Friday, February 27, 2009

The Black Hand - War Monger

The Black Hand
War Monger
Chainsaw Safety




This is yet another band in the Cursed family tree. The Black Hand features pre-Cursed, post-Ire members and plays a fusion of thrash and crust. Like all of the bands in this little cabal, The Black Hand is good but this is my least favorite of them.

War Monger sounds like an evil punk record but it’s far more metal than would-be contemporaries like Tragedy of From Ashes Rise. This sounds like a mix of Poison Idea and the Accused, although “Falling on Deaf Ears” has a slight High on Fire feel to it. War Monger is similar to the first Jesus Fucking Christ LP, in it is middling and not nearly as good as it should be. It’s not a band album. It’s just a tad bit of a letdown if you have heard Cursed before this record.





The Black Hand – War Monger




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Cattlepress – Hordes to Abolish the Divine

Cattlepress
Hordes to Abolish the Divine
Hydrahead




Operation Phoenix Records has an awesome zine library. You should check it out; I did. Back in the late 90s, zines like Maximum Rock and Roll and Heart Attack couldn’t heap enough praise on Cattlepress. I remember when Hydrahead incessantly advertised this album for months. Flash forward to 2009 and I’ve just now heard this album for the first time. Hordes to Abolish the Divine is sludgy, discordant hardcore that, at times, sounds like Buzz Ov-en but without the groove. It sounds like a less-technical version of Craw at other times.

After 10 years of residual hype, maybe I did come into this with high expectations. Of the D.C. bands from this period (Enemy Soil, Pig Destroyer, etc…) Cattlepress is the least crucial. I prefer Meatjack to this. As far as those zine recommendations go, it makes me wonder if they even listened to the records back then. Hell, do they now?





Cattlepress – Hordes to Abolish the Divine




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Achilles – The Dark Horse

Achilles
The Dark Horse
Hanging Hex




Rochester’s Achilles is a new-school Upstate New York hardcore band. The band’s sound is informed by screamo and math-rock. More importantly, The Dark Horse is the total sonic opposite of anything released by Earth Crisis.

Upon listening to The Dark Horse, strong influences of both Botch and Orchid are immediately detectable. There’s nothing moshy about this album. Upstate has had about enough of that forever. Instead, you have Achilles, along with Syracuse residents Engineer and Ed Gein, creating music that more in line with this decade’s Boston scene. This is a must-have album for the adventurous and a welcome breath of fresh air. Recommend for those who did not go to the Mayhem festival last year.




Achilles – The Dark Horse




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Wednesday, February 18, 2009

As the Sun Sets – Each Individual Voice is Dead

As the Sun Sets
Each Individual Voice is Dead
Moment of Clarity/Trash Art!




This is a dense record, overflowing with seemingly-clashing influences, that defies classification and terrorizes the listener. On their now-legendary debut LP, As the Sun Sets plays with the precision of Origin, the intensity of Luddite/Clone and the outrageousness of The Red Chord. Plus, the band has Today is the Day’s bleak worldview. It’s a crafty mix of technicality, artfulness and moshpit brutality.

“Searching for a Reason to Carry On”, the opening track after a truly horrifying movie sample, is an epic. Each Individual Voice is Dead could only be compared to Fused Together in Revolving Doors. It’s filled with super-technical, metallic hardcore that verges on grind; imagine an experimental Watchmaker.

Drummer Jon Syverson is something else. His well-placed double-bass acrobatics and furious cymbal crashes make this album heavier than it already is. He, along with vocalist Alexis Marshall and bassist S.M. Walker, formed/morphed into Daughters following the demise of As the Sun Sets. The former guitar players formed Bury Your Dead. This is fitting. It’s as if the two halves of As the Sun Sets’ personality split apart. Highly recommended.







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Coke Bust – Cycle of Violence

Coke Bust
Cycle of Violence
self-released tour EP




This EP features current Magrudergrind members kicking out some serious straight-edge hardcore jams. Although played fast, this isn’t grind. It sounds more like a 21st-century version of Husker Du’s ultracore period. The thrash parts sound like something a Japanese band like Charm or UG Man would play. “Countdown to Death” almost has an NYHC feel about it, but mixed with the previously mentioned influences. This is another short EP that you want to play again immediately after it ends. I’ve heard nothing but good things about Coke Bust’s Fuck Bar Culture EP. Listen to this EP while I’m tracking down the other one.





