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New reviews updated
Wednesday, April 25, 2007 :

CDs:

2007 Roadrunner reissues:

I was overjoyed when I found out about the plan to reissue all of these classic Roadrunner Records albums from the late ‘80s through early ‘90s. They’ve all been out-of-print for years, with some never before available in the US. All are remasted, include band histories, come on gold CDs in digipaks, and are numbered limited editions of 2000. Plus, most have bonus tracks (some even have videos!). Now this is how to do reissues! Leave it to Metal Mind to do things the right way. Hopefully this great label will continue to unearth lost classics. There are still scores of albums in need of reissue.

ATROPHY - Socialized Hate · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Originally released in 1988, this Thrash masterpiece (I’ll likely be using that term often for these reissues, so get used to it) holds up well today, especially musically. Often when people think of Thrash -US Thrash, at least- they think of the now-ancient Bay Area bands, but many of the Thrash bands back then didn’t fit that mold at all. ATROPHY is closer to German bands like KREATOR in both the generally fast temo and raspy vocals. Listening to this, it’s easy to see how only a bit more extermity could cross the chasm into early Death Metal.
Bonus features here are the first three tracks from the band’s six-song 1987 Chemical Dependency demo (the other three are bonus trax on the Violent by Nature reissue) and a poor quality "bootleg" video for "Socalized Hate." - 9.25 - <Ray>

ATROPHY - Violent by Nature · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
More or less just as fast and intense as the band’s debut, Socialized Hate, although maybe somewhat more American sounding, this 1990 follow-up album’s only real flaw is a slightly more polished production, which some may even prefer. There are very rare vocal missteps, which I’ll chalk up to the zeitgeist back then, which was one of "growing" and "evolving" with every release.
The bonus features here are the remaining three songs from the ’87 Chemical Dependency demo (the first three being on the Socalized Hate reissue) and another low quality "bootleg" video clip. - 8.75 - <Ray>

CRIMSON GLORY - Strange and Beautiful · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Of all of these reissues, CRIMSON GLORY was the one band I somehow wasn’t familiar with. Now I know why. This 1991 album was the band’s third, and is not something I’d have really liked much back then. Or now, honestly. There can be no question about the ability of these guys, but this kind of Prog Hard Rock / Heavy Metal hurts my ears, mostly due to the wailing vocals. This is so lame that I’m surprised that CRIMSON GLORY never made it big in the early ‘90s. Thankfully, mercifully, this is one of the Roadrunner reissues without any bonus tracks. - 6 - <Ray>

CRIMSON GLORY - Astronomica · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
After sitting through the gayfest of the Strange and Beautiful reissue, I was not looking forward to reviewing this 2-disc set at all. However, it starts with a pretty good instrumental. Of course, it’s the vocals that I didn’t like before... Then I realize that this album (the band’s fourth) came out eight years later, in 1999, and this is a different singer. This new guy is still very much in the Hard Rock vein, but he’s superior to the old guy. Perhaps not oddly, the msuic seems better, too. Heavier, even. Well, that’s not saying much, since anything would have been heavier than Strange... But this is a dramatic improvement in all areas, and I’ve never gotten to say that about very many bands. Favorite song title: "Lucifer’s Hammer."
To make up for there not being any bonus tracks on the previous album’s reissue, this one comes with a whole extra CD of live and demo tracks. - 7.75 - <Ray>

DISINCARNATE - Dreams of the Carrion Kind · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
This was rightfully praised as a Death Metal masterpiece upon its initial release back in 1993 (and originally reviewed way back in Metal Curse #8), and is no less so now. The legendary James Murphy (DEATH, OBITUARY, CANCER, TESTAMENT...) perfectly blended his mind-melting guitar leads with the brutal, complex riffs, drumming, and thoroughly raw, yet understandable vox, to produce songs that may never be matched in terms of intensity and how they get into the listener’s head and stay there. Dreams of the Carrion Kind is an all-time classic that has truly stood the test of time and remains as vital now as the day it was first released. This reissue, as with the previous US reissue, has the three songs from the band’s 1992 Soul Erosion demo as bonus tracks. - 9.75 - <Ray>

GORGUTS - Considered Dead · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
This was originally released way back in 1991, before the band was obsessed with being so complex and weird that no one could manage to sit through a song, much less an entire album. No, this was a simpler, heavier, better time. Considered Dead is prime Death Metal, and it’s great to see this back in print after all these years. At the time of this album’s initial release, the competition was so fierce that it may have been somewhat overlooked. Perhaps this is what led the band to more and more "experimentation" on subsequent releases, I don’t know, but this classic holds up very well. Plus we’re treated to a pair of previously unheard (and raw!) demo versions of album cuts as bonus tracks. - 9.25 - <Ray>

GORGUTS - The Erosion of Sanity · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
This 1993 follow-up to Considered Dead sees the band thankfully only barely hinting at the changes to come on later albums, and as such is quite good. The production seems a little less thick here, which was probably seen as a positive "evolution" by the band. The somewhat increased complexity of the songs still allows for a heavy dose of brutality, which is certainly appreciated. Not quite the classic that the debut was, but still an important album. And one with two bonus tracks (once again, raw demo versions of album tracks) this time! - 8.75 - <Ray>

HEATHEN - Victims of Deception · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
The follow-up to the band’s 1987 Combat Records debut, Breaking the Silence, this 1991 album (originally reviewed in Metal Curse #5) was a triumph for HEATHEN. In the interim between albums, they switched singers, briefly employing EXODUS’s Paul Baloff (whose style couldn’t have meshed well with the band’s established sound), before screamer David White rejoined them. Sadly, I think that everyone who has ever sung for this band is now dead.
Although from the SF Bay Area, HEATHEN’s Thrash was a little more intense than usual, other than the kind of early-ANTHRAX-style vocals, which might be something of an acquired taste, especially now. Victims... has help up pretty well over the years, and not only is the original CD-only bonus track present, we also get the previously unhead (outside of Japan, at least) bonus track "Hellbound." I do prefer Breaking the Silence, but this is still classic Thrash. - 8.5 - <Ray>

LAST CRACK - Sinister Funkhouse #17 · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
I had thankfully almost forgotten about this band, which I’ve seen described (in the past) as "Groove Metal," whatever that means, as this is certainly not what term brings to mind currently. As much as I dislike this now, I would have hated it even more back in 1990 when it was originally released. It’s essentially well-recorded Hard Rock with watered-down Thrash tendencies, and open-mic-night vocals. Maybe that’s mean to the singer, Buddo, but even way back in 1990, his style of faux WHITESNAKE wailing (Buddo isn’t quite that gay sounding) was enough to make me vomit. For fans, if such creatures exist, this does have two live bonus tracks. - 5 - <Ray>

LAST CRACK - Burning Time · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
This 1991 follow-up to Sinister Funkhouse #17 seems to be musically slightly more aggressive at times, and I appreciate the effort, slim and counterbalanced though it is. Buddo still belts out "ooh"s and "yeah"s and other such goofy noises, of course, which makes it difficult to listen to, and the general radio-friendliness (at the time) of the music doesn’t help, either. As with the Sinister... reissue, there are two live bonus tracks for masochists. - 5.25 - <Ray>

PESTILENCE - Mind Reflections · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
At last! PESTILENCE is one of my all-time favorite bands, and this little-known 1994 collection was never previously available in the US, and was virtually impossible to track down. I didn’t even know that it existed until years later. Keep in mind, dear readers, that 1994 was well before one could look at metal-archives.com or consult the mystic Oracle of Google and get a comprehensive discography for every fucking band in the universe. How did we ever manage without the internet? But I digress. This is no mere compilaiton of all album tracks. As awesome that that would be, it would also be practically useless, since everyone reading Metal Curse should already own all of this band’s albums. What we have here is the expected representation of PESTILENCE’s history (oddly not in any kind of rational order), plus one previously unreleased bonus track, "Hatred Within," six live songs, and even a bonus video clip for "Mind Reflections," which wasn’t on the original pressing of this CD, and I had never seen before. That bumps this up from "must have" to a brain-melting "holy fuck!!" which is rare indeed. Ignoring the albums tracks (only because you already have them!), this is awesome, and with them... Yes, the highest honor. - 10 - <Ray>

REALM - Endless War · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
I had all but forgotten about REALM. This album, the band’s 1988 debut, is musically complex, interesting Thrash that holds up well even all these years later. Unfortuantley, the vocals don’t. Really, this kind of screechy, faux operatic style has always been annoying. In my original review of the band’s second album, Suiciety, I described this singer as being like a cross between ANTHRAX’s Joey Belladonna and FLOTSAM AND JETSAM’s Eric A.K., which may have been somewhat cruel to Joey and Eric. In my many years of reviews, I have occasionally wished for a Vocal Eliminator, which would come in very handy here, as this would be great if the singer wasn’t doing his best to split my skull in half. For those not bothered by such things, this reissue includes one bonus track not on the original pressing. - 6 - <Ray>

REALM - Suiciety · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
After the headache induced by reviewing REALM’s Endless War, I must admit that I wasn’t exactly looking forward to anything about this, the band’s 1990 follow-up. It’s really irritating that the music is so good, but the vocals pierce my ears like a billion nano-shards of glass, turning my brain into liquid shit. In my original review for this album, I mentioned the lameness of the lyrics for the song "Dick," so I’d hate to forget to say how stupid that is this time. I can’t really comment on the rest of the lyrics as I was concentrating on not hearing the vocals. As with the reissue of Endless War, this has one bonus track for those of you who have a high tolerance for bad vocals or the ability to ignore and/or erase them. Ironically, the previously unheard bonus track has is the best one here (musically awesome!), even having the calmest/least-bad vocals on the disc. - 6.5 - <Ray>

SADUS - Chemical Exposure · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Originally released by the band in 1988 under the title Illusions, this album was reissued as Chemical Exposure in 1991 by Roadrunner Records, after the band’s 1990 follow-up LP, Swallowed in Black, came out. I have no idea why this album’s title was changed... But by any name, this is a classic. SADUS’s intense Thrash onslaught contained perhaps just a touch of Death Metal, maybe just enough to have somewhat raspy vocals and an overall meaner sound than usual. However, it was the complex songwriting and masterful playing (Steve DiGiorgio is still the bass god!) that really set SADUS apart from their peers. This reissue has two of the six tracks from the 1986 Death to Posers demo. Two more can be found on the reissue of Swallowed in Black. Oddly, the final two are not on the reissue of A Vision of Misery. That has 1987’s two-song Certain Death demo as its bonus tracks. I was surprised to see any of these demo tracks at all since Hammerheart records just released the Death to Posers and Certain Death demos on CD a couple years ago. Perhaps that’s no longer in print. - 9 - <Ray>

SADUS - Swallowed in Black · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
This, the legendary 1990 follow-up to Chemical Exposure, saw the SADUS guys at their most intense. Swallowed in Black is simply an all time Thrash classic, and is just as amazing today as when it was first released. The recording, songwriting, playing and even the raspy, screaming vocals are all textbook examples of how to do things right. When I first reviewed this, so long ago, I was tempted to give it a ten, but was talked out of it. Now I have a chance to change my mind, but as I listen to this disc, as awesome as it is, I hear why I made the decision that I did. It’s damn close, but not quite perfect. The inclusion of two bonus tracks from the Death to Posers demo would be more helpful if they weren’t just released on CD a couple years ago. It’s nice to have them if you missed Hammerheart’s DTP CD (which also contained the Certain Death demo tracks), but it would have been a lot better to get all six tracks from that demo on one of the reissues, and then the two Certain Death demo tracks on another, perhaps with some live tracks, and then all live bonus tracks on the third reissue. Still, that’s just being picky, and it’s enough of a treat for this to just be back in print after all this time. - 9.75 - <Ray>

