★☆☆☆ What starts off as a fun game of “guess whom A7X are paying homage to now” quickly devolves into wholesale theft (with “This Means War” being the most egregious lifting I’ve heard in years). This album’s listenability is entirely based on a parlor trick, and not a particularly clever one at that. See the rest here
★★☆☆ Pretty powerful effort from DevilDriver. Sadly, the second half is more memorable and successful than the first… meaning, you’ve gotta wade through some lackluster filler to get to the goods. Also, that AWOLNATION cover does a decent enough job; it blows almost as hard as the original. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ There is a whole lot of bombast and fast notes and operatic epicosity on this album, but it’s so unfocused that it comes out as a blur. The second half of Labyrinth has some sweet metal moments, but by then you’re probably past all caring. See the rest here
★☆☆☆ It’s funny: I have to admit the “The Wild Hunt” is well-executed, and shows glimmers of excellence… but all of that is overshadowed by a boringness so profound that I may never see the light of day again. See the rest here
★★☆☆ A rollicking rendition of pre-Heartwork grindcore with updated production value. So that’s great. At the same time, the actual songwriting is forgettable. Still, this is a valiant effort, and well worth at least a full listenthrough. See the rest here
☆☆☆☆ Try as I might, I just cannot get into IWABO at all. It’s unlistenable, and not in a good way. See the rest here
☆☆☆☆ I’m starting to suspect that no one told James LaBrie that’s he’s actually not a metalhead. To wit, this saccharine and forgettable waste of time sounds like a mashup of loudly detuned guitars and a full-length album by Rebecca Black. See the rest here
★★★★ Everything I want from a modern thrash album. Intricate, bloodthirsty, and peppered with excellent and interesting lead guitarwork. Special shout-outs to a very competent Metallica cover, as well as the instrumental Spastic (an instant contender for Metal Moment Of The Year). See the rest here
★★☆☆ It takes a while for this album to get warmed up, passing through plenty of sounds familiar to other bands (The Jesus Lizard, Thrice, Dillinger). Halfway through, though, it finds its mellow yet feral footing. Not as strong as Meridional, but a solid rager nonetheless. See the rest here
★★★☆ This is another blistering Kurt Ballou production, so you know it’s going to be an aural onslaught. And yet, there is a deftness and pacing to this album. I wouldn’t call it subtle, but it’s still a cruel delight from start to finish. See the rest here
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