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Bands are listed alphabetically, with individuals listed by last name.

Review Archive: R

R.P.G. - Full Time · Arclight
Q: What do you get when you mix the FOO FIGHTERS with the SEX PISTOLS and season with ‘80s Guitar Pop sensibilities and open mic night desperation?
A: A Metalhead who could use a stiff drink. - 4 - <Jack>

R.U. DEAD - Promotape · DEMO
Pretty fuckin' intense, and speedy Death. Interesting and very well produced. Worth checking out. - 8 - <Ray> **MC8**

RABIES CASTE - Let the Soul Out and Cut the Vein · Earache
Apparently Metal Hammer said that this album is "A sicker, twisted version of WILL HAVEN." Check the WILL HAVEN review in this issue. Not to give away the surprise, but they suck ass, and guess who else does? Yes, that's right! RABIES CASTE is horrible. Imagine the worst, overdriven, distored "Industrial Metal" crap you've ever heard, and that's no where close, really. God damn, this is Earache? I sure hope not. - 1.25 - <Ray>

RADAKKA - Requiem for the Innocent · Century Media
I remember liking their track from the PRIEST tribute that Century Media released awhile back, but I guess that must have been their crowning achievement. This WHITESNAKE-like Ass Rock starts out with some vocal queerness consisting of the singer saying "Oooh yeah," in a voice I’m sure he must think is sexy. To quote an old favorite of mine, MX-MACHINE: "No glam fags! Be a man!" - 3 - <Ray> **MC12**

RADIATION SICKNESS - Radiation Sickness · DEMO
This band, I believe, is very good at getting their music to sound like what they want it to. The guitars can be interesting at times. Once in a while they even take on funk aspirations. There are several riffs I really like. As a whole, they are too strange for me. They make drastic mood and speed changes that I don’t like. The vocals are too high-pitched for what the singer tries to accomplish. It needs some work. - 7 - <Lar> **MC4**

RADICAL NOISE - Radical Noise · label unknown
Intense combination of Death and Hardcore. Tons of speedy and heavy riffs and enough energy to power a small city for a week. I'm not sure exactly when this will come out, or on what label, but write to Kerem for more info about it. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

RADIO DADA - #1 (Fulk Songs) · DEMO
This is certainly weird. It's an odd combination of Ambient and Noise. This is stupid, but I guess that's the point. Whatever. - 3 - <Ray> **MC8**

RAGING SLAB - Dynamite Monster Boogie Concert · Def American
How can I describe this? I'll cheat and use the title "Dynamite Monster Boogie." I guess that's it. This disc has a musical range which includes Country-Rock (if such a thing exists). I honestly just didn't like it. I have heard plenty of stuff that's worse, but this seemed pretty bad. - 6.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

RAGNAROK - Arising Realm · Head Not Found/Voices of Wonder
High energy Black/War Metal that’s well written & executed. Everything is as it should be, and occasionally this is really amazing. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

RAISE HELL - Holy Target · Nuclear Blast
I’m getting awful tired of all these DISSECTION clones. I know that this is being unfair to RAISE HELL, but this sounds like a younger, less talented version of DISSECTION. While they can play their instruments, they just don’t do anything that hasn’t already been done better by someone else. Sure, the riffs are catchy and they are played with enough conviction, but they come across as formula. This is a sure sign that this style has pretty much hit it’s apex and is going straight to overused cliché Hell. Remember the days when everyone sounded like ENTOMBED and DISMEMBER? Those days are back again, but instead everyone sounds like DISSECTION and AT THE GATES. If RAISE HELL can incorporate something different into the mix, this will be a band to look out for. Until then, they are just one more fish in the already overpopulated Swedish Death Metal sea. - 7.5 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

RAISE HELL - Not Dead Yet · Nuclear Blast
Determined to get away from the endless DISSECTION comparisons, RAISE HELL has made some pretty drastic changes to their music. Not Dead Yet sees the band leaving behind the melodic Black Metal style of their last release, Holy Target, and heading in more Thrash-based direction. I wouldn't say this qualifies as Retro Thrash. I actually hear some traces of Glam Metal, which to be quite honest, I simply cannot appreciate. Hearing lyrics like "...when I feel your body next to mine, I feel so fuckin' fine," I can't help but laugh. I can't imagine that's the reaction these guys were hoping for, but with song titles like "Babes," what did they expect?!? [Actually, that's a renamed cover of the DOORS' "Light My Fire." -Ed.] It's really a shame to see a band as talented as RAISE HELL put out such a wasted effort as this. - 7 - <Painkiller>

RAISED IN MEAT - Bloody Treats · DEMO
This appears to be a collection of Noise collages, and such things are notoriously difficult for me to review. If you like a bunch of guitar noise and feedback, along with other weird stuff, then just ignore my rating and pick this up. - 3 - <Ray> **MC9**