SADUS - A Vision of Misery · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
The band’s third album, originally released in 1992, combined stunningly complex, technical playing with SADUS’s omnipresent intensity and an absolutely flawless recording to produce one of the greatest Thrash masterpieces of all time. I’m embarrassed to admit how long it’s been since I last spun the original pressing of this disc, but this reissue is so fucking awesome that I’m having difficulty typing, since I want to just sit here and enjoy it. I don’t remember liking this better than Swallowed in Black when it was initially released, but now I see why I didn’t give that one a ten: A Vision in Misery is superior! I’m not even sure how it’s even possible, but it is. As if my ass wasn’t kicked soundly enough already, this CD has the two songs from 1987’s Cerain Death demo as bonus tracks. Hail perfection! - 10 - <Ray>

SOLITUDE AETURNUS - Into the Depths of Sorrow · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Much like their heroes, CANDLEMASS, this album, SOLITUDE’s 1990 debut, sees the guys often playing a lot faster than one would normally associate with the term "Doom." Still, they do slow down and get pretty heavy at times. Well, pretty heavy for 1990. I mean, with Robert Lowe’s somewhat operatic, yet very well done vocals, this certainly isn’t what would become known as "Funeral Doom." Over the years since this was initially released, I’ve gotten less and less tolerant of openly pro-Christian bands/lyrics, but no less than King Diamond himself has personally assured me that these guys are okay, and that the worst of the lyrics are leftovers from the band’s original singer, Kristoff Gabehart. A quick check of the credits confirms that Gabehart did write all the jesusy lyrics, both on this album and on one song from 1992’s follow-up Beyond the Crimson Horizon. To allow myself to listen to and enjoy the songs in question, I’ve had to kind of pretend that, like MY DYING BRIDE and maybe some other Doom bands, these guys just liked writing about the sorrow and horror of the Xtain mythology without being in favor of it. I guess that’s okay...
Even at this early stage the SOLITUDE AETURNUS guys rarely failed to impress. John Perez’s masterful riffs are generally amazing, and Robert’s intensely powerful, emotional vocals never falter. Everything doesn’t perfectly gel at all times, but when it does, it’s indescribable. This is evidenced perhaps nowhere more so than in the flawless "Mirror of Sorrow." The demo version is one of the three bonus tracks (along with two other demo songs) on this reissue, and it might be even better than the album version. I’m hesitant to mention the hint of (early!) JUDAS PRIEST influence, because that might be misunderstood, but it is present. Despite its faults, this is a majestic, important album, and the band has only continued to impress since... - 8.75 - <Ray>

SOLITUDE AETURNUS - Beyond the Crimson Horizon · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
It’s a bummer that one of my favorite tracks here, "It Came Upon One Night," is tainted by the previous singer’s lyrical man-crush on Jesus, because otherwise this 1992 album is consistently impressive. Things might be on average a little faster this time than was the case with the debut, and the sound seems possibly a touch less thick, which is somewhat strange considering that this is a Doom band after all. I suppose that I prefer the slower moments, which is not to say that the band has any problems playing faster, as showcased brilliantly in the album’s best track, "Plague of Procreation," which perfectly flows from a funeral march to faster than you’d think. CANDLEMASS comparisons are obvious. For this reissue, we’re treated to a pair of bonus demo tracks. Unfortunately, the band’s original singer, Kristoff Gabehart, does the vocals on one of them ("It Came Upon One Night"), and although Robert is thankfully present on the other, "City of Armageddon" (note: the tracklist has it and "It Came..." reversed), the sound quality is fairly terrible, making them essentially worthless. I wish that we’d gotten some live tracks instead. Bonus material aside, Beyond... was an impressive second album, holding up very well today, even if it did struggle to match the level of the debut. - 8.5 - <Ray>

TOXIK - World Circus · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Some of these Roadrunner reissues have held up very well against the destroyer known as time, but this 1988 album, the band’s debut, is not on that list. Especially not vocally. The kind of Thrash-infused Hard Rock is musically passable, with moments of actual coolness (the instrumental "47 Seconds of Sanity" comes to mind), and certainly well-performed. But the weak screechy vocals make early ANTHRAX and OVERKILL sound fierce, which makes this difficult to listen to at best, and nearly impossible at worst. This wasn’t the first album that bad vocals ruined... This reissue features one bonus song (with the band’s original singer, who’s more or less just as bad), and a short radio interview. - 6 - <Ray>

TOXIK - Think This · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Having just suffered through reviewing World Circus moments ago, I probably should have taken a break before spinning this, the band’s 1989 follow-up. That said, this album starts off impressively -right up until the vocals begin. But even those are somewhat improved, sounding something like a weaker, higher John Bush (ARMORED SAINT, ANTHRAX), and the lyrics are generally good. The music, having lost most of the Hard Rock influence of the previous album, is squarely in the Thrash range, with more aggression in all areas, and is often technically very impressive. If only I had the oft-discussed Vocal Eliminator... But wait! The two bonus tracks almost grant my wish, as they are "rhythm only" with no vocals or guitar solos. - 7.5 - <Ray>

XENTRIX - Shattered Existence · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
I don’t think that this 1989 album has even been available on CD here in the US before. I have an ancient cassette, and had never even seen a CD copy until this reissue showed up, so this is one of the top three gems (along with PESTILENCE and ZNOWHITE) in this reissue series. Back when this album was new there were a lot of comparisons between XENTRIX and TESTAMENT, and that’s not entirely inaccurate, but this English band certainly had its own identity. Although gruff, even raspy occasionally, XENTRIX’s singer, Chris Astley, doesn’t have the depths, or honestly the force, that Chuck Billy does. That’s not to say that he’s deficient, just differnt, as the band is musically, with their English roots showing through the clear (late ‘80s) SF Bay Area Thrash influence. Shattered Existence isn’t as consistently amazing as the band’s next full-length album, 1990’s For Whose Advantage, would be, but there are moments, such as "Balance of Power" and "Crimes" that forshadow the masterpice to come. As an added bonus, this reissue has the three-song 1990 Ghostbusters EP (which was also never domestically available, as far as I know) as bonus tracks. - 8.5 - <Ray>

XENTRIX - For Whose Advantage? · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
Truly a Thrash classic, this 1990 album, the band’s second full-length release, stumbles only once with what was originally the CD-only bonus track, a cover of "Running White Faced City Boy." The rest is just as astounding now as it was when this was first released, and has remained one of my favorite albums over the years. Thanks perhaps mostly to a better recording, this is heavier sounding than Shattered Existence, plus the intensity also increased in all areas, and most importantly the songs are both more complex and easier to remember. And with those improvements, XENTRIX joined the very elite club of bands that have delivered better second albums than debuts. To even further sweeten the deal, this reissue adds the entire six-song 1991 EP, Dilute to Taste, as bonus tracks. - 9.75 - <Ray>

XENTRIX - Kin · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
This, the band’s third full-length album (1992), has also never previously been available here in the USA. I’d always heard that it was... something of a departure, and in some respects it is, but thankfully not in the ways I’d been led to believe. I am happy to report that XENTRIX did not fall victim to the times and mimic more popular bands that, due to the distastefulness of mentioning them, shall remain unnamed. The changes here are more of mellowing out than anyhting else. The music is generally slowed down, with bursts of speed, and a little 1991-era METALLICA influence can be detected, which is hardly a surprise as this English band was always inspired by SF Bay Area Thrash. This reissue features the one non-album track that was on the 1992 The Order of Chaos EP, plus all three songs from the band’s untitled 1994 demo as bonus tracks. Even with addition of the bonus tracks, Kin doesn’t measure up to the very high standard set by For Whose Advantage?, but is very well done in its own way, and it’s good to know that the guys didn’t bow to the pressures of the times. - 8.25 - <Ray>

ZNOWHITE - Act of God · Roadrunner / Metal Mind
At last I’ve reached the final one of this Roadrunner reissue series, and having gone through them alphabetically, I can’t say that I’ve saved the absolute best for last, but Act of God is impressive nonetheless. Chicago’s ZNOWWHITE was famous, to a degree, for being a Speed/Thrash band with a female singer, which was just as rare in 1988 when this album was first released as it is now. Perhaps Nicole Lee wasn’t the most powerful vocalist, but she was notably less high-pitched and screechy than many of her male peers, which was/is appreciated, and she had a fairly unique sound. Truly a band ahead of its time, the under-appreciated ZNOWHITE was always behind the eight ball. Unfortunaltey, this reissue has no bonus tracks, which is truly a shame, as I would have loved to finally have the All Hail to Thee (1984) and Kick 'em When They're Down (1985) EPs on CD. After this band broke up, the guys went on to form CYCLONE TEMPLE, with my old pal, guitarist "Ian Tafoya," going by his real name, Greg Fulton. - 8.75 - <Ray>

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ABOMINANT - Triumph of the Kill · Deathgasm
What the fuck happened to this band? They used to be so good. Can this be the same band that recorded The Way After and Ungodly albums? How could they scrap some of the most promising melodic Black/Death to come from the States, to play this muddy, forgettable Death/Thrash? Emotional, darkened lyrics traded in for typical death and destruction bullshit and the perfect balance of Death and Black, vocally, swapped for Barney Greenway's retarded cousin. It's okay if you wake up one day and want to be a half-ass version of USURPER, but at least change the fucking name. - 4.25 - <Jack>

ALL SHALL PERISH - The Price of Existence · Nuclear Blast
The highly anticipated follow up to the devastating Hate Malice Revenge does not disappoint. The ferocity of Death Metal entwined with Hardcore fury accompanied by beatdowns and pure lyrical negativity galore. The frequent use of sub-atomic bass explosions a la DEVOURMENT and CEPHALIC CARNAGE are enough to make you lose bowel control and/or command of the steering wheel. Two full length albums into their promising career, and this young powerhouse of a band have yet to do anything wrong in my eyes. This is simply Deathcore mastered, perfected and personified. - 9.75 - <Jack>

AMOEBIC DYSENTERY - Hospice Orgy · Deathgasm
Let's see, 29 tracks in 29 minutes, Mike Diana-style artwork, samples up the ass, song titles like "Goddamn I Gotta Piss Worse than a Baby Needs a Casket," "Oops I Forgot My Semen," and "Kidshitter Shotgun Blast," pitch-shifted vocals, drum machine, and REPULSION cover. Guess what style of music this is. Good for a laugh on those hellraising late nights, but tough to take seriously. It is what it is and at least it's fun. Best song/song title: "You Can Stab Him in the Head, Just Don't Forget Your Money." - 8 - <Jack>

ANUBIS RISING - Funerary Preamble · Uncouth Industries
A tough chore for any critic here. I really like what this band is doing, yet their style is near impossible to describe let alone categorize. This disc is a compilation of efforts featuring The Funerary Preamble EP (2004), The Scales of Truth EP (2002), three cuts from the UPHILL BATTLE split (2001), and a previously unreleased EYEHATEGOD cover. I don’t know how this original act has evaded my watchful eye for the past five years, but better late than never. Very Sludgey, spacious, and downtrodden with gritty, sometimes Blackened screams and occasional Death growls. Every now and then they will drift away into Space Rock, sometimes bordering on shoegazing atmosphere, intact with decent clean vocals. Other times things escalate into full-on mosh territory, but the underlying melancholy and despair is always present. Truly difficult to pigeonhole but not to enjoy, if you can imagine elements of EYEHATEGOD, NEUROSIS, BURST, CAVE-IN, OPETH, THE GREAT DECEIVER, and ASUNDER all rolled into one you’re on the cusp of contemplation. Creative and original, just fucking check it out. - 9.25 - <Jack>