Coke Bust – Cycle of Violence




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Adumus – Invincible Black Order

Adumus
Invincible Black Order
Infernal Waves




This is grim fucking Texas Black Metal! I have no knowledge of Adumus’ various beliefs on various issues and I don’t want to know. The wrong answer would spoil this awesome band for me.

Adumus’ style of black metal is informed by the Norwegian bands but it’s not content to merely copy Emperor. An aspect of Invincible Black Order that I enjoyed was the extended, Bathory-style verse riffs in its songs. How kvlt. Also, the fruity, Lord-of-the-Rings keyboards are kept to a minimum. Keyboards are superfluous for this sort of band. At least they’re not distracting.

I’m no expert on black metal troo-ism, but Adumus is the real deal. There’s no Hot Topic falseness on this record. Recommended for frost-bitten Southerners.




Adumus – Invincible Black Order





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Saturday, February 14, 2009

Shiner - The Egg

Shiner
The Egg
De Soto




by DC the Medic

The French word for egg is oeuvre, which also their word for a work or piece of art. Chef d'oeuvre is the French word for masterpiece, and The Egg is Shiner's masterpiece. This album showed more of a Jawbox influence than the shades of Season To Risk on their previous album Starless. After adding Josh Newton on second guitar, Shiner began adding polyrhythmic and polytonal elements to their sound. On The Egg, Shiner used these elements with odd time signatures to create multiple layers that formed not so much a wall of sound, but an intricate tapestry. On just about every song, every instrument is playing something separate that builds to a climaxing crescendo. Listen to "Play Dead" and "Andalusia" for the best examples of this. Don't assume this is just tuneless noise, this is definitely rock music in the truest Carduccian meaning of the term.

The album as a whole also takes these separate parts to create a sweeping movement that slowly builds steam until it reaches its climax on "The Simple Truth" and then recovers and builds again to a final exclamation on "Pills" before finally fading away on "Stoned." In a way this also represents the story of the band itself. They toiled for many years without receiving much recognition until shortly after The Egg was released they played one last show in their home of Kansas City and broke up. If the title track is interpreted to be autobiographical, they were finally left cradling their egg, their collected works, which in my opinion were ahead of their time and have only improved with age.

I know this isn't a metal or hardcore album, but it is still a very interesting one with a lot going on. Real fans of music would be advised to listen to this with a good pair of headphones to appreciate the many layers. It's just a shame these Midwesterners never got the appreciation they deserved when they were around. However they have gone on to form new bands in Shiner's wake, my personal favorite being Allen Epley's The Life And Times, which is chock full of spacey, Midwest weirdness. Accidental? Maybe.





Shiner - The Egg





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Tuesday, February 10, 2009

-(16)- – Bridges to Burn

-16-
Bridges to Burn
Relapse




Most band reunions are unholy disasters. This reunion didn’t happen soon enough. It shouldn’t have happened at all. I wasn’t the only one who wished that -16- never broke up in the first place.

Now signed to Relapse, -16- actually has access to resources for the first time. Bridges to Burn is the most polished -16- record as a result. It sounds cleaner but the basic recipe of sludge metal for stoners and depressives remains unchanged. This ain’t radio friendly. It’s the same old -16-, just cleaned up some. This may count as selling out to some but come on. Get a grip. -16- never got their due the first time around and aspects of their sound, like the vocals, are much improved over the old albums. I’m glad that these guys reunited.





-16- - Bridges to Burn





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Tenacious D - S/T

Tenacious D
S/T LP
Epic




I'm so jealous of these two idiots. I wish that I had thought of it first.





Tenacious D - S/T





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Monday, February 9, 2009

Brain Drill – Apocalyptic Feasting

Brain Drill
Apocalyptic Feasting

Metal Blade




Brain Drill is fast. Paris Hilton is annoying. The Sun is shiny. These are all understatements of the highest order. Brain Drill may, in fact, be the fastest death metal band on the planet.

