Oceano — Revelation
✦✦✧✧ COOOOOOOKIEEEEEE MOONNSSTEEERRRRRRRRRR
Very few surprises from these deathcore veterans, other than a subtle hint of melody lurking somewhere in the hydraulic presses of this concise juggernaut. See the rest here
Author Archives: arse
Scale The Summit — In a World of Fear
✦✦✧✧ What happened?! Somewhere between their last album and this one, STS decided to start sounding like a puréed mix of themselves, Periphery, Animals As Leaders, The Algorithm, and Eric Johnson. The shredding is delightful, which is to be expected… but everything else feels like a misstep. Disappoint. See the rest here
Papa Roach — Crooked Teeth
✦✦✧✧ This lives somewhere in the imagined intersection of Linkin Park, Deftones, Ill Nino, and Miley Cyrus. There’s an unfortunate tendency toward overproduction flourishes like full stops and other digital atmos effects that neuter any chance for momentum. That said, every single track on this album is under 4 minutes in length, which is perfect for this kind of guilty pleasures. See the rest here
Wolfheart — Tyhjyys
✦✦✧✧ Moody melodeath (melodoom?) that manages to sneak in a couple of surprises. I hear echoes of Emperor, Omnium Gatherum, even In Flames. But more than anything, it reminds me of The Ocean. See the rest here
Warrant — Louder Harder Faster
✦✧✧✧ This is just like Steel Panther! Only, you know, not at all funny. See the rest here
John Frum — A Stirring In The Noos
✦✦✦✧ DEP bassist Liam Wilson’s new supergroup (featuring members of The Faceless, Intensus, and John Zorn) go for a slightly-more-accessible-Gorguts sound with this, their debut album. Anyway, I’m assuming Wilson was the driving force of this band, as the resulting music is very firmly basscentric (never a complaint from Yours Truly). See the rest here
God Dethroned — The World Ablaze
✦✧✧✧ The final chapter in a trilogy of blackened death metal albums about World War I, this album features music that feels as dated and overwrought as that description. At times, this feels closer to DETHKLOK than Behemoth. See the rest here
Lock Up — Demonization
✦✦✧✧ The latest album from this grindcore supergroup (featuring members of Napalm Death, Brutal Truth, Cradle Of Filth, and Criminal) dishes out meaty if unsurprising fare. What it lacks in originality, this album more than makes up for in terms of remorseless and nasty speed. Nick Barker’s drumming is most notable, and propels the listener and the rest of the band through a tour of different styles and staples. See the rest here
Life Of Agony — A Place Where There’s No More Pain
✦✦✧✧ A grungier version of LOA than I remember from back in the day; the CBGB/Biohazard sensibilities of the band’s original form has completely given way to a frozen-in-time Alice In Chainsness that I can’t say I hate. A big part of that comparison comes courtesy of Mina Caputo, whose vocals (while certainly the strongest of her career) at times bears a resemblance to Layne Staley’s. See the rest here
Full Of Hell — Trumpeting Ecstasy
✦✦✦✧ Griiiiiiiiiindcoorrrrrrrrreblech. (Halfway between AC, Carcass, and Converge. Tasty.) See the rest here