ARCANA - Inner Pale Sun · Cold Meat Industry
I’m certainly no expert when it comes to ambient, experimental music, but I can say that what ARCANA is doing is elegant, graceful, and downright soothing. Not very far removed from what little DEAD CAN DANCE and BLACK TAPE FOR A BLUE GIRL I’ve heard. Definitely not something I could listen to exclusively, but you could not set a better tone for relaxation and/or mourning. - 8.75 - <Jack>

ARTROSIS - In Nomine Noctis · Metal Mind / MVD
I don’t like a lot of Gothic Metal, but this reissue of ARTROSIS’s 1998 second album isn’t too bad. It doesn’t have the aggressive drumming of a band like DARKWELL, but there is some heaviness and a few interesting riffs here and there amid all the sweetness and girly vocals. I would have preferred a concentration on the heavier moments and the juxtaposition of the vocals thereto, but fans of chick singers and melodic Metal might very well appreciate this. - 7 - <Ray>

ARTROSIS - In the Flowers Shade · Metal Mind / MVD
Another reissue, this time from 1999. Flowers is not far removed from the sound of the previous album, although there is even more of an emphasis placed on the singer’s voice, and perhaps an overall softening of the music. However, this does have moments of atmospheric heaviness mixed in with the more electronic elements. The vocals are generally stronger this time, and I found myself liking more of this album than I did In Nomine. You also get a bonus video track and some other "multimedia" extras. Gothic Metal fans should probably check this out. - 7.5 - <Ray>

ARTROSIS - Fetish · Metal Mind / MVD
The least Metal of these three reissues (see above), Fetish sounds like a cut-rate SWITCHBLADE SYMPHONY, or whatever, with (occasional) guitars. There are still some parts that I like (elements of "Homini Noctis," for example), but overall this is getting too far away from anyhting that I care about, and into the realm of what might be called Electronica. - 5 - <Ray>

BAL-SAGOTH - The Chthonic Chronicles · Candlelight
This band just won’t go away. I’ve never liked them, probably never will, but I can say this is the best output I’ve ever heard from them. What kills it is the narrative voice that stains virtually every crevice of the album, telling whatever stupid concept/story they cooked up. We all know a band with a name this gay can’t just write a Black Metal record. Musically it’s a step in the right direction, as the band come off here as second rate CRADLE OF FILTH meets tenth rate EMPEROR. Again, leagues better than past efforts. They could probably stand to lay off the synths a little. This material is symphonic to the point of saturation. Nothing worth your time here. Good only by contrast to the total dogshit they’ve put out in the past. - 6 - <Jack>

BEHEMOTH - And the Forests Dream Eternally · Metal Mind / MVD
These recordings were my first impression of BEHEMOTH way back in the day, and pretty much the reason I haven't considered myself a big fan until their more recent brutality explosion. Listening in retrospect, I find myself not quite as critical, but the fact is that this material was and is substandard, run-of-the-mill Black Metal-by-the-numbers. Factor in that this was getting released at the same time when bands like ROTTING CHRIST, DISSECTION, IMMORTAL, DARKTHRONE, MARDUK, and even BURZUM were steady putting out masterpieces, and it really pales in comparison. This reissue includes the Bewitching the Pomerania demo, which is slightly better, but ain't no fucking Demigod. Props to Metal Mind for making this available again, but let me know when Apostasy hits the shelves instead. - 6.75 - <Jack>

BELPHEGOR - Pestapokalypse · Nuclear Blast
For the first time ever, I actually had high hopes for a BELPHEGOR release, with Goatreich-Fleshcult being the first of their albums to ever really kick my ass. While I'm not completely disappointed, it is a slight step backwards. Not in terms of productions or playing, as it sounds terrific and it's brutal as fuck, but rather the overall quality of being memorable. I'm glad they decided to keep a few tracks Doomy, as these are probably the best standout cuts on the album. The remainder is, for the most part, highly refined speed that fails to stick. -8.25- <Jack>

BRAND NEW SIN - Tequila · Century Media
What the fuck is this shit? What the fuck am I listening to? This is MetalCurse.com, not fuckyersisteruptheass.com! "...the definition of authentic, meat-and-potatoes classic Hard Rock mixed with hints of down home, Southern-style Blues and an undeniable raw fury that refuses to be denied?!" Fuck you. I deny it. It sucks. This sounds like WHITE ZOMBIE fucking BLACK LABEL SOCIETY up the ass. Fuck this hillbilly shit and any inbred cum stain that likes it. - 1 - <Jack>

BURIAL WITHIN - Demo
Exceptional Deathcore from this young, southern unit. Granted the production quality isn’t quite the big league sound yet, but it’s close enough. Musically and vocally, think ALL SHALL PERISH or JOB FOR A COWBOY. Lyrically, think of putting a shotgun in your mouth and ending your miserable fucking existence. Seriously good lyrics, folks. It’s almost as if someone looked inside my mind and started writing shit down. I can’t sing the praises of this Memphis quintet enough. Worth tracking down for the gut-wrenching vokills, colossal breakdowns, and lyrical despair alone. Somebody please sign this band and give them money immediately. - 9.25 - <Jack>
www.burialwithin.com

CAUSTIC - The Horror Cult · Demo
Extremely brutal Death Metal from Spain. Not much in the way of being memorable, but every once in a while they will slacken their TERRORIZER-like pace and crush with something slow. These are the highlights for yours truly. They definitely have the right skills to become a great Death Metal band, and as of right now they are pretty fucking good anyway. Maybe it’s just the Spanish connection, but I am reminded at times of the mighty SEPSISM. - 8.25 - <Jack>
caustic@wanadoo.es

CHRIST AGONY - Elysium Metal Mind / Massive / MVD
This band is always described as Black Metal, but this seems more Death Metal to me. It’s not Black Metal in the sense that IMMORTAL is, at least. In fact, this is often more Thrash than anything. Anyway, whatever pigeonhole anyone wants to cram CHRIST AGONY into, this reissue of the band’s 1999 album was a welcome addition to my review pile. Elysium is well-crafted, if not exactly amazing Thrashy Death/Black Metal, but I had hoped for more intensity. - 8 - <Ray>

COLDSEED - Competition Makes the Tragedy · Nuclear Blast
I think we've reached Fag Factor Five, Captain. Apparently the band named themselves after their favorite beverage. I dig the artwork, and the lyrics might be okay, but this ultra-slick faggy Goth Metal does nothing for me. It sounds forced and painfully unpainful. Try ripping off KATATONIA. I like it when bands do that. - 4 - <Jack>

COLLAGE - Changes · Metal Mind / MVD
Oh man, I think that’s a flute I hear... Perhaps it’s a keyboard that simply sounds flute-like. I have no real frame of reference to describe this, but I’ll try anyway. I guess that I’ll say it’s Folk/Prog/Art Rock with somewhat more of an emphasis on percussion (at times, anyway) than I would have guessed any such band possessed. It’s very well done, I think, but honeslty not the kind of thing that I’m inclined to like. That said, one of the bonus video tracks is a somewhat impressive live cover of John Lennon’s "God" ("god is a concept by which we measure our pain / I don’t believe in Jesus"). According to the press release, everything here is rare and/or previously unreleased, inlcuding two videos. - 6.5 - <Ray>

CRONIAN - Terra · Century Media
As is usually the case with Power Metal, the music here is fine. Production from Dan Swano never hurts either. I find the Black Metal vibes of this project, the brainchild of VINTERSORG and BORKNAGAR’s main men, much more enjoyable, but the Butt Rock vocals simply have to go. They destroy all chances of a solid listen. - 7 - <Jack>

CULT OF DAATH - The Grand Torturers of Hell · Deathgasm
A reissue of the 2002 LP on Warhammer from a widely considered cult band from the U.S. I want to like this, sheerly for their wholehearted attempt to capture the ancient essence of Dead-era MAYHEM, but I just can't force myself to. You can call this "primitive," "cult," or "true" all you want, it's just plain slop with a piss poor recording. - 6.25 - <Jack>

DECAPITATED - The First Damned · Metal Mind / MVD
Fans of Polish Death Metal rejoice! Here we have DECAPITATED’s The Eye of Horus (1998) and Cemeteral Gardens (1997) demos, along with two live tracks. Admittedly, most of the songs from The Eye of Horus are already available on Relapse’s Polish Assault CD, but that is missing the laser-precise cover of SLAYER’s classic "Mandatory Suicide." Demo compilations are for hardcore fans only, I suppose, but these excellently recorded demo and live songs sound superior to a lot of bands’ albums, and more DECAPITATED is always better. - 9 - <Ray>

DELERIUM X TREMENS - Crehated from No Thing · Demo
Self-described as "Technological Death Metal hate," Italy’s D.X.T. do successfully accomplish sounding Old School and modern simultaneously. "Liquefied Emotions" has an old DEICIDE vibe to it, while standout cut "Trip in Your World" starts out with a DEATH tease before morphing into an array of swirling start-stop hooks. Elements of old FEAR FACTORY and Spheres-era PESTILENCE rear their head throughout also. All in all a solid Death Metal album, save for the occasional tendency to drag on and a few passages of Italian fagspeak. - 9 - <Jack>
www.deleriumxtremens.com

DIECAST - Internal Revolution · Century Media
Not one original member of this once heavy-hitting Metalcore act remains, and boy is it more evident than ever before. A band that could once give THROWDOWN a run for their money in the mosh department sounds more like a beefed up SEVENDUST in 2006. Newer vocalist Paul Stoddard did prove his worth on the very enjoyable Tearing Down Your Blue Skies, but this record sees his leanings toward Radio Rock vocals significantly weaken almost half the album. Much like KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, who also overdo the LIVING COLOUR vocals lately, this doesn't stack up against past efforts. The only salvageable cuts: "Never Forget" and "S.O.S." - 7.5 - <Jack>

DIES IRAE - Sculptured of Stone · Metal Mind / MVD
Finally this 2004 under-the-radar gem is back in circulation. For those unfamiliar with this band's brief stint on Metal Blade Records, this is actually a VADER side project, and they essentially sound like VADER with a different vocalist. No complaints here. If you like VADER but don't like this, I have to question your very existence. Hardest hitters: "Unrevealed by Words" and "The Plague." - 9.25 - <Jack>

DISSECTION - Reinkaos · The End
Rumor has it that mainman Jon Nodtveidt has recently killed himself, allegedly while partaking in some Satanic ritual. If true, it sucks that we’ve lost another gifted Metal mind, but if you’re going to commit suicide, a Satanic ritual is probably the way to go. That would also mean that Reinkaos, the first new material from these legendary Swedes in over a decade, will be the last thing DISSECTION ever puts out after all. Well, if you’re expecting The Somberlain 2 you’ll probably be disappointed, but you shouldn’t be. When your main creative force is behind bars for seven years, your sound is bound to change somewhat, but this album is extremely focused and refreshing. The songwriting is sharp, everything sounds heavier, and the technical proficiency has a startling resemblance to latter-era DEATH. The lyrics are pure Satanic blasphemy, and Nodtveidt’s voice is venomously raspy and completely intelligible. There are actually pit-designed riffs on this record, something I never thought I’d hear on a DISSECTION album, but was pleased to find. I’m not saying it beats the old stuff, but it’s just as cool in a different way. Plus it’s the last we’ll hear from DISSECTION, making it as mandatory as can be. Farewell, Jonny! Artistic even in death. Maybe I’ll find the strength someday. - 9.5 - <Jack>

