★☆☆☆ Should a modern metal album aspire to sound like a poor man’s post-Layne Alice In Chains? There are a handful of interesting moments on The Power Of Three, but they’re momentary distractions from the many, many flaws that abound. See the rest here
★★★☆ A subtle, yet inexorable, exploration of sludge collages that are reminiscent of everything from Isis to The Ocean to Pixies to Dies Irae to Bill Laswell. The noise is literally another member of the band on this album. Honestly, I can’t really tell you exactly why it grabbed me from the first listen, but it definitely did. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ This is some seriously self-indulgent stuff. The musicianship is fantastic… but it seems to only serve as an excuse for some out-of-place arias. Also, I can’t imagine ever willingly listening to this again. See the rest here
★★☆☆ On the one hand, this is very capably executed speed metal, akin to Racer X or Accept. On the other hand, this album retreads on territory that’s already well worn, with nothing new to offer. Nostalgia for nostalgia’s sake isn’t always a winning policy. See the rest here
★★☆☆ Imbecilic, but really great fun nonetheless. If you’re expecting Nile-like death metal, you’ll get the speed but not exactly the darkness. That’s okay, though; this album stands on its own. Also, the riffs here are really kinda novel and unusual, so that’s worth a couple of listens already. See the rest here
★★☆☆ This is some seriously old-school shit right here. Think Rage-For-Order-era Queensrÿche or Maiden. It’s enjoyable, for what it is, but it’s also got the palpable feel of stale bread to it. The war’s over, Johnny. See the rest here
☆☆☆☆ I just can’t get behind a band that sounds like System Of A Down covering The Shaggs. Look, I’m all for taking the cultural high road, but just because you can play a double harmonic scale on distorted guitars doesn’t mean your work is done. See the rest here
★★★☆ I think I love this. At first, I was ready to dismiss it as just another noisefest… but there’s a lot of depth to the album. Elements of all my favorite sounds: old Genesis, Isis, Don Caballero, even Fredrik Thordendal’s solo work. (And you can’t go wrong with the excellent cover of Larks’ Tongues In Aspic Part II.) See the rest here
★★☆☆ This is an interesting conundrum. On the one hand, this album is rockin’ a very alternate-universe-Slayer vibe. On the other hand, it’s kinda forgettable. Worth a second listen, but there’s something very humdrum about it all. See the rest here
★★☆☆ A djenty symphonic blend of Fear Factory, the Inception soundtrack, and the gothic sensibilities of the movie “Prometheus” (without all the shitty lack of logic). It drags at times from its own meandering aimlessness, but it’s got a smattering of good and heavy ideas. See the rest here
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