That said, Apocalyptic Feasting is no sweep-picking nightmare ala Origin. This is a solid album, through and through. If you have to compare Brain Drill to somebody, imagine Nile without the Egyptian motif. On a brutality level, this smokes all the other fast death metal bands, like Deeds of Flesh and Dying Fetus. Snare BPM records and arrest nonsense aside, Brain Drill is one of the better new death metal bands. I can’t wait to hear their next one.




Brain Drill – Apocalyptic Feasting




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Butthole Surfers – Locust Abortion Technician

Butthole Surfers
Locust Abortion Technician
Touch & Go




Locust Abortion Technician was the Butthole Surfers shining moment in the indy sun. It’s my favorite of their pre-major label material, anyway. Like most Southern punk bands, the Butthole Surfers are weird and not easily categorized. “Sweet Loaf” is a low-band FM classic, being a staple of college radio from its release through the present. “Human Cannonball” has a Dead Kennedys vibe about it. They may not be the best musicians but they’re no slouches either. Besides, what the Butthole Surfers lack in chops, they more than make up for with imagination. Recommended for drug addicts and Texans.





Butthole Surfers – Locust Abortion Technician




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Napalm Death – Time Waits for No Slave

Napalm Death
Time Waits for No Slave
Century Media




Napalm Death is one of the all-time greats. Not many 20-years-old bands stay this relevant, much less remain genre leaders. The band has perfectly refined its hardcore and metal roots. Actually, that happened 10 years ago with Enemy of the Music Business. The band’s music is no longer grind; it’s simply Napalm Death.

“Life and Limb” kicks ass. This is a metalcore song, if you define metalcore metal and hardcore together and, at least a little bit, it sounds like Strapping Young Lad. The Nasum influence is strong on “Fallacy Dominion.” It’s cool that Napalm Death is influenced by their own influence via Nasum. Throughout Time Waits for No Slave, traces can be heard of Napalm Death’s various tour partners from the last few years. Cheers to an excellent band still doing it after all these years.





Napalm Death – Time Waits for No Slave




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Unleashed – Where No Life Dwells

Unleashed
Where No Life Dwells
Century Media




It’s evil, Viking death metal! It’s Leif Ericson with blastbeats! Okay, not quite but it is textbook Swedish Death Metal.

Formed by Johnny Hedlund after his departure from Nihilist in 1989, Unleashed was one of the first death metal bands to stop singing about Satan and start exploring the pre-Christian traditions of Scandinavia. That’s par-for-course these days, but it was ground-breaking in 1991, when this record was released.

Musically, Unleashed had less of a garage/Motorhead feel than fellow Stockholm residents Dismember or Entombed. Unleashed was primarily influenced by Bathory and, accordingly, Where No Life Dwells has a grim, pagan vibe throughout the album. Hail to Sweden!




Unleashed – Where No Life Dwells




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Less Than Jake - Losing Streak

Less Than Jake
Losing Streak
Capitol




Admittedly, Less Than Jake isn’t very metal (Slayer cover song EPs aside), but I’m not going to let anyone say that Losing Streak isn’t brutal. The wiggle between the notes is what makes rock music rock and Less Than Jake wiggled out of their collective pants.

What’s more, Losing Streak and Nevermind have something in common. Both albums were the culminations of the scenes that birthed them. Where Nevermind was the end-result of the SST-era of bands, Losing Streak is the end-result of the Gainesville (FL) punk scene. Huh?

Think about it. During the ska-punk explosion, Less Than Jake’s buddy bands were, by and large, other Floridians and not the other ska bands. Yes, they often toured with Kemuri but Less Than Jake weren’t world-class ding-dongs, like Voodoo Glow Skulls. Plus, I doubt that I’m the only one to notice that Less Than Jake smoked the fuck out of the other ska bands. Less Than Jake was and still is one of this style’s marquee acts. Highly recommended for humans. Johnny Quest still thinks you’re a sell-out.




Less Than Jake – Losing Streak




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No Comment – Discography

No Comment
Discography
Deep Six




No Comment is an enigmatic power violence band, I guess. Only a few songs on this CD have that sludgy, Infest quality. The rest of it sounds like fast, violent hardcore. Then again, as a general rule, the quality of songs on discography collections tends to vary wildly. Some of the songs have an Operation Ivy vibe while others are clearly derivative of Black Flag. The middle tracks are the best songs here. These tunes almost reach a grindcore velocity but still retain their punk-rockin’ goodness. Why couldn’t the whole thing sound like those songs? Again however, I must note that quality tends to vary wildly on discography CDs. This record may not be for everyone. Adventurous punks will dig it.