EXCESSUM - Death Redemption · Deathstrike
Instantly forgettable, middle-of-the-road Black Metal. - 6 - <Jack>

A FAREWELL FIRE - The Thin Line Between · Demo
Musically, A FAREWELL FIRE remind of three different styles: Metalcore, Radio Rock, and Nu-Metal. I know that sounds scary, and it is, but in all honesty, my beef with this self-financed disc is not the music at all. It’s these fucking American Idol vocals that ruin it for me. It’s not like Billy Moros can’t sing either, he has a better voice than the fags from NICKELBACK, STAIND, HINDER, or whatever band braindead pieces of shit listen to this month, but it just doesn’t fit right or sound good at all. What sucks is when the Hardcore backing vocals kick in ("Design"), you get a glimpse of how good this would be with a more abrasive style. The lyrics aren’t too bad, either. If they could just stop trying to be an even more pussified version of DISTURBED for ten minutes and embrace their aggression, they’d be kickin’ your dick in. With this strained Pop crooning, they’re just sucking it. - 6.75 - <Jack>
www.afarewellfire.com

FEAR MY THOUGHTS - Vulcanus · Century Media
I’m not sure why the press release calls this "melodic Thrash." I guess that it’s so necessary to label things that even an inaccurate label is better than none at all. What we really have from this German band is a weird mix of styles that does incorporate a dash of Thrash (think KREATOR or DESTRUCTION), but concentrates on newer ideas such as Mallcore-style "clean" vocals on the choruses, staccato riffing, goofy keyboards and synth f/x, and pretty much anything else you might think of. When not being weird for its own sake, these guys can manage some cool moments. But they never last, and that just makes it all the more frustrating to sit though the duration of this album. Every time I started to really enjoy what was going on, something popped up to ruin it. A more focused approach seems like the way to go to me. However, I’d bet that F.M.T. does the exact opposite, and subsequent releases only get more and more strange and disjointed. They’ll consider that to be "growth," I’m sure. - 7 - <Ray>

FIFTY CALIBER KISS - Armor Class Invincible · Universal Warning / MVD Audio
Described on the press release as "IRON MAIDEN meets PANTERA," I was already offended and disgusted before I even put this disc in the player. After listening to it, I was relieved to discover that the press release was simply wrong (as they often are), and horrible though this is, there is zero trace of IRON MAIDEN influence. I don’t even think this band has two guitarists (no lineup info is available anywhere, including the band’s stupidly bare-bones website), nor is the bassist even noticeable, and the vocals are the lamest Emo/Metalcore combination I’ve ever heard. And as gay as PANTERA is/was, this is often musically far gayer. I absolutely knew that this would suck, but I was honestly surprised by exactly how it sucks. It’s not the first time that a press release has lied. To be completely honest, if the band burnt their "Emo" singer at the stake as a sacrifice to Satan, and demanded that the screamer (assuming that they’re different people) "nut up or shut up," as Hardcore Bob Holly would say, this Mallcore excrement might evolve into something barely tolerable. Maybe. Probably not. But, as is? Weakness enshrined. - 1.25 - <Ray>

FIREWIND - Allegiance · Century Media
I hate to say anything negative about a Grecian Metal band, but FIREWIND reminds me of nothing more than a Dehumanizer-era BLACK SABBATH cover band, with the singer doing his best Dio impression most of the time. That’s not really terrible, I suppose. These guys are very skilled, and the recording probably couldn’t sound better. So, as well-crafted as this is, with the great drumming typical of Power Metal, there are no "holy shit, I’ve got to rewind that!" riffs, choruses, solos, or anything else. The song "Deliverance" comes close, but is damaged by the last few minutes of Arena Rock "ooooooh"s and so on. All this leaves the talented FIREWIND stuck firmly in the very crowded good-but-not-great category. - 7.5 - <Ray>

GORELORD - Norwegian Chainsaw Massacre · Coffin/Red Stream
Here we have one of the fucks from NECROPHAGIA trying to capitalize on the popularity of Deathcore before its not cool anymore. I will say this album does have its moments. After the intro, the first two cuts explode from the stereo with an undeniable pit-inducing intensity, fusing bits of Death Metal, Metalcore and Nu Metal. Initially it’s hard to resist the urge to headbob, but by the disc’s end GORELORD have dissipated into a beefed up, stripped down version of SLIPKNOT, leaving me with a head full of guilt for even beginning to enjoy this. - 8 - <Jack>

GRAVES AT SEA/ASUNDER - split CD · Life Is Abuse
A split featuring two dirge worshipping Funeral Doom bands. GRAVES AT SEA remind me a lot of old GRIEF, but I would like their two cuts better if it weren’t for the crackling, higher-pitched, weasely vocals. ASUNDER lay waste to all hope on Earth with the mournful, 19-minute "Whited Sepulcher." The typical goods that these loathsome lads usually deliver. Slow and painful, just like this miserable fucking life. Very worth picking up, if only for the ASUNDER track. - 8.5 - <Jack>

GUTTURAL SECRETE - Reek of Pubescent Despoilment · Unmatched Brutality
Not blown away at all by their debut, I wasn't expecting much from this one. Well, maybe that's the ticket, because you can officially now consider me blown the fuck away. This is a relentless non-stop assault of Gore-drenched, gut-wrenching, gurgle-spewing, Grind-happy, grime-eating, go fucking apeshit savagery. Not too many records can spellbind on pure brutality alone, but this is one of them. This fucking flattens! I think I need to go back and listen to their first one again. - 9.75 - <Jack>

THE HAUNTED - The Dead Eye · Century Media
I've never liked THE HAUNTED. Just never have. But it was because they were boring. Fast and aggressive, yes, but overwhelmingly boring. It wasn't because they did gay pussy shit, because they never did gay pussy shit. Until now that is. With The Dead Eye, they have officially begun doing gay pussy shit... oh, and they're still boring, too. - 2 - <Jack>

HAVACITZ - Venganza · Moribund
Fast, ripping Black/Death sure to please fans of KRISIUN, CENTURIAN and MORBID ANGEL. The production could be better. It’s not embarrassingly bad, just a little thin, and the vocals are also a tad lacking despite a slight resemblance to David Vincent’s Altars of Madness rasp. What it all boils down to is that with the right guy turning the knobs, HACAVITZ could be the next ANGELCORPSE. - 9 - <Jack>

HEADACHE - Discography · Life Is Abuse
Great band name because that’s what I have after two "songs." Just take my word for it, this is total fuck-around music. Frantic, schizo, annoying-on-purpose, potentially ad libbed noise, and 72 fucking minutes of it! I’m not wasting another word on this shit. - 1 - <Jack>

HEAVEN SHALL BURN - Deaf to Our Prayers · Century Media
Another solid offering from the true kings of German Metalcore. It picks up right where 2004's Antigone left off, and it just might be their most brutal and energetic recording to date. Granted, I'll probably always be partial to 2002's Whatever It May Take, or the classic Asunder (my official HEAVEN SHALL BURN cherry pop), but it must be noted that HEAVEN SHALL BURN is not a band that changes much from album to album, they just get tighter and tighter. This is definitely their most focused material, lyrically and musically. Not to mention their best production ever. Truth be told, you're really doing yourself a disservice if you don't own everything that bears their name. It doesn't matter where you start. - 9.5 - <Jack>

HEINOUS KILLINGS - Hung with Barbwire · Unmatched Brutality
Sampling Amityville is a quick way to my heart, but unfortunately it's the highlight of this EP. Not that this isn't brutal as fuck, which I'm sure was Joe Wolfe's only goal, it's just that by the halfway mark of the record, you've pretty much heard all you're going to hear. Guttural snorts, underwater gurgles, ferocious blasting (is this a drum machine or what?), and riffs drenched in raw sewage. Not a bad time by any stretch, just nothing you haven't heard before. I was digging the fuck out of it for the first fifteen minutes, then I got bored. - 8 - <Jack>

HINDRANCE - Groovy Death Grind · Demo
It shows a small bit of ignorance and lack of creativity to call your demo this, but it makes you look really fucking stupid when that's not even the style you play. But I guess Boring, Middle-of-the-Road, Predictable, Substandard Death Metal doesn't make that great of a title either. - 6.5 - <Jack>
www.hindrance.es

IMMOLATION - Dawn of Possession · Metal Mind / MVD
What much can be said of a reissue with no bonus content? Surely we already all have this one in our personal archives don't we? Well, maybe this will serve as a history lesson for the new blood. While this was never my favorite IMMOLATION LP (I always thought Here in After blew this away), listening to it 15 years later makes me appreciate it all the more. These guys were brutalizing their strings and experimenting with odd timing when all these new Mathcore bands were sucking on Mommy's tit. Hail Satan. - 9 - <Jack>

IN THIS MOMENT - Beautiful Tragedy · Century Media
This is an interesting solution to the problem of girly "sweet" vocals that pollute the choruses, etc... of Metalcore: a chick singer. Her "normal" singing voice isn’t bad, although overused here, and her screams are, while not amazing, scarred and harsh enough to serve their purpose. I’d like to hear this fiercer side of the band more often, as they can get somewaht vicious when they so desire, but this intensity is sparely employed. That might play well at Hot Topic, but I’m used to far more brutal fare. Still, I can’t deny that Beautiful Tragedy is well crafted, and honestly better than I expected. - 7.75 - <Ray>

INFECTED MALIGNITY - The Malignity Born from Despair · Unmatched Brutality
Brutal, blasting, groove-infested Death/Grind from Japan, highly influenced by the mighty VOMIT REMNANTS. So much so that they even recruited Takanori Fujioka for guest gurgles on a couple cuts. Call it a bit derivative or proclaim them a tribute band if you must, but everything here is solid and heavier than shit. Sometimes that's just all it takes. Suggested mix selections: "Revenge to Capitalism" and "Cruel Recollection." - 9 - <Jack>

INTO ETERNITY - The Scattering of Ashes · Century Media
Fast, aggressive, well-produced and well-played Thrash, ruined by cheesy Power vocals. - 5.5 - <Jack>

LUX OCCULTA - The Mother and the Enemy · Metal Mind / MVD
This album, the band’s fourth, was released back in 2001, but is only now seeing the light of day here in the USA. I haven’t listened to LUX’s prior work for some years, although I do remember really liking it. But upon finally hearing The Mother..., I can remember why I was never in a big hurry to track this down. Unfortunately, it’s horrible. What little Death/Black Metal remains is all but obliterated by the near-constant barrage of goofy noises, keyboard squawks, horns and other bad ideas. This band has always been one to experiment, but for every good concept tried here (there are a few), the listener is absolutely assaulted by thirteen terrible ones, that occasionally go beyond even ridiculous into the realm of laughable. This is what happens when talent has no direction. - 4 - <Ray>

LYZANXIA - Unsu · Listenable
Great band name, guys. I can imagine by the 200th time someone asks them the name of their band in random conversation they'll be regretting that fucking decision. This is total Ass Rock, modernized and Metal-infused. It sounds like when one of those fags from the '80s hair bands like MOTLEY CRUE, CINDERELLA, or POISON try to make a tough, hard, new millennium comeback. Your moniker sounds like a sneeze and you suck! - 3.5 - <Jack>