RAISED IN MEAT - Count Specula Incoherency · DEMO
378 "songs" crammed into an hour doesn't seem so odd, but the last track takes up all of Side 2 - it's a half hour long. This is a sort of a departure for R.I.M., as this material sounds somewhat more like early MEAT SHITS or ANAL CUNT than just slabs of Noise. They even cover ANAL CUNT, CARCASS, JOE JACKSON, G.G. ALLIN and some others. Favorite song titles "Death to False Noise" and "Lust for Vomit." - 5 - <Ray> **MC10**

RAISED IN MEAT / PILE OF EGGS - Split · DEMO
This time, R.I.M.'s Noise has been hammered into what might be considered, in some instances, Industrial Noise (repetition of drums and riffs, and samples), but there is plenty of free-form nightmare on their half, too. The P.O.E. side is stranger, consisting of oddly effected spoken word segments. The tape I have came with utterly no information of this band. - 4.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

RAISED IN MEAT / SONIC DISORDER - Split · DEMO
R.I.M. treat us to some Noise soundscapes & the occasional sounds of shitting. S.D.'s material is slightly more song-like, using some super distorted drums & screams, but it's still all Noise. - 3 - <Ray> **MC10**

RAISON D’ÊTRE - Collective Archives · Cold Meat Industry
An excellent 2 CD set of Dark Ambient compositions that have previously only been available on compilations, and other rare, and unreleased, gems. The packaging is just as lush as these soundscapes are bleak, with a collection of gloomy paintings comprising the majority of the booklet. I’d say this is how to do it right. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

RAJNA - Ishati · Projekt
Stuff like this is difficult for me to review, but that doesn't mean that I don't like it. By saying that RAJNA reminds me of the more mellow, and vocal-less, moments of DEAD CAN DANCE, I am surely showing my ignorance of this genre, but without a wider base, it's almost impossible to elaborate further. But of course I'll try. Some Eastern influences are evident, and the music is sparse and haunting, even sort of creepy or disturbing at times, which is amplified by the unearthly female vocals. - 8.25 - <Ray>

RAKOTH - Planeshift · Earache / Elitist
Someone out there must like Progressive Metal, I guess. And I even usually like bands from Russia. But holy fuck is this pussified! When there are no vocals, no flute, and no other jerking off in a desperate attempt to show how "unique" the band is, this is musically not bad. The majority of the vocals are horrible and that fucking flute is all over the place. Yeah, it's brutal to listen to this, but not the kind of brutal anyone wants. If I had to torture Jack, I'd make him listen to this entire album, since it's even worse than the gayest moments SKYCLAD has ever produced. Man, what happened to Earache?!? - 2.75 - <Ray>

RAMALLAH - But a Whimper EP · Bridge Nine
There is a lot to like about this CD from former BLOOD FOR BLOOD main-man Rob Lind, who not only writes all the lyrics and music here, but also sings and plays all the instruments, except the drums. Okay, he gets a little backup vocal help from CONVERGE's Jake Bannon, but you'd never really notice that it wasn't just Rob double-tracked. These nine tracks are crammed into less than 15 minutes, and for the most part things are similar to the intense Hardcore style of, you guessed it, BLOOD FOR BLOOD - and that's great news for me! The final track is different, featuring acoustic guitars, but retains the stark lyrics of the rest of the disc. It was a shock on the first listen, but I think I understand how it all fits together now. Hopefully I'll have the pleasure of hearing more RAMALLAH soon. I also want to mention how cool the CD itself looks, since part of it is completely clear, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to describe it. So track this down and see for yourself! - 9.5 - <Ray>

RAMMSTEIN - Reise, Reise · Universal
Up until reviewing this album, my only exposure to this band was that ultra-gay "Du Hast" song. So, my expectations were definitely not high. But I must admit, RAMMSTEIN’s approach to Industrial music is just as, if not more, musically viable as fading scene giants like MINISTRY, NINE INCH NAILS, or KMFDM. Their driving Metallic riffs and pounding drumbeats seem to cause instant involuntary headbanging upon contact. The deep Goth vocals aren’t bad either, and it would be kind of tough for me to argue against these guys being a slight influence on ROTTING CHRIST now that I’ve taken a more in-depth listen. The problem with these guys, and it’s a huge fucking problem at that, is the German lyrics. I just can’t get past them. I know, call me a filthy hypocrite. I sure as hell don’t mind when Nocturno Culto or Varg the Almighty use their native tongues. But that’s because their voices echo demons of Hell rejoicing the overthrow of the bastard son’s weakling angelic regime. They are not simply trying to be the German Andrew Eldritch. If I were German, or if I at least spoke it fluently, I would probably buy a huge RAMMSTEIN poster, put on a mesh tanktop, and light myself on fire while listening to this album. However, I am not a member of the Liederkranz, so I’ll probably sell this for $5 and go buy a Big Mac. - 7.75 - <Jack>