No Comment – Discography



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Brainoil – S/T LP

Brainoil
S/T LP
Life is Abuse




What can I say? I went into this one with high hopes and had them dashed against the rocks. Their guitarist is an ex-member of Destroy, a band that I simply adore. It’s not his fault this thing turned out the way it did. These alleged wizards of Bay Area rock aren’t bad but there are so many bands that play this style of stoner rock/power metal better than them. This LP is only mandatory for folks big-time into the Saviours/The Sword/Priestess sound and even then…




Brainoil – S/T LP





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Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague

Cannibal Corpse
Evisceration Plague
Metal Blade




Assuming that everyone reading this is at least somewhat familiar with Cannibal Corpse, I’m jumping right into the specifics. Evisceration Plague is much better than I expected and this is Paul Mazurkiewicz's best drum performance in years, maybe ever. Listen to his drumming on “Priests of Sodom.” Why doesn’t he do this all the time? He is still doing that fast-polka-beat thing though.

I didn’t expect Evisceration Plague to suck but everything since Gore Obsessed has been boringly similar. This is the first Cannibal Corpse record since Gallery of Suicide to actually have a personality. I chalk that up to them finally resolving their guitarist situation. The lead-playing and the soloing on this album aren’t as extraneous as on past Cannibal efforts. Simply put, it’s Cannibal Corpse and it rules. If you haven’t listened to them since the early 90s hate, now is the time to rejoin the party.




Cannibal Corpse – Evisceration Plague




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Ink & Dagger – Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake through My Philadelphia Heart

Ink & Dagger
Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake through My Philadelphia Heart
Initial




Ink & Dagger was a trend-setting (in a good way (sort of)), highly-influential metalcore band from the late 90s. Many bands (Eighteen Visions, The Icarus Line, etc…) owe a debt to Ink & Dagger. The band’s singer was a pretty tragic figure, but let’s not dwell on that.

Ink & Dagger should be commended for using the vampires-and-death-thing in a hardcore context without falling into the “goth” trap. Has anyone else ever pulled this off? On a similar note, Ink & Dagger’s music is most notable for what’s not in the sound. There’s no emo, metal, goth or mosh on this record. What remains is, dare I say, unique. If I had to compare it to anything, I’d call it a heavier version of Books Lie but, even then, that’s not really accurate. You should decide for yourself.




Ink & Dagger – Drive This Seven Inch Wooden Stake through My Philadelphia Heart




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Drugs of Faith – S/T EP

Drugs of Faith
S/T EP
Selfmadegod




DC-grind mastermind Richard Johnson returns with Drugs of Faith, his new band that doesn’t really sound like anybody. The blast beats are the only components of this self-titled EP that sound similar to Johnson’s old band Enemy Soil. This record has a healthy hardcore vibe to it. Its furious blasts of noise are accompanied by some kick-ass rock-n-roll. Not in a cheesy Aerosmith way but in the same sense that Husker Du was rock-n-roll. The song “No Sense of Occasion” even has a Kylesa/Neurosis-sounding riff. The bass tone reminds me of Man is the Bastard. This EP is bleak and depressing. Recommended for fans of Siege, Godflesh, Eyehategod and good taste.





Drugs of Faith – S/T EP




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Sunday, February 8, 2009

Lamb of God – Wrath

Lamb of God
Wrath
Epic




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Lamb of God - Wrath




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324 – Rebelgrind

324
Rebelgrind
HG Fact




Prior to hearing Rebelgrind, I didn’t know much about 324. Besides the fact that the band’s from Japan, I knew that 324 released material through the legendary HG Fact label and that they were on the greatest split LP ever. I didn’t know what to expect from Rebelgrind other than a safe feeling that it wouldn’t suck.

It’s a good record but, for some reason, I expected an Insect Warfare-style blast fest. It’s not. Instead, Rebelgrind serves as a reminder that grind is a punk invention, not a metal one. How many grind albums can you name that have sing-along choruses? This one does. Besides being old-school grind and very fast, this record is loud. Everything about the 324 experience is loud. This is your band if you like loud punk but wish it were heavier.




