Evile — The Unknown
✦✦✧✧ This sounds like a mellower Machine Head, circa 1993. Curiously, the album sounds a little more energetic in the back half. I don’t hate it. See the rest here
Author Archives: arse
Metal Church — Congregation Of Annihilation
✦✦✦✧ This is at least more fun and interesting than Metallica’s 72 Seasons, if we’re comparing 80s acts with “metal” in their names. Newcomer Marc Lopes does a pretty solid and entertaining job with the vocals. Otherwise, there’s both enough vintage thrash here to satisfy old school MC fans, as well as something a bit different for the band: a sound that’s more modern, aggressive, and epic. See the rest here
Dieth — To Hell and Back
✦✦✧✧ The good news: when David Ellefson starts a new band, you can be guaranteed that you’ll hear the bass in the mix. The bad news: this band is all over the frickin’ place. You’ll hear the influence of every group that David and the other members have been a part of (Megadeth, Soulfly, Access Denied, Decapitated, Entombed A.D., See the rest here
Blackbraid — Blackbraid II
✦✦✦✧ I’m not going to go into the topic of whether this is truly American indigenous black metal, something that my research indicates may be a point of contention. What I will say, though, is that this album is epic and evocative. The folk appropriations here are tasteful and balanced, not quite as in-your-face as Bloodywood or The Hu, and the overall sound owes as much to influences like Opeth and Wolves In The Throne Room as to any Native American musical traditions. See the rest here
Re: Nuclear Power Trio – Critical Bass Theory (8K)
Oh man, how did I miss this when it came out? Nick Schendzielos is one of my favorite metal bassists around (two of his JFAC tracks are on my GAINZ playlist), and the other two guys (from Allegaeon and Havok) are no slouches either! See the rest here
The Armed — Perfect Saviors
✦✦✦✧ First off, I can’t in good conscience call this metal. That said, this is clearly one of the best metal albums of the year. The Armed are the closest group I can think of that truly treat the genre like it’s one equal color on their palette; they’re not metal-with-embellishments, and they’re not pop with high gain guitars. See the rest here
Avenged Sevenfold — Life Is But A Dream…
✦✦✧✧ This album’s all over the place, which is saying a lot for typically-already-batshit A7X. It’s a concept album. It’s nu metal. It’s pop. It shreds (but usually for no discernible reason). I dunno: it reminds me a lot of Destrage and Faith No More, only not in ways I actually enjoy? See the rest here
Drain — Living Proof
✦✦✧✧ High-octane hardcore/rethrash goodness! The back half has some odd experiments that may or may not win you over, but so what! Ten songs! Twenty five minutes! Pop it on when you’re driving, and get there faster! Blegh! See the rest here
Mutoid Man — Mutants
✦✦✦✧ This is Mutoid Man’s most restrained effort, but it’s still energetic and catchy and raw. Stephen Brodsky just keeps aging like wine, as both a guitarist and vocalist. Ben Koller doesn’t miss on the skins. And High On Fire bassist Jeff Matz really shines. Also, it’s been a bit since I’ve heard Kurt Ballou’s production on something new. See the rest here
DevilDriver — Dealing With Demons II
✦✧✧✧ Pissed-off groove metal that just throws aimless haymakers all day long. There are a lot of ideas on here that could use some more development, but most of it feels underdeveloped and underbaked. Volume 1 is the better half of the pair of albums. See the rest here
