |
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Killing Joke Hosannas From The Basements of Hell Cooking Vinyl 2006 |
Now I have to admit that I'm not the biggest Killing Joke fan, but it doesn't have anything to do with not liking the music, just under exposure. I've been peripherally aware of the band but somehow never got around to really exploring their albums. My only real exposure was through Krazy Ken,... Read More » |
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Killing Machine Metalmorphosis Mausoleum Records 2006 |
Killing Machine are a metal band composed of a who's-who of second tier metal bands; not to knock their other projects these guys came out of, it's just with the exception of Megadeth the other bands never quite made the A-list. On vocals you've got the exceptional James Rivera (Helstar, who are back together! and Vicious Rumors),... Read More » |
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Kimaera Ebony Veiled Stygian Crypt Production 2006 |
I'm not quite sure what to make of these guys. On the one hand there is some pretty solid doom on this album, but on the other there are some parts that feel interminable. The vocals consistently kill, be it the low end growling or the Anneke-esque female vocals. There is an oppressive bass sound and some... Read More » |
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Korpiklaani Tales Along This Road Napalm Records 2006 |
Korpiklanni, for those of you not in the know, are one of those Finnish polka metal bands where the accordion is a main instrument and the tempo is usually bouncy. Lyrics are about beer, frolicking in the forest, and beer. Several of the songs are in some wacky foreign language. While folksy elements are used, it's rarely in a somber... Read More » |
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Krisiun AssassiNation Century Media 2006 |
Well over a decade into their global representation of pure death metal, Brazil's trio of brothers Krisiun supplement this latest album with a couple of video clips, perhaps proof to some that they can reproduce their usually frantic songs live. The massive stage in Poland is filled not by redundant band members or attempts to hide inability with theatrics... Read More » |
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Kult ov Azazel Feast of Sacrilgious Impurity 2006 |
Kult of Azazel gives us two studio tracks and three live ones on this split with Vrolok. They even threw in videos of the live tracks. First the studio tracks, one original and an old Sodom cover, Blasphemer. The production is pretty solid, though still plenty raw. Granted you can barely even hear the guitar or... Read More » |
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Kylesa Time Will Fuse Its Worth Prosthetic Records 2006 |
Check out the sludge quotient on this one: a dual-guitar, dual-drum, tri-vocal attack (one of which is female) from the haunted marshes of Savannah, Georgia. Alternately driving and lurching, the Kylesa formula is always propulsive. This isn’t a big surprise, given that the band features ex-members of the heavy-hitting 90’s band, Damad (another sludgy Savannah group featuring a female member).... Read More » |
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Kylesa Time Will Fuse Its Worth Prosthetic Records 2006 |
The continuous stream of new hard/metal/death/bro-core groups notwithstanding, the newest realm of metal to hit it big is the equally hyphenated sludge/doom/stoner/soundscape scene, which has blessedly avoided the ‘core’ suffix thus far. Particularly now that most of us are burned out on the wave of ‘post-metal’ Neurosis clones from a few years back, it seem that the pendulum has begun... Read More » |
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La Rumeur des Chaines La Rumeur des Chaines Independent Release 2006 |
Avantgarde blackmetal is the best way to describe this band. But with that said the music definitely leans a lot more towards the metal. The elements that make it different sound fresh to my ears.
I see a lot of people referencing latter day Emperor when comparing the music. Since I was never really part of the Emperor scene or... Read More » |
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Lacrimas Profundere Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts Napalm Records 2006 |
"Filthy Notes for Frozen Hearts" could very well be a title for the next Cradle of Filth album. In this case, it has been decided upon as the name of the release from a band I'm almost certain is the side of David Bowie and Type-o-Negative members. Either that, or the fellows behind Lacrimas Profundere just really love... Read More » |
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Lacuna Coil Karmacode Century Media 2006 |
Easily one of 2006's most anticipated albums, or most hyped depending on which way you interpret it, Italy's Lacuna Coil has broken free of the metal underground and is now on the forefront of the worldwide metal scene, having managed to even break through to the mainstream, appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, gracing commercial airwaves, and landing ink in metal... Read More » |
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Lair of the Minotaur The Ultimate Destroyer Southern Lord 2006 |
It wasn’t long ago that Lair of the Minotaur released a cute little 3” CD EP that really wasn’t cute at all. The material on the album lived up to the title, Cannibal Massacre. Now the band unleashes all unholy hell on us with their second full-length, The Ultimate Destroyer. With it, Lair of the Minotaur prove... Read More » |
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Lair of the Minotaur The Ultimate Destroyer Southern Lord 2006 |
In the tradition of Southern Lord, Lair of the Minotaur's newest opus of pain, "Ultimate Destroyer," is an evil, hateful, and relentlessly punishing slab of metal. They aren't, however, working within the usual doom/black metal format as most of the Southern Lord roster.