RAMP - Intersection · Uniao Lisboa Edicoes
These fellows are Portuguese, but if you're hoping for the European version of SEPULTURA, forget it. Musically, they're just another chugga-chugga post-Thrash "Hard Music" outfit. Vocals are a cross between John Bush and that guy from METALLICA. By no means the worst record ever made, but there is just absolutely no reason ever to listen to it. Undistinguished. - 4.5 - <J.J.> **MC10**

RANCID VAT - Iconoclastic Icons · Baloney Shrapnel
This apparently is a compilation of some this band's recordings from '81 to '93. The first four tracks were really shit. They gave me a headache. The fifth track, "The Ballad of Brigham Young," is the first good one (and the best one), and they continue to be cool, minimalistic Punk after that. Nice Alice Cooper cover. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

RAPED APE - Terminal Reality · DEMO (CD)
I like that bands are releasing demos on CD, but I hope bands without the necessary cash for pressing CDs are not discouraged by this practice. Now about RAPED APE: As you might guess, the sound is excellent and the songs are all pretty intense. The vocals are yelled, and since two guys are listed for vocals, I don't know who is the Death yell, and who is just really pissed off. Pretty impressive all the way around. Since this recording the band have changed their name to PAINGOD. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

RAPID FIRE - The Metal Burn · demo
Happy, upbeat Bar Rock made by brain-dead douchebag faggots. Every other word is "Metal," yet they sound like a less abrasive redneck version of THE ROMANTICS. Whether it’s intentional or not, this is a total fucking joke. Their main priority musically and lyrically is having fun, and for that reason I hope their children die in a car fire. Look for these fucking losers to headline your local prom sometime soon. - 1 - <Jack>
itsmetal.com

RATOS DE PORAO - Anarkophobia · R/C
R.D.P is back with their second LP for R/C, and I think that Anarkophobia is an extremely good second effort. You can tell the Punk influence is still there, but this is more Thrashy. And also pretty fast. The lyrics show a lot of emotion. The music is powerful and somewhat catchy. Favorite songs include: "Born to Suffer," "Rise and Fall," "Anarkophobia" and "Universal Church." I'm sure all Thrash fans would like this, but I don't see it appealing to Death freaks. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC5**

RATOS DE PORAO - Carniceria Tropica · Alternative Tentacles
It’s been a long time since I last heard from RDP, and it’s great to see that they are still together, and still cranking out the high-energy Thrash. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

RATOS DE PORAO - Sistemados Pelo Crucifa · Alternative Tentacles
I can sort of understand why a band might want to re-record and re-release their debut album, which is exactly what R.D.P. has done. Well, plus a few bonus songs. Having never had the pleasure of hearing this ass-kicking Hardcore Punk in its original form, I can't say whether or not I like it better, but unlike when SUICIDAL TENDENCIES also succumbed to the temptation to rewrite their past, this still sounds pretty raw and possibly even like it could have been recorded in '83. If you think about it, it's almost sad that this is my favorite R.D.P. album. - 8.25 - <Ray>

RAVENS OVER GOMORRAH - Blasphemous Hymns... · DEMO
Ignoring the stupid band name, pretentious title, and super long "Dark Ambient" intro (which is a lot to ignore, really), this isn’t so bad. It’s very fast, almost out of control, Black Metal that’s somewhat impressive for its ferocity while its still on, but after it’s over it’s all too easy to forget. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

RAVENTHRONE - Malice in Wonderland · Avantgarde
This is a band composed of two members, one being Pazuzu of the Austrian Ritual/Ambient band PAZUZU (real no brainer, huh?). Musically, this is a cross between PAZUZU, STORM (Norway), and FALKENBACH (Germany) with a little of SUMMONING and a touch of Folk here and there. This is in that there are so many styles coming together to form the sound that is RAVENTHRONE. It goes all over the place, both musically and vocally. I like this sort of stuff because it never gets repetitive. Most bands out there, both Black Metal and Death Metal, tend to fall into repetition, where all of their songs have similar structures, instrumentation and sound. I doubt CANNIBAL CORPSE or, for that matter, IMMORTAL could change their structures or instrumentation very much without losing their trademark sound. If you like any of the more "mature" atmospheric Black Metal bands out there (EMPEROR, SATYRICON or SUMMONING, to name a few), you will find this to be a worthy addition to your collection. - 9.5 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

