Attila — Guilty Pleasure
☆☆☆☆ Take Marilyn Manson, Limp Bizkit, and Attack! Attack! and extrude them through a rusty meat grinder. That’d still be preferable to this album. See the rest here
Author Archives: arse
Iron Reagan — The Tyranny of Will
★★☆☆ Given that this is from the guys who brought you Municipal Waste and Darkest Hour, this album is surprisingly (and unapologetically) punk. And for the most part, it really works. This album may not sound like it at first blush, but it’s got more in common with S.O.D. than with Rancid (or with Darkest Hour, for that matter). See the rest here
Demon Hunter — Extremist
★☆☆☆ When Demon Hunter put their minds to it, they can really throw down some mean metalcore. The problem with this album is that the band seem much more inclined to devote themselves to schmaltzy power metal. See the rest here
It’s the little things
How do you make Meshuggah heavier? Slow it down enough to drop the tuning by 4 semitones, that’s how.
Soulburn — The Suffocating Darkness
★☆☆☆ If you like sloppily-performed black metal with endlessly shifting tempos and more vocal reverb than the Mormon Tabernacle Choir, this is the album for you! See the rest here
Ghost Brigade — IV – One With The Storm
★★☆☆ The various sounds on this album belie the split personality of Ghost Brigade, who are now borrowing as from Alice In Chains and Queensrÿche as they do from Katatonia and Soilwork. After the energetic opening track, what follows is a long progression of downtempo anthems. There are some compelling tracks (“Stone and Pillars” is a fantastic example), but the majority of the material here is hard to feel strongly about either way. See the rest here
Nightingale — Retribution
★☆☆☆ This is some lovingly crafted schmaltz. We’re talking album-oriented gloss, like a modern update on ending credits music to a movie from the 80s. I kept expecting a duet with David Coverdale. See the rest here
Earth — Primitive And Deadly
★★☆☆ This is a weird combination of drone metal, shoegazer, and Metallica’s “Lulu.” See the rest here
Bloodbath — Grand Morbid Funeral
★★☆☆ For the pedigree that comes along with this supergroup (Opeth, Katatonia), the resulting album is surprisingly so-so. It’s a perfect and credible fusion of Entombed, Morbid Angel, and a smattering of other classic deathgrind acts. And you’ll nod your head throughout your listening experience. Just don’t be surprised if you feel like you’ve heard this before. See the rest here
Re: Knotfest Japan Full Report
I well understand the importance of keeping oneself well-fed and hydrated for these grueling festivals. Also, since when are we worrying about what time of day is the start of our drinking hours?
I’ll have to check out Crossfaith — as is not unusual, I’d never heard of them before! And, you’re going to make me re-listen to Korn and Trivium, dammit. See the rest here