324 – Rebelgrind




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Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Clean Plate EP

Agoraphobic Nosebleed
“Clean Plate” EP
Clean Plate




The Clean Plate EP, as it’s popularly known, is actually the self-titled Agoraphobic Nosebleed EP, which was released on Clean Plate Records. This 7” is some of the early-early, pre-Relapse Agoraphobic Nosebleed material. These songs sound the most like Godflesh of all the ANb releases, at least during the slow parts.

That said, I swear that I hear some DRI-type riffing. The Clean Plate EP really fits the old cliché about cramming 10 pounds of shit into a two-pound bag. The racket this band makes is legendary. The music is denser and busier than a (sort-of) three-piece should (theoretically) be able to make. Yes, Roland played drums for ANb after Big Black broke up. Was this the material that got them their contract with Relapse? I don’t know but, if in Relapse’s situation, I’d sign them immediately. I’m sure that they did. Recommended for drug-crazed grind freaks.




Agoraphobic Nosebleed – Clean Plate EP




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Wednesday, February 4, 2009

1349 - Hellfire

1349
Hellfire
Candlelight




This is one fucking pissed black metal album. Although Faust from Emperor (err, Frost from Satyricon. Whoops. -BNF) plays drums, 1349 doesn't rest on any ex-members tag. They don't need too.

Hellfire is very similar to Panzer Division Marduk, in that both albums verge on being Satanic grindcore. Don't get the wrong idea. As fast as 1349 plays, there's an impressive amount of instrumentation. The song "Nathicana" exemplifies this. This is the kind of black metal I like. Did I mention that they're fast? Check out "Celestial Deconstruction" to hear what speed really sounds like.

Edit: I stand corrected. Thanks to anonymous for point that out.



1349 - Hellfire




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Buried Alive - The Death of Your Perfect World

Buried Alive
The Death of Your Perfect World
Victory




Buried Alive, Scott Vogel's pre-Terror band, was one of Victory's late-90s, jock hardcore bands. They brought the mosh, yet there was more going on than just dance floor justice. There's more, but not enough to give The Death of Your Perfect World any sort of mandatory, much less classic, status.

The Death of Your Perfect World sounds like Buried Alive is striving for the heavy, violent hardcore of Starkweather and The Hope Conspiracy, but can't quite pull it off. It's a cool record but there's nothing here that other bands haven't done better. It's not as technical as Calculating Infinity (not even close), it's not as murderous as Give Them Rope and it doesn't beat people like Satisfaction is the Death of Desire.

In the past, I've seen message board posts theorizing why Buried Alive never "got big." This is a mystery? The Death of Your Perfect World is the definition of second-tier. Folks into the Earth Crisis/Hatebreed style will dig this record. Otherwise...



Buried Alive - The Death of Your Perfect World




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Neanderthal - Fighting Music

Neanderthal
Fighting Music
Slap-a-Ham




What do you get when Matt Domino (Infest) and Eric Wood (Man is the Bastard) rock out together? You get ignorant fucking hate, otherwise known as Neanderthal. This is their classic EP Fighting Music. When NoCal and SoCal get together, the man loses and you win. Not much needs to be said about this one. If you like Infest and Man is the Bastard, what are you waiting for? Also, keep your eyes peeled for an alleged Neanderthal on Deep Six records and some point. It should come out about a week after that Infest CD comes out.





Neanderthal - Fighting Music





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Phobia - 22 Acts of Random Violence

Phobia
22 Acts of Random Violence
Willowtip/Deep Six




It's a new month, so it's time for a new Phobia record. How about the newest Phobia record? It's the same old Phobia that we know and love, except that Leon Del Muerte left after this record came out. Shane and Steve are still pissed and, don't look now, but consecutive records have been released by the same labels. Will wonders never cease.

There's less of a Japanese/SOB influence on this album when compared to past material. It may be more of a straight-ahead record, but 22 Acts of Random Violence hits just as hard as classics like Means of Existence. This is recommended for returning/repeat No Funeral readers. You guys know the drill. More Phobia is on the way. Stay tuned.






Phobia - 22 Acts of Random Violence




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Sepultura - Dante XXI

Sepultura
Dante XXI
SPV




As someone who grew up listening to Fear Factory, I've never had a hang-up about concept albums. When artfully executed, concept albums are a rewarding experience. Dante XXI is one such album.