MANDATORY - Curse of the Undead · Demo
Very cool sounding Old School Death Metal here. This sounds like some lost vintage ASPHYX or UNLEASHED recordings unearthed from the crypts. This German quartet definitely have the feel of the late ‘80s tape trading circuit going for them on this 4-song demo disc. I would like to hear a full length with better sound quality, but this will do for now. - 8.5 - <Jack>
www.mandatory-death.de

MANTICORE - For Rats and Plague · Deathgasm
Unfocused Blackened Thrash with lousy vocals. No permeating structures and nothing even close to resembling memorable. - 6 - <Jack>

MAROON - When Worlds Collide · Century Media
I've been saying for a while now that Germany is a hotbed for Metalcore, and this album is yet another testament to that fact. All these cocksuckers in the Metal media whining about how tired they are of Metalcore already need to shut the fuck up. These are the same pieces of shit that gave up on Death Metal after a week. Spin this new MAROON and tell me that Metalcore is dead. Punishing breakdowns, brutal riffing, tortured/clean vocals, hints of classic Thrash, it doesn't have to break the mold to kick ass. This isn't rocket science. MAROON have come a long way since their last album, which was very good, but this is much more refined and emotional with better production to boot. I believe this is actually some kind of concept album, but I haven't quite figured the story out yet. Something to do with their straight edge/vegan beliefs I'm sure, but the music is most important to me and this album just plain crushes. Very comparable to what labelmates/countrymates CALIBAN are doing these days, albeit with a touch more grit, which is fine by me. Even if it is so last week. - 9.5 - <Jack>

MENDEED - This War will Last Forever · Nuclear Blast
Substandard, easily forgettable Thrash/Metalcore hybrid that rips off TRIVIUM left and right. A few good breakdowns does not a good band make. - 7.25 - <Jack>

MORGUE SUPPLIER - The End of the World · Demo
MORGUE SUPPLIER is a band that is so incredibly untamed, ferocious, and brutal that it's hard to digest. Not overly technical or weird-for-the-sake-of-weird, mind you, just so savagely raw that it's disturbing. Perhaps that's reason enough to appreciate them, but I do remember liking their first album, Sociopath, a lot better. Or maybe their brutality has just permanently damaged my perception of reality. Either way, this band should be heard. - 7.75 - <Jack>
msupplier@aol.com

NAGLFAR - Harvest · Century Media
This band last album, Pariah, was impressive, stunning even, and one of the best Black Metal albums of 2005. But Harvest is perfection. The interweaving of melody and intensity is flawlessly executed and Kristoffer’s vocals are agonizingly, supremely effective in delivering his suicidal/nihilistic lyrics. This majestic Black Metal album is truly one for the vaults. My review copy is unfortunately without it, but the retail version comes with a bonus DVD featuring live footage, a video clip, and an interview. While appreciated (or so I would imagine), Harvest doesn’t need the DVD-bonus-features to push it over the top. - 10 - <Ray>

NEUROPATHIA - Bubba Luciferi · Life Stage Productions
Savage, relentless Grindcore with a huge Swedish tone. This band may appear to be a joke, but are in no way. Nonstop intensity, heaviness, groove, and balls! If a mixture of GENERAL SURGERY, SQUASH BOWELS, ROTTEN SOUND, and HAEMORRHAGE sounds like it would float your boat, don’t rest until you hunt this down. - 9.75 - <Jack>

NIGHTWISH - Highest Hopes: the Best of Nightwish · Century Media
I've always had a morbid curiosity about this group. I know they've won European Grammies and the whole nine yards, but I've somehow never heard them. I figured a "best of" would be the best place to start. Well, I'm not disgusted, but in no way impressed either. Not sure what the big deal is, it's mellow Pop Metal with pretty female vocals and occasional ultra-gay male backup singing. Very tame, often cheesy, nothing to write home about. Better than EVANESCENCE, I guess. - 5 - <Jack>

NIHILISTIKRYPT - Required Sacrifices · Demo
Look, I appreciate any kind of Old School Death attempt, but this is just plain flat and uninspiring. Some alright playing, but not a second of this material is memorable. - 6 - <Jack>
www.nihilistikrypt.net

NOMINON - Recremation · Deathgasm
Very cool stuff here. Like a mixture of OBITUARY and the Sunlight sound, featuring past and current members of MARDUK, IN AETURNUM, IMMERSED IN BLOOD, and CHOROZON. It isn't quite perfected yet (scary when you consider they've been at it for over 12 years). The vocals could stand to be a touch more tormented, and they could use more dynamics, but you can't fuck with their formula. When the foundation echoes a clash of Clandestine and Slowly We Rot, I'm a happy camper. - 8.5 - <Jack>

PAST REDEMPTION - Forever Burning Scorn · Counter Attack Productions
Mediocre, bland Death Metal from Bulgaria. They strive for aggression and melody, but the attack is not brutal enough to make me want to kill, nor bleak enough to make me want to die. Their only real strength is the occasional pit-oriented mosh riff. Something they may want to elaborate on. They may become a better band in time, but this put me to sleep. - 6.5 - <Jack>

PENDRAGON - The History: 1984 - 2000 · Metal Mind / MVD
Having never heard PENDRAGON before, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I generally assume the worst in such situations, and am rarely proven wrong. It was kind of a wash this time. This Prog Rock "best of" collection starts off with a very extended keyboard & guitar instrumental intro that goes just over four-and-a-half minute before the vocals kick in. Everything is very well done, I’m sure, but PENDAGRON sounds like GENESIS with possibly a hint of early ALICE COOPER thrown in, and what sounds like Eric Idle’s little bother singing as softly as he can. It’s weird to hear a Polish guy singing with an English accent. I can’t deny the ability, songwriting, and so on of this band, but it’s all just so wispy and fragile sounding that I think I might somehow break the music by simply listening to it. The many instrumental passages can be impressive at times, but when the vocals kick in, any enjoyment I derived dissolves. - 6.5 - <Ray>

PERPETUAL SUFFERING - s/t · Black Sheep
This band's name pretty much sums up the listening experience. Sloppy, poorly recorded Black/Death with shitty, patternless vocals. - 3 - <Jack>

POINT BLANK - By A Thread · Rift
Take a poor man’s LAMB OF GOD and METALLICA’s St. Anger flop and you have POINT BLANK point blank. With a more professional layout and improved production these guys could probably sell some records, but not to me. A few good riffs here and there is all By A Thread has on the table. - 7 - <Jack>

POISONBLACK - Lust Stained Despair · Century Media
Former SENTENCED frontman Ville Laihiala has never sounded more like Jamez Hetfield's gay Goth twin. What pisses me off the most about this trendfucking attempt to leech off the popularity of HIM is that they claim this nouveau cheese will appease KATATONIA fans. No one in this band, or in HIM for that matter, are worthy of drinking KATATONIA's bus driver's piss. - 1 - <Jack>

PUTRID PILE - The Pleasure in Suffering · Goregiastic
Shaun of the dead is back again to wreak havoc with his one-man Death/Grind destruction unit. For those unfamiliar with PUTRID PILE, prepare to have all preconceived notions of one-man Death Metal affairs shattered. This is, as of right now, as good as it gets. I don't know this guy's secrets but he produces the best, most realistic sounding drum programming that's out there. The riffs and vocals are top notch as well. The vibe this time around is much more pit-oriented, and guest vocalists include Scott from LUPARA and just about everyone from SCREAMING AFTERBIRTH. A tremendous effort and a raising of the standards when it comes to Extreme Metal with a drum machine. - 9.5 - <Jack>

THE QUEERS - Munki Brain · Asian Man
Okay, so I’ve missed out on a few Queers releases since 2000’s excellent Beyond the Valley..., but this was still a surprise. I realize that these guys worship THE RAMONES -hell, they covered the entire Rocket to Russia album in 1994- but this is more like the ‘50s bands Joey and the boys updated than THE RAMONES themselves. It’s somewhat energetic, certainly, but almost all (really old) Rock & Roll and no Punk, other than a little injected into the track "Monkey in a Suit." I’d have given them some extra credit if "Whatever Happened to Philthy Phil" were about MOTÖRHEAD’s old drummer, but I’m pretty sure that it’s not. It’s not that the guys do a bad job, it’s just that if I wanted to hear shit that sounds like whatever this sounds like, I’d watch ancient Happy Days reruns for 13 seconds then shoot myself. Is this the same band that recorded "My Cunt’s a Cunt"? Did these guys decide to denounce their Punk ways and no one told me? - 4 - <Ray>

RESECTION - Zenith · Unmatched Brutality
One of the bands on this roster that really live up to the label's name, Germany's RESECTION is the real fucking deal. A swirling sandstorm of brutality, speed, heaviness, and inhuman time changes, yet the riffs flow so well that it never becomes a guttural blur. The finest in bestial gurgles and drumming in league with CRYPTOPSY assures a worthwhile purchase for Death/Grind hounds. - 9.25 - <Jack>

REXOR - Infernum Dominium · Promo
Fairly produced, substandard Black Metal from Italy comparable to DARKTHRONE and ABIGOR. They just don’t do enough to separate themselves from the pack. I’ve heard far worse, but also much, much better. Give them time. - 7 - <Jack>
www.rexor.it

SEMARGL - Satanogenesis · Deathgasm
It becomes apparent quickly that the Death Metal elements that graced this band's Attack on God debut have been all but completely shed. No worries, the Ukraine's SEMARGL bring enough evil melodies, a la DISSECTION, and SATYRICON hooks to stand alone as a prominent Black Metal act. From all-out blast to Waltz, and even during the album's more mechanical vibes, the misanthropic hate flows from Satanogenesis like blood from Christ's side. - 9.25 - <Jack>

SAHG - Sahg I · Candlelight
Take one part hippie jam band, one part Stoner "Doom," one part Ass Metal, sprinkle with crooning, melodramatic vocals, and then break CD into as many parts as you can. - 1 - <Jack>

SCAR SYMMETRY - Pitch Black Progress · Nuclear Blast
Certainly impressed, albeit not blown away, by their Nuclear Blast debut album, Symmetric in Design, I was hoping for more of the same with this follow up. The same being a foundation of heavy, melodic Death with brutal and clean vocals not unlike EDGE OF SANITY. But unfortunately this time around, these Swedes have changed the formula. When it’s heavy, it still rocks, and the Death Metal vocals still sound terrific, but the clean vocals this time around are seeped in Power Metal repugnance. Nowhere near as passionate or smooth as they sounded on Symmetric..., they are now more forced and melodramatic. I think gay is the word I'm looking for. They always did have a touch of traditional Heavy Metal in their sound, but now they are almost 50% Power Metal band. Or maybe its just the vocals that make it seem so. Either way, what I appreciated this band for is no more, and of these eleven cuts, only the title track is salvageable. - 6 - <Jack>

SHADOWS FALL - Fallout from the War · Century Media
God, I hate SHADOWS FALL. A band borne by dreadlocks. They’ve put out nothing but criminally overrated, mediocre, MAIDEN-inspired Metalcore up to this point, but with this piece of shit, they now suck in a new way. This sounds like the inbred redneck lovechild of PANTERA and post-Belladonna ANTHRAX, modernized of course. At least they blow in a more conspicuous manner with this waste of plastic. I’m taking bets now that their next one sounds like STONE SOUR. - 1 - <Jack>