RAW POWER - Fight · Godhead
When I saw the song list, I though, Wow, they cover "Reign in Blood" and "Kill the Poor." Well, they have songs by those names, however, they are not covers. That either takes balls or stupidity and it's clearly not the former. For a second here and there, these guys have an interesting idea, but it quickly fades. - 5.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

RAW POWER - Reptile House · Westworld
Huh, a Punk Rock band from Italy? I’d have never guessed. According to the press release, they’ve been around forever. This is fine, but I’ve certainly heard Punk with more energy and that was far catchier. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

RAZOR - Exhumed · Fringe
This 2 disc "best of" is an interesting look at the career of this seminal Thrash band. I believe that some of these tracks are available on CD for the first time with this release, so it's certainly worth having. And if you just started listening to Metal yesterday, then you've really got to check this out. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

REACH THE SKY - So Far from Home · Victory
Hardcore with sorrowful, melancholy lyrics? Now, that does sound like a kind of stupid idea, but RTS usually make it work pretty well. In fact, if all the songs were as great as the opener, "Maybe Next Year," we'd have a real classic here. And honestly, it's pretty close, anyway. - 8.75 - <Ray>

REALM - Suiciety · Roadracer
The first problem with this album is the space between the songs: there is none. This makes it difficult to distinguish between the tracks. Next, the vocals sound like a mixture of Joey Belladonna (ANTHRAX) and Eric A.K. (FLOTSAM & JETSAM) using only the worst elements of both. Furthermore, they try too hard to be different and end up just being silly. For example in the song "Dick," a flanger is used on the drum track in the beginning, which just sounds stupid (at least how it’s used here sounds stupid). The lyrics for this song were stolen from a t-shirt: "See Dick drive / See Dick drink / See Dick die." REALM tries so hard to have original music that I guess they do not have time to come up with original ideas for the lyrics. Back to the music. While I will say that it is different, it’s also easily forgettable and none too powerful. It is, however, easy to tell that this band doesn’t just want to be a clone of an established band. That alone must be worth something. Perhaps they would benefit form a more focused approach. - 6.25 - <Ray> **MC3**

REBAELLIUN - Burn the Promised Land · Hammerheart
With the destructive force of a ten megaton warhead, REBAELLIUN have unleashed their debut upon an unsuspecting world. Taking influences from early MORBID ANGEL and KRISIUN, this band has crafted a brutal and relentless Death Metal assault. Burn the Promised Land contains nine tracks, which showcase the band's talent for creating war-like chaos. Many of today's bands are obsessed with speed for speed's sake. This often results in a collection of songs that bleed together. What sets REBAELLIUN apart from those bands is that, although they have plenty of speed, they go way beyond just playing blindingly fast. They create brutal yet memorable songs, which very distinctly stand apart from one another. Every song on Burn the Promised Land displays incredible skill. From the well-executed Death Metal growls to the impressive drumming to the mind-blowing guitar solos, these guys can play! This release is simply one of the heaviest Death Metal releases ever made! Excellent production, truly anti-christian lyrics, highly talented musicians - it's all here waiting for you to revel in its unbridled fury. This release, in my humble opinion, is as essential to a Death Metal fan's collection as is anything by MORBID ANGEL, VADER, or KRISIUN. Buy this or die stupid! - 9.75 - <Painkiller>

RECKLESS ABANDON - Catharsis · DEMO
As groovy as this is, it should be more interesting. Really it's the vocals / lyrics that mess it up. I'm not saying that they're always terrible, but if these five songs were instrumentals, I'd like this quite a lot more. I wish everyone would take as much time with their lyrics and vocals as they do with the damn music. - 7.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

RECRUCIFIER - Cult of the Thrashing Black · $4 (demo tape)
A ten-month old chimpanzee with brain damage could make a better demo than this. Upped a little for the sheer enjoyment of seeing Ray Miller and Adolf Hitler on the same thanks list. - 1.25 - <Jack>

RECRUCIFER - Cult of the Thrashing Black · demo
My brain hurts. It sounds as if this were recorded in a large fish tank with one malfunctioning Radio Shack microphone. I think that I can detect some possible guitar ability beneath the 420 layers of noise and hiss and near constant-grind drum machine chatter. Maybe our review copy is damaged. I'd believe that. However, tape damage wouldn't account for what passes as the vocals, which are mind scrambling (in the bad way). A real studio next time would have to help. At least then I might be able to make out enough of what's going on to comment further. - 2 - <Ray>