This 2006 effort is Sepultura's interpretation/exploration of Dante's Inferno. Guitarist Andreas Kisser and vocalist Derrick Green did a great job lyrically, exploring the nine circles of Hell. Coupled with the paintings of Stephan Doitschnoff, you should really buy Dante XXI to get the proper experience.

Musically, this is the first album in the Derrick Green era that I've honestly enjoyed. It's the first time since Chaos A.D. that they've played their patented brand of rythymically hot, musically coherent thrash metal. Highly recommended.



Sepultura - Dante XXI






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Cadaver - ...In Pains

Cadaver
...In Pains
Earache




Oh yeah. This reminds me of riding the bus to school with my old cassette walkman. Considered a second-tier release by Earache in 1991, ...In Pains has gained a cultural cache in the years since. It was around the time of their 2001 reunion as Cadaver Inc. that the metal public finally got hip to this very cool record.

Although from Norway, Cadaver has extensively studied from the Big Book of Swedish Death Metal. Then again, it might be the Swiss Book. ...In Pains is heavily inspired by Celtic Frost but played far more technically. Imagine if Cynic were as heavy as Bolt Thrower. This is what Cadaver has managed to achieve.

Cadaver was one of those bands that got caught in the transition from Slayer/Possessed-style death metal to the Deicide/Morbid Angel style. ...In Pains has a grim and kvlt feel without drifting into either black metal or goth territories. It's a good record with an old-school feel (in a good way).




Cadaver - ...In Pains





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Monday, February 2, 2009

Between the Buried and Me - Colors

Between the Buried and Me
Colors
Victory




This is definitely metalcore in the vein of Al Life Once Lost but there's more going on underneath. It's certainly not the Gojira/Lamb of God/Meshuggah/Pantera parts; those aren't new. No, I dig Colors because, on this album, Between the Buried and Me remind me of a couple of Texas bands: The JonBenet and At All Cost. The keyboards on this album really remind me of At All Cost. Was this the band that influenced the other two? Probably.

I hate to admit, but I resisted listening to Between the Buried and Me for a long time. They were one of the bands that Victory incessantly advertised during Headbanger's Ball a few years back. So I ignored them and that was a bad move. That's why discovering the link between this band and the Texas bands is "new" to me.

Anywho, this is non-Swedish metalcore with an intense progrssive streak along the lines of Radiohead. Plus, it's not a pose or a put-on. Colors is a very pleasant surprise. Recommended for people who are sick of all the music they own and want to hear something new. This is your band.



Between the Buried and Me - Colors





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The Black Dahlia Murder - Miasma

The Black Dahlia Murder
Miasma
Metal Blade



Miasma is the record that made The Black Dahlia Murder great. As popular as Unhallowed was upon its release, it simply reeked of Slaughter of the Soul. This record is when the bands stopped immitating everyone in Sweden and forged their own, unique identity. All of Miasma kicks ass, but the first five songs, including the mighty "Statutory Ape" are some of the best metal ever written. The Black Dahlia Murder are unique because the honestly and truly Americanized Swedish Death Metal.

Miasma was recorded while the band was still playing musical chairs (ha) with the rhythm section. This means that the totally-rad Bart Williams didn't play on this album. He joined the bands shortly after its release, dammit.

Yes, the Black Dahlia Murder sound is rooted in Swedish Death Metal but they do more with it than just regrugitate At The Gates riffs. They keep their sound firmly metal and are expanding it accordingly with the normal development of a band. This is evident in the large number of metalcore kids at their shows waiting for a breakdown that will never come. Highly recommended.






The Black Dahlia Murder - Miasma




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Crom - Hot Sumerian Nights

Crom
Hot Sumerian Nights
Underdogma




My first exposure to Crom was on Pessimiser's Cry Now, Cry Later series of compilation EPs. Vol. 3 featured six blasts of Crom's short, coke-obsessed, power-violent madness. It was truly a thing of beauty.

Hot Sumerian Nights is the new Crom album. It's still obsessed with drugs and Conan but the record sounds half-baked, and not in a good way. It's not bad but it's certainly a letdown if you knew of this band way-back-when. Hail Crom?




Crom - Hot Sumerian Nights





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