SIRRAH - Acme · Metal Mind / MVD
Metal Mind certainly reissues a ton of stuff, such as this album, the band’s 1996 debut. Having somehow never heard SIRRAH before, I read the press release, which is always a bad idea, and discovered much to my delight that I should expect this to sound like early MY DYING BRIDE and/or early PARADISE LOST. No such luck. Acme never gets anywhere close to that level of heaviness, and at best maybe sounds like VISCERAL EVISCERATION. Actually that’s pretty mean to VIS E. The "clean" vocals here are fucking horrible, and the "Death Metal" vox can be okay, but generally don’t rise much above that. Musically there is some atmosphere here, but little in the way of heaviness. And the band has the bad tendency of using the clean vocals as a counterpoint to the heaviest musical moments, which effetely castrates them. I haven’t listened to the band’s 1997 follow-up, Did Tomorrow Come... yet, but the reissue is next on my review pile, so we’ll see if there was any improvement. What I would like to hear would be increased focus on atmosphere and a beefing up of the heavier elements, and the utter annihilation of the lamer of the two vocal styles. I’ll bet that things go the exact opposite way. - 7 - <Ray>

SIRRAH - Did Tomorrow Come... · Metal Mind / MVD
Well, this is not what I was expecting. Things start off kind of fast paced here, and for a moment, I thought that maybe the band had dropped the atmospheric/melodic approach and was trying for a more straight-ahead Death Metal style. Even the raw vocals sounded improved! But, wait, the "clean" vocals kicked in and that’s that. I will give these guys credit for not going all Cunt Rock on this, which I’d thought they might. But the clean vocals are still a total deal-breaker (Metal Commandment: Thou shalt not sound goofy!), and although the heavier parts are better, there are still quite a lot of bad ideas present, and the insaly lame clean vocals could ruin anything. Actually, the album seems to get worse as it goes on... It’s very disappointing, because it’s clear that this band has the ability, but seems confused on what direction to take. - 7 - <Ray>

SLAVE ZERO - The Pain Remits · Demo
Pretty lousy cover art and band name, but I’m willing to give any band that sports Cause of Death shirts the benefit of the doubt. Well, don’t expect any "Body Bag" or "Chopped in Half" here, but it is tolerable. A stylistic makeup of Thrash, Death and Hardcore with total HATEBREED rip-off vocals. I mean this guy really sounds like Jamey Jasta. It’s probably their saving grace as it’s the most standout aspect of their sound. Not bad at all, but they’ll have to step it up if they want to turn any heads. - 7.5 - <Jack>
www.slavezero.net

SQUASH BOWELS - Love Songs · Life Stage
One of the kings of Gore Grind return with another visceral offering of splatter. You’d be hard pressed to find a heavier tone or more guttural gurgles than these Polish sickos have to offer. Still, I’d be lying if I said I didn’t miss the outright insanity of their earlier recordings (my first encounter with this band being the psychotically layered Tnyribal EP). These days the brutality is much more stripped down and in-your-face a la DEAD INFECTION or HAEMORRHAGE. Believe me, I’m not complaining, I just feel like at any moment this band could take their goresoaked brutality to an inhuman level and just completely leave the stratosphere. But this will do in the meantime. Favorites: "To Flash the Hash," "Ruthless Rabble," and "Wound Fuck." (Best GUT cover ever?) - 8.75 - <Jack>

STARKWEATHER - Croatoan · Candlelight
This is quite possibly the worst shit I’ve ever heard in my life. Sludgey Stoner riffs that plod endlessly, never going anywhere, accompanied by the most basic of thin screams. But the real embarrassment ensues when this tone deaf motherfucker tries to really sing. He sounds like someone’s drunk stepfather doing karaoke at a wedding reception. I give a shit that this band reformed after a 10-year hiatus. Take another ten and learn how to write music that doesn’t fucking suck. - 1 - <Jack>

STRAPPING YOUNG LAD - The New Black · Century Media
This is either supposed to be a big joke, or putting out a new full length album every eight minutes has finally taken its toll on this once okay band. Everything here is done half-ass. The lyrics, the vocals, even the production isn’t the standard top notch Townsend work. If it weren’t for the immortal drum god Gene Hoglan, this would be automatic bargain bin fodder. As is, it probably is anyway. Take a fucking break, guys. With every increasingly mediocre release, this one being downright laughable, you continue to cement yourselves as the band that had a few good songs ten years ago. - 5.5 - <Jack>

SUN DESCENDS - Incinerating the Meek · Twilight
I’ve heard my fair share of SLAYER rip-offs in my day, but this is fucking unreal. Vocalist Mem Stein sounds so much like Tom Araya that SLAYER themselves might not be able to tell the difference. I’m not saying it’s wrong or that it sounds bad, but the resemblance in this case is downright creepy. SLAYER being the legends they are, I don’t know who would embrace such a carbon copy clone when the original is so easily accessible. Still, you could buy this and trick your friends into thinking its a lost recording or Araya side project. - 7.75 - <Jack>

TEXTURES - Drawing Circles · Listenable
While this isn't the end-all, be-all of cutting edge Extreme Music as some media whores make it out to be, I am pretty damn impressed. I can hear the CYNIC / ATHEIST influence coming through loud and clear, which tells you that the talent level here is through the roof. My only complaint is that too much of this sounds a fuck of a lot like MESHUGGAH, albeit with way better vocals. The modern elements do occasionally compliment the feeling of old, and this is by no means a bad record or band. Just a touch overhyped. Mixworthy selections: "Denying Gravity" and "Millstone." - 8.75 - <Jack>

THEATRE OF TRAGEDY - Storm · Candlelight
Does anyone remember when this band was good? When they played chilling Doom/Death and sampled The Masque of the Red Death? Those were the fucking days, my friend. The band is still depressing, but only because all semblance of heaviness has been swapped for faggy Goth-Pop wankerism. The female vocalist has a good voice and there is some decent piano playing, but when the dude sings I can actually feel the H.I.V. coursing through my veins. Retrogress, I fucking beg you! - 6.5 - <Jack>

THREAT SIGNAL - Under Reprisal · Nuclear Blast
By some mystic wizardry, I find myself enjoying this record despite the fact that it occasionally reminds me of trendfuckers like MESHUGGAH and LINKIN PARK. I was not surprised to see the production duties carried out by Christian Olde Wolbers, as this has the slick feel of a FEAR FACTORY recording, albeit with a more exuberant Metalcore energy. For some reason it strikes a chord with me. Everything is done well, from the solos to the harsh/clean vocal trade-offs, to the pummeling breakdowns and off-kilter rhythmic showmanship. Sure, much of this is borrowed, but the end result is somehow more potent than the delivery of the idolized. Maybe I’m just losing my fucking mind. - 9 - <Jack>

THRONEUM - Decade of Necrostuprumical Madness · Deathgasm
Wow, it's always grand to track down the entire discography (plus rare and unreleased material) of a shitty band that play unbearably stale NECROPHAGIA and AUTOPSY worship. This vocalist sounds like my dad when he used to yell at my mom. - 2.5 - <Jack>

TJOLGTJAR - The Tjolgtjarian Mass · Baphomet
Great band name. I love it when I can’t spell, say, read or mentally process a band’s moniker. It’s just cooler that way. Musically this sounds ripely picked from the oceanic crop of substandard Black Metal bands that materialized out of thin air from the post-Inner Circle era eleven years ago. Actually, it’s not bad. It has a nostalgic quality if anything. The production is pure tin can, intentionally one can only assume, in the "true" spirit. One of the cymbals sounds like a wire whisk hitting a frying pan, and of course it’s the loudest thing in the mix. That and the Popeye vocals, which are so cheesy I can’t help but like them. So, for comical and throwback reasons, I’d have to recommend this to veteran Black Metal sickos. Oh wait, I can’t. I don’t know how to pronounce their name. TOEJAMJAR? - 7.75 - <Jack>

TRAUMA - Memories of Pain · Demo
The production is pretty weak and the vocals occasionally sound rough, but overall this isn’t too bad. TRAUMA sound dead up like HEAVEN SHALL BURN spliced with newer ARCH ENEMY. When they’re on, they’re on, but the songs don’t always ebb and flow like they ought to. Keep an ear on this band, they may eventually be really good. - 8 - <Jack>
traumaperu@hotmail.com

UNKNOWN INSTRUCTORS - The Way Things Work · Smog Veil
A very unique listening experience here. The project is essentially spoken word atop foundations of Free-Form Jazz, Lounge Music, Funk, and Bluesy Rock. Not something usually found in my review pile, and truth to be told, probably a little too unconventional for me to ever fully embrace. But the album had my full attention beginning to end, and these guys do have some really interesting things to say. - 7.5 - <Jack>

UNREAL OVERFLOWS - Architecture of Incomprehension · Xtreem Music
Musically this is the pure, revitalized essence of DEATH, ATHEIST, and CYNIC. Vocally this is the ultimate tribute to Heartwork-era CARCASS. Overall this is the single most essential Prog-infused Death Metal record in the last decade plus. Aesthetically breathtaking from beginning to end, these Spaniards are some of the best musicians I've ever heard. There is not one flaw on this album. - 10 - <Jack>

VADER - The Darkest Age - Live ’93 · Metal Mind / MVD
The sound quality isn’t as flawless here (still very good, though!) as it is on the amazing Live in Japan, but not much matches that. If you only need one like VADER album, I’d get ...in Japan, even if you can’t find the Jap version... That said, The Darkest Age sees the Polish Death Metal masters in fine form, blazing through their early songs and ending with a deadly cover of "Hell Awaits." I think that this has never been available domestically before, and so you have an excuse if you didn’t have it already, but nothing is stopping you now. - 9 - <Ray>

VADER - Sothis · Metal Mind / MVD
Originally released in 1994, and just now finally seeing an official domestic release here in the US, this is a classic Death Metal EP from the Polish kings, and one that I first reviewed when it was new. If anything this has gotten better with age. I’m more accepting of the weirder/somewhat Industrial elements, as they serve to offset the expected Death Metal onslaught. The cover of "Black Sabbath" is musically flawless, which is the norm for VADER, but the odd usage of non-brutal vocals still takes me right out of it, as it always has here. It’s difficult for any Death Metal band to cover a song like this, though, at least as far as the singing is concerned. I don’t know how anyone could have missed out on Sothis, but if you did, here’s your chance to correct that mistake. For the rest of us, there’s no need to double-dip this fucker, as it has no extras. - 9 - <Ray>

VADER - Live in Japan · Metal Mind / MVD
After all these years (since this LP’s initial release in 1998), I was hoping that the world outside of Japan might finally get the complete version of this legendary live album, but no such luck, of course. As with all previous non-Japanese pressings, this is missing two tracks: "Incarnation" and a cover of "Dethroned Emperor." The booklet, while much better than the previous Pavement Music black & white embarrassment, is still missing the Japanese lyric insert, which had everything in both English and Japanese. Those unfortunate omissions aside, this is still required listening for all Death Metal fans. Really it deserves a ten, but I can’t do that knowing that anyone who buys it isn’t getting everything. The lyric sheet isn’t such a big deal, but the missing songs are. However, in a possible attempt make up for the missing tracks, this version does contain the video for "Kingdom." But thanks to what I’m guessing is some kind of Digital Rights Management fuckup, I can neither play the file directly from the CD, nor can I copy it to my hard-drive, so it’s utterly useless. - 9 - <Ray>

VADER - Kingdom · Metal Mind / MVD
Originally released in 1998, now reissued, this infamous Death Metal EP has only three new songs, plus one re-recorded track, and... uh... two Techno/Industrial remixes. Yeah, you read that correctly. As insane as it sounds, it was not entirely uncommon at the time. Oddly, this is missing the video for "Incarnation" that’s on the previous pressings. Still, VADER can really do no wrong, so although not the most essential of the band’s CDs, if you don’t already have this, you’ll likely want to track it down. - 8.5 - <Ray>