RED GIANT - Ultra-Magnetic Glowing Sound · MIA
I really wish that all BLACK SABBATH worshipping clones would remember that their heroes were (for the time) the heaviest and most evil. All bands like RED GIANT ever bother to emulate is whatever "groove" has been foisted upon the mighty SABBATH. That and generally terrible vocals. Worse yet is that in this case, the "groove" is anemic, and the vocals worse than Ozzy has ever delivered. But their biggest offence is the amazing lack of anything even resembling heaviness. A thick bass sound alone makes your band neither heavy nor groovy. In the booklet it says to "Play this fucker loud!" but it's so extremely mellow, and yet terribly annoying, that I can't imagine anyone listening to it of their own free will at all, much less attempting to live through hearing it at high volume. This is almost bad enough to be funny. - 2 - <Ray>

RED HARVEST - Newrage World Music EP · Voices of Wonder
After really enjoying their There’s Beauty in the Purity of Sadness album, I guess I missed out on their next two releases. Judging by this, that’s my loss. RED HARVEST have a very harsh, sort of Industrial, take on extremity. I’m reminded at various times of both early GODFLESH and early PITCHSHIFTER, as well as perhaps what FEAR FACTORY might sound like if they were not suffering from a severe lack of testicular fortitude. Admittedly, this is a kinda weird release, but it’s interesting, and retains enough intensity for me to enjoy it. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

RED INK - Raw Meat · DEMO
This is a bad-ass demo. It's fast; it's bassy; it's brutal; it's Christian. A lot of people take a spazz pill when they find that out. Don't. The lyrics are incomprehensible for the most part, so it makes very little difference. The songs "Baby Killer" and "Raw Meat" are explosive. Two of my all time favorites. On the first song, "The World After," the vocals are a little off. But that problem is corrected and all is well. The band tells me there gave been line-up changes, and RED INK is better than ever. Listen to this one... unless you are afraid. - 8.25 - <Lar> **MC5**

RED INK - Brutal Recompense · DEMO
Well, this is certainly well played, but I notice quite a few "tribute" riffs, although I'm not sure these guys have listened to enough SLAYER to really rip them off. Anyway, the heavy-handedness of the Christian message in the lyrics may put some off. With that said, musically this is pretty Thrashy, very much along the lines of early SLAYER, but with some Death elements, especially the vocals. - 7 - <Ray> **MC8**

RED NAILS - Mutiny of a Small Group of Lemmings · DEMO
Pretty intense Thrash. Actually, this occasionally borders on Death. The heaviness is certainly there. Vocally this really shines: Harsh and sometimes raw. The songs are all well executed and fairly memorable. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

RED SKY - Sign of the Apocalypse · DEMO
Intense Death Metal with some Thrash elements. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

RED TIDE - Expressions · DEMO
As hard as I try, I really can't find any faults with this demo. Their brand of intense Thrash is complex, yet catchy, and the playing is absolutely superb. The "clean" vocals are aggressive and compliment the music. Even the production is unbeatable - clear, yet heavy. And somehow I don't feel right about giving this a perfect rating. There is something keeping it just this side of perfection, but I'm not certain what. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

RED TIDE - Numbered Emotions · DEMO
This is a 1-song (very roughly mixed) advance tape from their new demo, which I think is now out. Anyway, this is heavier than Expressions and more aggressive, and the vocals are a bit more rough. But this is still as memorable, and complex as before and the playing has only gotten better. This makes me really want to hear their new demo. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

REFUSED - Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent · Victory
I really don't like it when they resort to the stammering start-stop riffs, but baring that, REFUSED is a competent Hardcore outfit (what did you expect from a Victory band?), and they even rip off the old SLAYER logo (with the pentagram of swords) inside their J-card. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

REGREDIOR - Born in the Coffin · DEMO
Within the color cover and beyond the depraved intro lie eight more songs of massively original Death. Interesting and memorable riffs, no less heavy for being technical. Excellent solos throughout, and bestial vocals. Even the production is top notch. Very impressive. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

REGREDIOR - For Flinging Souls · DEMO
Only 6 songs this time, but they've done the impossible, and made the songs more intense and, well, brutal, than before. They also made them more complex and technical. And just to prove that it can be done, they're also more memorable. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

REGURGITATION - Conceived Through Vomit · DEMO
Considering Psycho’s fixation on puke, I probably should have had him review this, but I’ll do my best. REGURGITATION concentrate on keeping things extremely heavy, thanks to their intensity, clear powerful production, & most of all, the sickening gurgles that are the vocals. These horrific vocals alone would make for a great Death Metal band, and with the help of a very professional recording and package (sadly no lyrics, though) allow this one to rise above much of the competition. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