"Ultimate Destroyer" is a little bit hard to pin down, but I assure you, it is bowel-shakingly... Read More » |
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Landmine Marathon Wounded Level-Plane Records 2006 |
First of all, love the name. I just needed to say that. These guys are pretty short and to the point death/grind, as Wounded is nine songs in 22 minutes. The guitar tone is what stands out most from these guys because it's reminds me so much of Bolt Thrower. The vocals are more high-pitched shouting... Read More » |
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Landmine Marathon Wounded Level-Plane Records 2006 |
Grinding, grooving, thrashing torment from Phoenix. What these guys (and gal) do is pretty standard by today's metal measuring stick, but they do it well. To start with, these are some of the most scathing vocals I've heard in a while -- courtesy of frontwoman, Grace. Utterly sharp and black, her screams sound as if each word is meant... Read More » |
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Last Rites Hate Cool Blood Records 2006 |
Italian quartet Last Rites dish up a five song offering to the melodic, blackened death metal gods with their EP, H.A.T.E. The songs are decently produced, well-played and overall capture all the requisite components necessary for an album in the genre. The band, however doesn’t sound heavy enough or fast enough or unique enough for their material... Read More » |
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Last Souls Light Demo 2006 |
Having released two other mini cds or demos since 2001, the Italian group, Last Souls, perhapses has yet to define a style that best suites their talents. Thus we are presented with another four track release, "Light." While heading in a much more certain direction, their latest effort tends to be a little inconsistent. It's very clear the... Read More » |
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Leatherwolf World Asylum Independent Release 2006 |
Leatherwolf are back in action, original members Dean Roberts and Geoff Gayer having reloaded with a new guitarist (Eric Helpren), bassist (Pete Perez), and vocalist (the hardest working voice in metal, Wade Black) and unleashing "World Asylum". Some of you people who've been into the metal scene for a while may remember Leatherwolf... their debut came out... Read More » |
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Lecherous Nocturne Adoration of the Blade Deepsend Records 2006 |
Featuring Nile and Monstrosity members for the rhythm section, Lecherous Nocturne’s debut full-length Adoration of the Blade is receiving a fair bit of attention. What isn’t said outright is that the album’s eight tracks don’t even manage to run for 24 minutes, and that the session drums are performed by Dallas Toler-Wade, Nile’s guitarist.
The latter point isn’t that big... Read More » |
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Letters in Binary Pretty and Perpendicular Conspirators in Sound 2006 |
Artsy noise-core from the rust belt that goes down fast, like a Flaming Moe on a cold day; and when I say fast, I mean fast. The whole thing flies by in thirteen spaz inducing, teeth gritting minutes, occasionally banking into the wind and giving your ears some false sense of security a la faux-jazz moments only... Read More » |
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Leviathan Split w/ Xasthur Battle Kommand Records 2006 |
Regaling himself to the more-so dementia/deranged aesthetics of vile Burzum revisionism of which Xasthur is so prolific, Leviathan’s Wrest has completed his side of the split in down tempo furor, crafting twenty or so minutes of casket-dank-dark black metal rancor. “Unfailing Fall Into Naught” is just that; unbridled crazy-house welcoming psychosis, the only thing missing is a morphine drip and... Read More » |
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Ligeia Your Ghost Is A Gift Ferret Records 2006 |
Uninspired, derivative, and ultimately boring metalcore anyone?
Oh yes, people... this one is a major offender. Think of everything you hate about metalcore. No seriously, do it. Alright, got a pretty good list? Well, Ligeia more than likely embody each and every thing on your list. Poor clean singing, some emo-tinged moments, generic metalcore vocals, boring breakdowns, etc. It's all here... Read More » |
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Light This City Facing the Thousand Prosthetic Records 2006 |
Female fronted Light This City play take-no-prisoners death/thrash with a prominent melodic edge on Facing the Thousand. Much like their previous release, Remains of the Gods, the vocals are 100% bellowed and ferocious, but with just a touch of estrogen so that they’re identifiably female and the music is fast, tight, well-produced, brutal and verging on the metal side... Read More » |
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Light Yourself on Fire Light Yourself on Fire Kiss of Death Records 2006 |
First of all, don't blink or you will miss out on this. Seven songs, fourteen minutes. Yet it isn't grind. This is decently produced, midpaced hardcore. They don't waste a lot of time on the superfluous as you will note from the time of the album. To be honest a bit more flair would help... Read More » |
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Ljå Til Avsky for Livet Aftermath Music 2006 |
Riffy, cold black metal with just that smidgen of rusty production that makes it all about perfect, Til Avsky for Livet is ten tracks of bitter Norwegian blackness similar to Gorgoroth or recent hordes Elite. “Til Satan” immediately breaks out the perfect balance of raw precise melody and acidic screeching (the music and vocals) that does not let up for... Read More » |
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Loch Vostok Destruction Time Again! Escapi Music 2006 |
After spending 10 years in the progressive metal band, Mayadome, Teddy Moller "was tired of the cheeze," incorrect spelling and all, and decided to try something a little heavier, thus Loch Vostok (named after a subterranean lake in Antartica, how rad is that!). After several line up changes and a self-financed album titled Dark Logic, here we are with their... Read More » |
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Locked in a Vacancy It's Always Darkest... Purity Records 2006 |
“Simply mention their name to the likes of Shadows Fall, God Forbid, Hatebreed, Lamb of God, Mastodon, Bleeding Through, Candiria, Shai Hulud, From Autumn to Ashes, The Red Chord, Darkest Hour, Burnt by the Sun, or Most Precious Blood, and they’d be ready to expound at length on the quality of this band and their as-of-yet untapped potential.”