VARNAS - Demo
Very mediocre melodic Death from Italy. This is the sound of a band with undeniable talent that just have not yet come into their own. They aren’t terrible by any stretch, just a little boring. Some of the melodies work really well and some riffs are total Old School, which shows potential, but the majority of this 4-song disc is pretty damn forgettable. - 6.75 - <Jack>
varnas@intertree.it

VOCIFERIAN - Universal Hate Decades Ultimatum · Infernus Rex
The best way to sum up this one-man band from France, imagine a Black Metal MORTICIAN. A novel approach, especially considering this isn’t a drum machine, but perhaps an idea that would have fared better ten years ago. - 7.75 - <Jack>

WOLVERINE - Still · Candlelight
Nice OPETH rip off. If you’re going to be a total clone band, cheers for having the level of talent it takes to mimic such monumental legends. Too bad they took the route of Christian Contemporary Pop vocals to accompany the music. Not saying the lyrics are Christian, but with this guy’s delivery they might as well be. It’s sad to see such talent go to waste, inauthentic as it may be. - 5.75 - <Jack>

YATTERING - Live Extermination · Metal Mind / MVD
I'll be completely honest, this live album is my first time hearing YATTERING. Until now my only knowledge of them was that they hail from Poland and have an awesome logo. Well, god damn! These guys are fucking insane. A little too weird for me. Their shit is so spastic and technical it makes Calculating Infinity sound like Never Mind the Bullocks and Obscura sound like the RAMONES. Holy shit! Who in this crowd that April 2000 evening in Krakow could even tell if they fucked up? I hear 237 riffs in the first 8 minutes alone. Damn good vocalist, though. I wonder if he'd consider growling for a human band. - 7 - <Jack>

Various Artists - Flying High Again: The World’s Greatest Tribute to Ozzy Osbourne · Magick
Fuck Ozzy Osbourne and his ugly family. His recent descent into celeb-reality status makes old BLACK SABBATH albums hard to listen to, let alone this gay pride pageant of a tribute. Lita Ford? Dee Snider? Mark Slaughter? George Lynch? What an amazing task it must’ve been to recruit such a hot, fresh lineup. Shouldn’t everyone on this comp, save for Lemmy and NOVEMBER’S DOOM, be dead from A.I.D.S. by now? Get this fucking joke out of my sight. Fuck Ozzy and fuck washed up Ass Rock hasbeens. - 1.25 - <Jack>

--

Videos:

ACCEPT - Metal Blast from the Past · Breeze Music / Drakkar / BMG
Accept was one of the first bands I ever really got into when I was a kid, and I’ve been a big fan ever since. With that in mind... First up here is the 1985 documentary/concert video, Staying a Life. Unfortunatley, the show was edited for the video release, and is missing six or seven songs that are on the CD version (released in 1990). Worse yet, the show is occasionally interrupted with the documentary voice-over and/or footage. It’s not that the documentary isn’t interesting, but it should have been a seperate feature, and we should have gotten to see the entire, unedited, show. The CD version of Satying a Life is one of my all-time favorite live albums, so I must admit being a little disappointed that I don’t finally get to see the entire show. That would have made this an easy 10, even without any bonuns features. Still, what’s here is pretty fucking awesome.
Admittedly, the video quality is not flawless, but this was recorded a million years ago in 1985. The audio also isn’t 5.1, but I wouldn’t expect it to be. Where this really shines is with the wealth of bonus material. It’s got seven video clips (including "Balls to the Wall," of course), a three-song live show from 1993 Bulgarian TV (not exactly of the highest video/audio quality, unfortuantley), plus "behind the scenes" footage, a career-spanning photo gallery, compelte band discography, biogrpahy, and even audio samples from every one of the band’s albums. And although not branded a DualDisc, this is a DVD one one side and a CD on the other. The CD side nine previously unreleased songs! Well... okay, while that’s technically true, only two of the songs are really previously unheard. The rest consists of demo versions, an acoustic version and a Japan-only bonus track.
For fans of Accept and/or main-man Udo, this disc is an absolute must. For non-fans (if such a thing exists!) a better introduction would be the aforementioned 1990 Staying a Life live album. - 8.75 - <Ray>

BODY COUNT - Live in L.A. · Escapi
I’ve been so spoiled by all the DVDs that Metal Mind has released that I just want everything to be widescreen, and that’s not the case here. Still, the video quality is fine, as is the audio, although it is surprising that there is no surround sound track. The only bonus feature (two songs from the Murder for Hire album) isn’t even on the DVD itself, but rather on a separate CD. But the one real complaint that I have is the this entire concert is one big chapter, so if you want to jump right to "Cop Killer" or whatever, you can’t. That’s lame. Still, I like Body Count, so this video is cool to see. I haven’t witnessed the band live since they literally destroyed the stage (the lighting rig collapsed into the crowd) at the 1993 Milwaukee Metalfest. I’m happy to report that Ice-Muthafuckin-T does not whip it out and tell Tipper Gore to suck his dick this time, as he did at that legendary Milwaukee show. Ice and his mostly new band play pretty much everything that you would want, with the notable exception of "Dead Man Walking," which is one of my favorites, and not just because Ice says, "I read the Bible ‘bout 25 times, now fuck god is how I think." If not for the technical shortcomings (no chapter stops, no 5.1, etc...) and the lack of bonus features, this would have gotten a little higher rating. - 8.5 - <Ray>

CATAMENIA - Bringing the Cold to Poland · Metal Mind / MVD
Oddly, I don’t think that I’ve ever heard this Finnish band before, despite it being around for over a decade. Usually that’s a bad sign, but not completely this time. Stylistically this is melodic "Black" Metal, with some occasional Flokish influences, plus a dash of Gothic Metal, I guess, here and there and a strong Euro Power Metal undertone, or something equally wimpy. That said, it’s usualy not a bad combination, with rare moments of greatness. For reasons unknown to me, the band has more than one lead singer, which is never a good idea, and especially sucks ass here, with one of the guys turning in an absolutely embarrassing performance. The video (16x9 anamorphic) is good, although notably less stunning than on most of the other Metal Mind DVDs, and audio (DD 5.1, of course) quality is excellent. But this wasn’t filmed in front of the usual (for Metal Mind videos) huge festival crowd (in fact, the crowd is small, doesn’t seem all that into the band, and decreases over the course of the show) and that’s a real distraction. It’s also slightly weird to hear CATAMENIA cover SATYRICON, even if it is "Fuel for Hatred." The guys also do a WASP cover ("I Wanna Be Somebody"), which is just kinda wrong in execution. And that’s not a bad description of the band in general. They have the chops, but after watching this DVD I realize why I’d never heard of them before. Naturally there are the standard bonus features, including some video clips, an interview, photos, and so on, plus the band’s 1995 and 1996 demos, audio-only, of course, which I liked a lot more than than the live show... - 7.5 - <Ray>

NOAM CHOMSKY - Imperial Grand Strategy · AK Press
First off, let me say I am a huge fan of this man. He is a literary genius, esteemed author and professor, and a beacon of truth in a sea of political bullshit. I believe this guy, as frightening as his message generally is. Having said that, I'd much rather read one of his many great books than sit through 220 minutes of lecturing. If you've ever listened to the man speak, you know his soft-spoken but stern voice can become tediously monotonous, and he can literally talk forever. Listening to him drone on about the gloomy state of current affairs for close to 4 hours gives this DVD a painfully drab C-Span feel. It put me to sleep on more than one occasion. My apologies, but buy a book instead. (Might I recommend Hegemony or Survival? A real eye-opener.) - 7.75 - <Jack>

DISSECTION - Rebirth of Dissection · Escapi / Black Horizon Music
What can be left to say about a band such as the infamous Dissection? Main-man Jon Nödtveidt killed himself, so the "rebirth" was sadly fleeting. But this video is a fitting tribute to him and his band. It is supremely well-shot with the concert itself being widescreen (although inexplicably non-anamorphic!), and options for both Dolby Digital 5.1 and DTS 5.1 surround sound. I don’t think that these guys ever wrote a song that was less than awesome, so as impressive as this live set is, the only way I could have been 100% satisfied is had they played literally everything. But, that’s not to say that the set-list is short. The concert is about 90 minutes, and the Stockholm crowd is absolutely rabid the entire time. From beginning to end it’s a flawless, intense performance. The bonus features include a lengthy, in-depth interview with Jon ("...it became clear to me that I never want to be a part of society."), photo gallery and the video for "Starless Aeon." There is no way to recommend this enough. - 10 - <Ray>

GRAVE - Enraptured · Metal Mind / MVD
This concert starts with "Deformed" and ends with "Into the Grave." Do I need to even continue?!? Okay, if you want more... I saw GRAVE on their very first ever US tour, way back in 1991, at a place in Chicago called Medusa’s, which I think is apartments or something now. I had already proclaimed the band’s debut, Into the Grave, as probably the best Death Metal album ever, and hearing the guys play it live only further solidified that Sweden was the place for Death. Well, Chicago was that night! This live performance isn’t as massively mind-crushingly heavy as they were back in ’91, but it is a pretty radical improvement over 1997’s disappointing live effort, Extremely Rotten Live. Sure, there are several songs that I wish had been included (where is "Hating Life"?!?), but the only way I’d be 100% satisfied with a live GRAVE show is if the guys played literally every single song from their flawless masterpiece Into the Grave, plus all of You’ll Never See, Soulless, and "I Need You" (from 1993’s ...And Here I Die...Satisfied EP), in addition to the newer stuff. GRAVE is just that awesome. I do kind of wish that Ola wouldn’t introduce "Bullets Are Mine" by saying that it’s the "one and only ‘Gangster Metal’ song ever written," though.
I should mention that the video (16x9 anamorphic, of course) is up to the very high quality by Metal Mind releases. And the audio (5.1 Dolby Digital surround) is truly stunning. The band’s sound is clear and crisp, although maybe not quite as thick as I might have optimally liked. Still this is in line with how they actually sound now, and I’m just being nostalgic.
The bonus features include a couple extra live clips, filmed in Germany, and the video for "Soulless," which I’d never seen before, making it one of the coolest extras of all time. Plus an interview, bio, photos... you know, the standard assortment of good stuff. Get this and continute hating life! - 9.75 - <Ray>

HAWKWIND - Out of the Shadows · MVD Visual / Secret Films
This is, without question, a legendary band. However, the only reason I’ve ever really had to care about HAWKWIND is because Lemmy used to be a member about 666 years ago. Still this 2002 concert looks and sounds good. In fact, it sounds great. These guys are just weird enough to really get some good out of 5.1 DD surround sound. I am a little surprised that the video is 4x3, though. I’d have expected these space cases to have jumped all over widescreen video, but I guess this show is almost half a decade old already. Even if you don’t stylistically appreciate HAWKWIND’s eccentric Space Rock, I think that anyone has to respect the band’s abilities, which are impressively displayed here. Bonus features include a band interview and biography. For fans this is probably an easy ten, but for a bastard like me... - 8 - <Ray>

IMPALER - House Band at the Funeral Parlor · MVD Visual
Let’s get the bad out of the way first. The video and audio quality here are not the best. This was shot 4x3 with apparently just a single camera, which after watching/reviewing a few of the Metal Mind DVDs seems kind of underwhelming. But the real problem visually is how dark the image is... It’s weird. There is no DD or DTS audio option, which isn’t much of a big deal since the 2.0 mix is pretty good. That said, I like this bands Punk/Thrash combination and its somewhat cartoony horror/shock gimmick, and have enjoyed seeing them live before, so this is certainly cool. Although, as with any band that has been around this long (since the early ‘80s), there are always some songs I wish that they’d played, but the sickos do go all the way back to 1985’s Rise of the Mutants for a couple songs, so it is a fairly complete set list.
But the main show is only the beginning! There is another short set from 1984, with not bad a/v quality, all things considered, and it’s really cool to see this archival footage. The remainder of the disc is filled up with extras including the video clip for "The Last Ride," 1996 and 1998 cable access shows, a news segemnt about the band, an interview, plus a mini-interview and live performance of "Goblin Queen" on a local TV show. It’s a very comprehensive collection. - 8.25 - <Ray>

