Thrash has made it’s return the past few years, and it will stick around some more. Not only do some of the thrash legends return to the forefront on the metalscene, new thrash bands are popping up everywhere such as the the excellent Evile and this band called Demonica who feature a Slayer-esque sound but with a modern twist:
Twitter It!Aah Sevendust, a band that has never dissapointed me. Now back as the orginal lineup they are close to releasing the new album Cold Day Memory. Meanwhile, one track has leaked onto Youtube, and it’s not dissapointing this time either.
Twitter It!
Sludge metal isn’t something I listen to an awefully lot, yet I can truly enjoy it but more as something in the background. I can get ‘headbang-happy’ once and a while and that can be distracting when I’m actually try to be productive. Sludge in general won’t trigger that in me.
However, one of my latest ‘discoveries’ is sludge metal, and will distract me. This discovery beeing Armed For Apocalypse a four-piece from with an ex-Will Haven member hailing from “tropic-for-my-standards” California.
Why this album “Defeat” ? Because it isn’t simply Sludge metal, the opening track “We Fell From The Bottom“ a great example of whats to come on the rest of the album, starts out with dark, slow and heavy riffing you’ll find on a doom-sludge metal record, supporting a range of gritty growls and grunts. Nothing special, until the end of the track, where after slowing down till a snails pace it suddenly pick ups the pace a many notches and transforms into metalcore riffing. Simply ace!
And it even gets better! the other 7 songs on this debut album, are switching back and forth between sludge, metalcore and even more techy riffs. Vocally it’s all over the place, more grunting, more growling, influences of “mathcore” and harmonies.
Think of this band as a mish-mash of Down, Shrinebuilder, Will Haven, Lamb Of God and Baroness. And it just works… all the pieces just simply fall into place.
Twitter It!
Noble Jackals, Penny Dreadfuls And The Systematic Dehumanization Of Cool is the title given to Hellbilly Deluxe 2, the fourth studio album from Rob Zombie. Interestingly the album was actually completed in late 2008 and recorded for the first time with a ‘band’ rather than a rotation of session musicians as on previous albums. I think this shows through out the album with a sense of direction and a common goal.
The album actually starts off at a steady pace, with the track Burn released on the game ‘Rock Band’. It’s not until track three, Sick Bubblegum that some hard rock reaches out and says something. In this case a repetition of Mother F*ck*r that for me, doesn’t seem so obscene and flows easily with the riff. What?, the first single released from the album, follows with a catchy pop rhythm and melody. Although a video has not yet been made for this, Zombie has made sure the artwork with the album is his best yet, using it as a full stop at the end of the CD era, giving way to digital sales.
Each track gives us different intros, such as acoustic in Mars Needs Women, that famous sampling in Werewolf, Baby! and doom in Virgin witch. The Man Who Laughs is an epic 10 minute symphonic rock track, though that does include a four treated to a minute drum solo! This still only brings this album to 45 minutes but listening through the album I felt satisfied at its conclusion and I thoroughly enjoyed the album. ★★✩✩✩
Album Of The Week 16/02/10
Xander
Hard, punchy, wailing and chuggy; this album pleases my ears. I am unaware of the bands previous 4 albums so I just had no idea of what to expect from these Swedish rockers.
The doomy symphonic Tritonus (Prelude) briefly kicks off the self titled album leading the way for Heresy Blasphemy, 4 minutes of dirty heavy rock with a filthy voicebox worthy of replacing Slash in Guitar Hero. A quick favourite from the album is Desolate, a disjointed track repetitive through out, yet hypnotic from the repetition. This track also displays a good working partnership with dual guitaring and a snazzy gypsy kind of ending. I’m Frustrated is a completely different direction altogether, an easy listening slow paced ballad complete with strings and acoustic guitars. Tritonus returns for the finale like a tale told in epic rock form. We are then treated to an extra track instrumental version of the single, Mine.
For lovers of rock, this album will be very cosy in your collection! ★★★✩✩
Album of the week 09/02/10
Xander
Well if the fact that this album is free isn’t enough for you to get it, the fact that it is ace should be! Straight away Party At Pablos kicks you in the face swiftly followed by Kingbreaker. I can only think to describe this music as hardcore/tech/metal, they say it “Sounds Like: Yelling”. In the first five minutes you are exposed to brutal fast paced beats and twiddly riffs, but this Detroit band actually have a few tricks up their sleeve in the form of a kind of slow jazz instrumental, I Steal What I Want, some thing that starts off almost indie/pop moving into Nine Inch Nails, Gave Up, and a light atmosphered sampled interlude moving into something like ‘Come To Daddy’. Short but sweet, 30 minutes of twists and delightfully fast tempo beats and guitars. ★★★★✩
You can download the album for free now at www.thearmed.com
Album Of The Week 02/02/10
Xander
Quite simply; BTBAM fans will not be disappointed, new listeners will be amazed. This album is a masterpiece that excels the previous five albums.
Six well constructed masterful tracks of progressive, technical, blasting, screaming, harmonising, melodic, soulful riffs, melodies and solos that grace this latest release, The Great Misdirect. Chuck in the odd catchy pop melody, hints of spaghetti and peaceful breakdowns, then with those all important Zappa style progressive scales you can get a good idea of what this band are all about, if you don’t already know.
To be honest, only having six tracks, they all stand out. But my favorite without a doubt is Fossil Genera – A Feed From Cloud Mountain. Over 12 minutes of technical progressive metal. I really can’t add anything more about how amazing this album is! So go catch them on tour with Lamb Of God and buy the album that will certainly be a high contender for album of the year (although it was actually released last year). ★★★★★
Album of the week 25/01/10
Xander