That’s a rather... Read More » |
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Logar's Diary Book II : Parlainth, The Forgotten City Metal Fortress Entertainment 2006 |
One hour of lyrical, fantasy power metal from Berlin. Logar's Dieary hold true to the anthemic, epic bent of their genre. "The Restless Troll" begins with a fanfare of double bass, sixteenth-note guitar and bagpipes. We're in the local drinking hole near the entrance to Parlainth, the lost city. The raucous crowd inside greets us with the chorus: "Welcome... Read More » |
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Loits Vere Kutse Kohustub Ledo Takas Records 2006 |
When you hear a band describe themselves as patriotic Estonian heathen/black metal (a.k.a "flak 'n roll"), you immediately take notice. Are they some sort of militant right-wing faction? Coming from an exotic ex-Eastern Bloc country, is their music as bleak as a decaying Belarussian ghost town? And finally... is there a chance in hell that I'm actually going... Read More » |
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Loss Life Without Hope...Death Without Reason Deathgasm Records 2006 |
Loss’ Life Without Hope…Death Without Reason is an ugly, gloomy release of black metal-tinged doom. The five tracks are all downers. They’re slow, the vocals are low and heavy, and the band has found just the right mix of dissonance and somber melody to make you want to just stop breathing. The shit on this EP... Read More » |
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Loudness Rock Shocks Crash Music 2006 |
Re-recording their classic songs seems to be a common move for some of the metal bands of the 1980's today, and Japan's Loudness is following suit. They kick things off with their self-titled, upbeat anthem, which was also the first song on their 1981 debut album. Classics like 1982's "Angel Dust" and the Motorhead-like "Rock Shock" accompany choice cuts... Read More » |
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Lower Forty-Eight Apertures Monotreme Records 2006 |
"Apertures" finds what the press sheet describes as "a skillful fusion of metal, hardcore and indie rock." Sure, but let's boil all that down and tell it simply -- this is Jawbox with some Fugazi stylings. Not a bad thing, per se, but both of those bands had such unique sounds it's hard to take their influence and rub enough... Read More » |
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Lowlyfe Eyesores Akhenation Records 2006 |
Pennsylvania's own Lowlyfe are bringing you their brand of metal and they don't care if you like it or not. In my case, that'd be not very much, thanks. While it is competently played, it's lacking in variation to such a degree that each song sounds much like the others. Sometimes that can... Read More » |
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Luca Turilli The Infinite Wonders of Creation Magic Circle Records 2006 |
WARNING: You are about to enter the Hall of the Legendary Ultra Extreme Power Metal Kings! Continuous consumption of this product could lead to dangerous levels of cheesiness. Joey DiMaio served as executive producer, if that helps reading your cheese-o-meter.
Few bands can claim to be as beloved and beleaguered as Rhapsody. ... Read More » |
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Luca Turilli's Dreamquest Lost Horizons Magic Circle Records 2006 |
After gushing like a school girl sick on an overdose of cheese over Luca's latest solo album, I find myself entertained by another facet of Turilli's muse. Dreamquest is another project from the busy Rhapsody guitarist, only this time he's only playing the keyboards, leaving the guitar bits to French guitarist Dominique Leurquin, who does a great... Read More » |
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Lucifixion As Evil as Me Independent Release 2006 |
"Lucifixion" has a nice ring to it, doesn't it? Kinda like "Slaytanic." It harkens back to the mid-80's days of thrash, which is pretty much where the band takes its cues, save for the death influence on the male vocals (we'll get to the female vocals in a moment). Over the course of three tracks, "As Evil As Me" delivers... Read More » |
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Lucifugum Instinct Prevelance Dark Horizon 2006 |
Instinct Prevalence, originally released in 1997 (MC) and 2003 (CD, both by Dark Horizon) is unleashed again by the ever-becoming ubiquitous Dark Horizon, and stands up to the contemporaries now ten years later. Ukraine’s own Lucifugum play dank, dejected black metal, full of abject melody, cankerous death rattles and sweeping synth; the mid section of “Bringing My Rain” acutely recalls... Read More » |
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Luna Field Diva Black Lotus Records 2006 |
Huh. Well I'll be damned if this isn't the best fucking metal I've heard out of a band that, at first glance, appeared the product of a bad gimmick. I put off listening to this |