THE MURDER JUNKIES - European Invasion 2005 · MVD Visual
It is positively surreal to see this band without GG singing, shitting, bashing himself in the head with the mic and occasionally attacking the crowd. New singer J.B. Beverley is pretty good, if much more sedate and seemingly less insane. His vocal style works well with the more aggressive songs, such as set-opener "Highest Power." The full-screen video isn’t the best quality, but really in this case it shouldn’t be. The audio is also a little rough (although Surround Sound is available), and the levels are kind of all over the place, but once again, this is probably as it must be to really capture the raw essence of this band. I prefer a complete show as opposed to clips from multiple shows, which is what we have here (with other non-musical clips mixed in), but who knows how many songs they ever get to play before the show gets shut down. Or doesn’t that happen anymore with GG safely in the ground? I’m a little conflicted about this. I mean, I like it, but without GG it just seems too much like a really good tribute band. That’s made up for to some degree with the one bonus feature: an intense GG spoken word performance from 1989 (not ’98 - the wrong date is in the video) that serves to underscore how much is missing without him. - 8 - <Ray>

OBITUARY - Frozen Alive · Metal Mind / MVD
Literally the only flaw with this disc is that the guys don’t fucking play "Body Bag"! And I can’t understand why not. Okay, it’s been a few years since I’ve witnessed OBITUARY’s unique Death Metal onslaught live, but I have seen them several times and they always played it, and the crowd, while generally already rabid, typically goes shark-cock insane when it starts. I guess that the guys in the band don’t agree with me on what their best song is. It’s a small omission, though, compared to the sheer crushing heaviness and excellence of the live performace, and the overall song chioce here, which I’m happy to report includes cuts from every album. The video (16x9 anamorphic) and audio (5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound) are stunning, as I would expect from a Metal Mind release. The bonus features inlcude a couple of pretty interesting interviews, video clips (plus a "making of" doc), some backstage footage, and the standard bio, discography, photos, etc... - 9.5 - <Ray>

THE QUEERS - The Queers Are Here · MVD Visual
After suffering through this band’s new album, Munki Brain, I was a lot less enthusiastic about this DVD, which I had been really looking forward to. Fortunately, the band is far more energetic live than that last album would indicate. Oddly, only seconds into the first song, the show comes to a screeching (weasel) halt as the band stops and demands that security throw out a fan because he "fucked with" a roadie. Yeah, that’s Punk Rock. The video is camcorder clips from different shows from 1993 to 2005, interspersed with brief interviews and music video clips. I hate that. It’s especially annoying considering how short this band’s songs are. If you want to show the history of the band, that’s a cool bonus feature, but how about just having a well-recorded concert be the main feature? With the interview and any video clips separate, okay? I’m not even going to mention the abysmal audio quality... Still, some of my favorite QUEERS songs are here, such as "Like a Parasite" (too bad the song is ruined by being interrupted in the middle with 10 seconds of interview footage! That’s just fucking stupid), even if the a/v quality is shit, and there isn’t a single cut from Beyond the Valley... Maybe it’s the case that the QUEERS album I like the most is the one the band likes the least. That would explain a lot.
I was expecting this to be great, but everything about it disappoints, so I can only recommend it to the most extremely hardcore QUEERS fans, and that’s kinda depressing. - 5 - <Ray>

SINISTER - Prophecies Denied · Metal Mind / MVD
I was very excited to see and hear what this legendary Death Metal band would be like live with the revamed lineup. I mean, Aad’s supposed to be behind the drum kit, not the mic! But fear not, true believers, Aad delivers the goods, as does new drummer Paul Beltman. No surprise there, of course, but I’d be lying if I said that I wouldn’t have liked to have seen Rachel sing, just to see how she managed live.
The video and audio quality here are, as usual for Metal Mind, second to none, with the main show being shot in anamorphic 16x9 widescreen, with the option for 5.1 Dolby Digital surround sound. I just can’t say enough about how great this looks and sounds. If you want a good live recording, go to fucking Poland!
As always with a band I like as much as Sinister, I wish that the show had been longer, although it does clock in at about an hour, so that’s not bad. Because they’re cool, the guys go all the back to their first album, 1992’s Cross the Styx, for two songs, "Epoch of Denial" and "Cross the Styx" itself. That alone might be enough to make this a must-buy. The rest of the set list spans the band’s career, and everything is played to intense perfection.
There is also a ton of bonus stuff, with a bunch of "bootleg" live clips, a documentary about the band practicing for the Poland show that makes up the main feature on the disc, plus the traditional sutff such as interview, bio, photos, and so on... - 9.5 - <Ray>

TIAMAT - The Church of Tiamat · Metal Mind / MVD
I almost feel like simply pointing out that this was recorded by the a/v gods at Metal Mind in Poland, and letting that be enough. It should be. But, I’ll elaborate. The video and audio quality are, as virtually always from Metal Mind, stunning. By this point, it might go without saying that this is anamorphic 16x9 video and 5.1 Dolby Digital and DTS surround sound. Speaking of the sound, this is possibly the best live mix I’ve ever heard. It’s just prefect. I don’t even like TIAMAT that much anymore, but this live show has me rethinking that. I’ve missed a couple of the band’s more recent albums, but after watching this, I think that I’ll give them a chance. What could possibly be higher praise for a live video?
Clearly, any TIAMAT fans will want to track down this gem immediately. Even if you don’t like the band’s current, I guess I’ll say Gothic Metal, style, well, no problem. They dig into the back catalog all the way to 1992’s Clouds for a couple songs. And the bonus material goes back even further than that! All the way to 1990’s Sumerian Cry album, with a live version of "Where the Serpents Ever Dwell" from the band’s first ever gig. Other bonus material includes additional concept and live video clips (lucky 13 in total!), plus the standard stuff such as discography, photos, and so on... This is truly an impressive DVD in all respects. - 9 - <Ray>

Various Artists - Metalmania 2005 · Metal Mind/MVD
This series of videos documenting Poland’s legendary Metalmania festival is hard to beat. As always, the band lineup isn’t entirely optimal as far as I’m concerned, but anything with live DIES IRAE, AMON AMARTH, DARK FUNERAL and NAPALM DEATH (holy fuck is their sound massive here) is kind of a mandatory purchase. DARZAMAT starts things off with just a single song, which isn’t bad at all, and left me wondering why we don’t get to see more. The answer might very well be that the DVD is over three hours in duration, so there just wasn’t room. Maybe Metalmania 2006 will be two DVDs plus a CD. I’ve grown so used to the stunning video (16x9, anamorphic) and audio (5.1 Dolby Digital Surround) that I almost forgot to mention them, which would be wrong. Metal Mind is truly the mark of quality for Metal concert videos. The other bands here ranged from the terrible like PAIN (just lame), A.N.J. (a very poor performance that I’m surprised was included), and ARCTURUS (musically good at times, but what is the deal with the singer’s AIDS-inducingly gay antics and vocals?), to the passable such as THE HAUNTED (who were at least energetic, and have a good live sound if nothing else) and the Polish Power Metal legends TURBO (nothing bad to say about them other than that I can’t understand the lyrics and the singer is very occasionally kind of too "Hard Rock" for me), to the weird, although sort of cool, acoustic set of APOCALYPTICA, which concludes with a totally insane cover of METALLICA’s "Seek and Destroy," which was either the coolest or stupidest thing I’ve ever heard -I’m not sure which. Sadly missing from the video is anything from CRADLE OF FILTH and KATATONIA, both of which were also on the main stage. That’s beyond disappointing, but I think that it’s safe to assume that those bands’ record labels simply wouldn’t allow them to be on this disc, so I don’t blame Metal Mind. I would love to see that footage, though...
Of course, the DVD has the typical bonus features (band info, photo slideshow, show history, etc...). And I haven’t even mentioned the CD yet! The Second Stage bands are represented in audio only, which is a shame, but at least we get to hear one track each from: THUNDERBOLT, HERMH, HEDFIRST, HELL-BORN, QUO VADIS, PYORRHOEA, SUPREME LORD, MESS AGE, ABUSED MAJESTY, NAUMACHIA, DEAD BY DAWN, and VALINOR.
This set does its job: it makes me want to go to Poland and see the next Metalmania in person. - 9 - <Ray>

Metal’s Darkside II: The Deeply Disturbed · MVD / Magick
This is essentially a video magazine, hosted by porn star Jasmin St. Claire. The format is something like Headbanger’s Ball, only with longer, sort of more in depth interviews, but sadly far fewer video clips. Jasmin isn’t exactly a great (or even good, really) interviewer, but she does seem to like the bands she talks to, and at least is enthusiastic, if not actually informed. She asks SUFFOCATION’s Frank Mullen, "Have you been a part of the band since day one?" and, both him and Terrance Hobbs, "What do you consider yourselves, like, Death Metal or Thrash Metal?" She’s lucky that 1. She’s super hot, and 2. Frank and Terrance are two of the coolest people alive. Anyway, her ditziness aside, this really comes down to what bands are featured, and that’s kind of a wash this time, with the awesomeness of SUFFOCATION, including the video-clip for "Surgery of Impalement," being somewhat weighed down by the lameness of SHADOWS FALL, and more or less everything else. I was really looking forward to checking out EXODUS’s video for "War Is My Shepherd," since it was the only good song from 2004’s Temo of the Damned, but it’s honestly kind of lame (and oddly much more quiet than the rest of the audio on this disc) and censored! The line "Christ never done me a motherfucking favor" has the fuck muted out of it. Nothing else here is censored, so this is just weird.
Jasmin also talks to some lameass band I’ve never heard of called DECONSTRUCT. A quick check on metal-archives.com yields no listing, and confirms my suspicion this this isn’t a Metal band at all. I tortured my bleeding ears for maybe 30 seconds of the band’s horrific live video before deciding that a description more accurate than Aggro Grunge wasn’t really necessary.
The other, really short, interviews are with a couple of the guys in THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER (mostly drunken incoherence, and boring in any case), and ARCH ENEMY’s Sharlee D’Angelo. Unfortunatley Jaz doens’t know enough to ask him any questions about the other 666 bands he’s played with.
There’s also some footage of "fans" that varies from actual humans to idiotic rednecks in a parking lot that look way sub-Ozzfest. Plus Jasmin in a graveyard answering fan mail, and generally acting hydrocephalic.
As an added "bonus," there are two extra video clips, the first of which (FIGHT PARIS - "Complete Heat" - it’s gayer than it sounds, even) was so fuckin AIDS-inducing that I was was overjoied to hear FIREWIND’s "Tyranny," right up until the vocals came in and I noticed that the footage look like a stamp-sized web-video blown up to 16 times its normal size. In fact, the video quality on this entire disc, other than the SUFFO’ clip, is fairly abysmal. To end on a high note, there is a little extra footage from the SUFFOCAITON interview. No idea why it wasn’t just left in the main interview...
Not even SUFFOCATION can save this mess, although it might be worth the pain (and price) to have their video clip, if it’s not available elsewhere. - 6 - <Ray>