REGURGITATION - Tales of Necrophilia · Ablated
After reviewing their near-flawless Conceived Through Vomit demo in issue #11, I was puking with joy when this CD arrived! There was never any doubt in my mind that when REGURGITATION unleashed their debut album, we'd have a classic on our hands, and naturally, we do. Simply put, this is brutal Death / Gore done to perfection, with the absolutely sickest, most horrific (read: best) vocals I've heard in a long time. Since the aforementioned demo, at least. And in addition to the intense brutality, these sick bastards destroy the competition by using their impressive technical skill to make their songs memorable! Yes, as nuts as it sounds, all eight of these cuts (pun intended) are about as catchy as The Bleeding-era CANNIBAL CORPSE, while topping their current sickness factor pretty easily. Tales of Necrophilia's disgusting artwork, and utterly depraved lyrics push this album over the top and into legendary status. For once I won't even bitch about this disc only being 29 minutes long. And so, I am very proud to bestow my highest honor on the sick freaks in REGURGITATION. - 10 - <Ray>

REIGN - Exit Clause · Mausoleum
I wasn't expecting this, but these guys play chuggy "tough guy" PANTERA-wannabe bullshit. I despise the jerkiness of most of the riffs, and the extreme falseness of trend-followers. - 3 - <Ray> **MC10**

REIGN - Now and Forever · DEMO (CD)
It’s refreshing to know that there are still some bands out there that don’t have to rely on distorted vocals, trendy riffs or repetitive four-line lyrics. Bands like, HELLOWEEN, ACCEPT, IRON MAIDEN, MANOWAR and REIGN. I have respect for any man who can hit any first soprano notes I can without getting kicked in his ball- sac. And lead vocalist Jeff Caudill can do just that. These guys are kickin’ ass and takin’ names with their hard hitting bass lines, traditional Heavy Metal guitar riffs, true-to-the-ear vocals and meticulous drumming. Not to mention this bands production, it’s just as clear and awesome as their music. - 9.25 - <ANG> <Ray> **MC11**

REIGN OF EREBUS - Of Blackest Magick EP · Blackened
Oh boy, it's CRADLE OF FILTH junior! No joke, from the riffs to the synths, to the female vocals, to the fat bald drummer, this EP is a serious attempt to get their T-shirts distributed by Sam Goody. The vocalist is a little different, but his vocal patterns and little Gothic accentuations give him away. I will lay off the band a little and say that they are capable of writing a memorable riff or two, but nothing powerful or moving enough for this to become a staple in a record collection already overflowing with creamy goodness. - 7.75 - <Jack>

REIGN OF EREBUS - Of Blackest Magick EP · Blackened
According to the inlay, this was originally supposed to be a demo but apparently the folks at Blackened thought highly enough of it to release it through their label. I have to admit, after listening to it a couple times, that this is very slick sounding and is definitely worth pressing onto a CD. When I found that this band hailed from England, I figured that they would have some influences from CRADLE OF FILTH and that they definitely have. They don't directly clone CRADLE OF FILTH but they have enough of their style in their music to draw a direct comparison. The best way to describe REIGN OF EREBUS is a mixture of CRADLE OF FILTH with IMMOLATION. They have the epic keyboard parts and spoken Gothy female vocals and the general atmosphere of C.O.F. but with the tuned-down brutality and guttural vocals of Death Metal. The music is good and the production is excellent - which brings me to my only real gripe with this EP. It's too fucking short. Just when you're getting into it, it's over. The five tracks (one intro and four songs) clock in at just under 18 minutes. If the effect was to make you want them to hurry the fuck up and get a full-length done, I think it worked. - 9.5 - <Ychoril>

REIGNTERROR - Reignterror · DEMO
Really the only thing not to like about this demo is that there are only two songs. Very well executed, and memorable, Thrash, with appropriate vocals. I'm looking forward to hearing more from this band. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

REINCARNATION - Void · Repulse
These guys are trying to be very heavy, fast & brutal, and to a certain extent they succeed, but for all it’s brutality, this recording isn’t very energetic, or intense, and higher doses of both would have propelled the hostility of their Death Metal to nuclear levels. In fact, in a few places the repetition honestly gets a little boring. This is not to say that they don’t have some good ideas, but they just haven’t perfected things yet. I’m sure that some of the problem can be blamed on the less than amazing production, but I’ve heard bands do more with worse sound. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

REINFECTION - The Edge of Her Existence · DEMO
Extremely brutal Death Metal with ultra-sick vocals. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

REINFECTION - Peace Through Killing · Goregiastic
A more telling album title would’ve been, Sleep Through Grinding, as that is what has occurred everytime I try to spin this. This CD contains 19 bursts of boring Grind resembling a heavier BENUMB. Oddly enough, to try and sit through this whole thing is in fact quite benumbing. - 6 - <Jack>

RELEASE - End of the Light · Century Media
Except for when the singer occasionally tries to sound like the supreme poseurs, PANTERA, this isn't too bad. Nice, mid-tempo to slow riffs and good production. Semi-heavy, yet clean sound. After the first minute and a half with no vocals, I somehow knew that the only way these guys would be really cool is if they were an instrumental outfit. Too bad they're not. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

REMEMBER - Remember · DEMO
Poppy, so-called Alternative. Maybe with a little Punk influence, and terrible, snotty kid vocals. If you like this kind of stuff, kill yourse... I mean, go for it. I think it’s terrible. - 3 - <Ray> **MC11**

REMEMBER - Remember · DEMO
After the review I gave their last, also untitled (or self-titled), demo last issue (it got a 3), I think it’s pretty cool that they’d send me this new one to review. Admittedly, I haven’t listened to their other demo since the aforementioned review, but this is a lot better than I recall it being. Occasionally I’m reminded of a less "funky" RED HOT CHILI PEPPERS, while other times some mainstream lightweight Punk bands come to mind. I’m just not interested in this style, and there are things here that are just bad, like the overdriven vocals in "Comfort Planet," but I can hear that this does possess some energy, and these guys really do know their way around their instruments. But, although these are cool guys, I still don’t like their music. - 6 - <Ray> **MC12**

REMORA - Acroyer · DEMO
This kind of Ambient stuff makes good background music, perhaps for a horror movie, but I have little use for it otherwise. REMORA seem to do at least as good a job as anyone else. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

RENAISSANCE - Part 1 · King Biscuit
Recorded live 20 years ago, this sounds surprisingly good. I really have no base from which to build for a review of a Progressive Rock band, but I’d think that comparisons to YES and ELO are probably in order. I’m thoroughly impressed with the musicianship on this CD, and since quite a lot of this is instrumental, there is plenty of time to enjoy it. Even when Annie sings, it’s not too bad. I couldn’t listen to this disc all the time, but the next time I want to hear some really complex and even majestic (although certainly not heavy) stuff, I might just put it in. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

REO SPEEDEALER - REO Speedealer · Royalty
The band with the goofy name delivers some seriously intense Punk/Metal Crossover, with a sound similar to the new MISFITS (thanks to having the same producer), but a far more dirty and grimy, less polished, style. I’m sort of reminded of HAUNTED GARAGE, especially in the vocals. REO keep their songs short and to the point of kicking your ass. And any band with a song called "Pig Fucker" has got to be cool. Hopefully there will be more of this soon. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

REPROBATION - Undoing Creation · Forever Underground
Aw, dammit! Finally a Death / Grind band cool enough on a personal level to sample my lord and savior George Carlin, and then they have to go and suck musically! Sorry, I really tried to get into this (especially after I heard the aforementioned Carlin sample), but this is just noisy slop on top of noisy slop. Awesome artwork? Yes. Fast, brutal? Yeah, okay. Would you ever listen to it more than once if you bought it? Not likely. - 5.5 - <Jack>

REPUDILATION - Purging of Impurity · DEMO
These motherfuckers must have spent their life savings on the recording and packaging of this demo. The sound is clear, the J-card in full color, the music the very definition of brutality, and the vocals gurgled up from the lowest molten rock pit of Hell. It really makes me feel good to hear vox I can describe as "vomits." For those about to puke, I salute you! - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

REPULSION - Horrified · Relapse
OK, this was recorded back in '86 and is total Grind. You have heard of REPULSION, right? Eighteen songs of completely raw speed and bass so fuckin' distorted it sounds like it was played thru my '68 Fender Bassman head, cranked to 11, with bad tubes. It's great! You really should own this. Go buy it! Upped some for being first. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC7**

REPULSION - 7" · Relapse
Two songs of speedy Deathish stuff. Not nearly as fast as I expected (Grind), and "Helga (Lost Her Head)" is way more memorable than I would have expected. This band is heavy, but experimental. I wouldn't exactly call this Death Metal. Sure wouldn't call it Grind. Well, anyway, I like it. Especially "Helga...". Whatever you would call it, you should check this out, it's cool and original. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC7**

REQUIEM - As the Image Slowly Fades · DEMO
The heavy, thick sound is strengthened by excellent songs and pretty raw vocals. This results in a really great Death onslaught. The bursts of speed help, too. Very cool. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

REQUIEM - Christ Has Risen · DEMO
Before the fucking pathetic, quickly spoken, vocals started, I thought I might be able to overlook the obvious message and get some enjoyment out of this anyway, since the music is occasionally pretty decent Thrash. But the vocals, especially in the title track, are just beyond horrible. By the time they get to the song "Suffer" (the third track), the vocals have settled into a more harsh yelled style befitting the music, but they go right back to sounding like shit in the next song. Even ignoring the x-tian propaganda, this is plagued with severe vocal problems, and the music is just passible anyway. - 3 - <Ray> **MC12**

REQUIEM AETERNAM - Philosopher · ICorp
Here we have a tragedy all too common in the world of Metal. Outstanding music, awful vocals. I can't begin to tell you how awesome this is musically. A culmination of Death, Thrash, Rock, and Prog with a professional command of brutality, melody, creativity, and dazzling technical proficiency. The nylon-string acoustic guitarwork is beautiful, and the drums are amazing, performed flawlessly by IMMOLATION's Alex Hernandez. Much of what REQUIEM AETERNAM does brings to mind the virtuosity of OPETH, a compliment of the highest order. Why do the vocals have to suck? Please tell me. The singer butchers two different vocal styles. The abrasive, throaty screaming sounds painfully forced, strained, and tottering. The clean singing is often off key, unsteady, and the guy's South American accent is way too strong for me. If this album were all instrumental, it would be an easy ten. Could I get the Karaoke version please? - 8.25 - <Jack>

RESISTANT - Ancient Future · Seventh Generation
According to their bio, RESISTANT's music is a "mixture of punk, metal and tribal grind that is guaranteed to bring the dark spirits awake and heave them into the mosh pit." I don't know about the mosh-pit part, but I can imagine some dark spirits will wake up... and they'll be yelling "turn that shit off!" These guys can't seem to decide what type of music they want to play. They seem to change styles with each new song. One minute they're aping SEPULTURA, the next they're going for a juvenile Punk sound. The lyrics are where things get really ugly. Just about every anti-establishment cliché you've ever heard can be found here. Track two, "Refuse/Resist," contains a line that will haunt me in my sleep for the rest of my life. The singer adopts a Death Metal-vocal and growls (repeatedly) "Go-Go Dancing in Hell!" - 3 - <Painkiller>

REST IN PEACE - Inner Scream · DEMO
Happy sounding Thrash, not totally unlike ...Seven Keys era HELLOWEEN. Excellent production and sound quality, but I'm not sure how many fans of this style still exist. I happen to like it, myself. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

RESURRECTION - Demo 1991 · DEMO
It's easy to see why this demo got them signed to Nuclear Blast: Every part of this Death-fest is great. Excellent job, guys. Write them as fast as you can and see if you can still get this. From Florida. - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

RESURRECTION - 1991 Demo 2 · DEMO
This is not the same band as reviewed directly above, so don't confuse them. Anyway, these guys are pretty heavy Death, and have a nice, thick sound. They slow down when necessary, but aren't afraid to get seriously fast. Not exactly groundbreaking, but I like it. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

RESURRECTION - Embalmed Existence · Relapse / Nuclear Blast
Their cover of KISS' "War Machine" is unexpected, but pretty good. The rest of the album is much better. Weird spoken word segments appear between the songs and certainly add an original edge to this album. - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

RESURRECTURIS - Corpses · DEMO
This vicious Thrash attack is helped by the clear production and the band’s obvious conviction. Also, the gruff vocals that lie between a yell and a Death growl add to my enjoyment. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

RESURRECTURIS - Nocturnal · Diamond
These guys range from intense Death to more atmospheric Metal, and always sounds cool. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

RESURRECTURIS - The Cuckoo Clocks of Hell · Mondongo Canibale
With the super weird cover art and fucking retarded album title (oddly enough, the band BUCKETHEAD were also dumb enough to call their album this) I should’ve known this would be all over the place. What’s sad is that the creative foundation of their sound is a sharp Old School Death Metal assault reminiscent of SINISTER and GOREFEST, with many a trace of Bay Area Thrash. But in the end the disc is ruined by experimentation, odd twists for the sake of odd twists. Whether it be bits of Funk, Jazz, Nu-Metal vibes, or all kinds of various vocal mistakes, the album is murdered by way too much fucking around. - 7.25 - <Jack>

RESUSCITATOR - Iniciation · Wild Rags
Imagine ultra heavy vocals, and slow, crushing riffs. Now imagine this transforming, mid-song, into a Black Metal band! Yes, it's true. These beast-praisers have the balls to combine Doom with Black Metal, and the higher pitched Black screeches with a traditional Death gurgle. At their best this is utterly untouchable, and it's at that level quite a bit. The production is actually pretty good - I'm very pleased to know that they didn't succumb to the DARKTHRONE school of thought on Black Metal production! - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

RESUSCITATOR - Cursed Visions from His Infernal Realm · Quadrivium
This is the second album from this So-Cal Death machine and it’s been quite a few years in the making. The thing that is the most striking about it is that though it is well produced and executed, it just sounds average. There are a few standout moments but the rest is Death Metal by the numbers. DEICIDE and MORBID ANGEL did this almost a decade ago, and better. The inclusion of keyboards makes this a little more palatable, as do the slower, Doomier passages. The rehashed Florida Death Metal riffs and the one-dimensional song structures of most of the songs really don’t do anything for me. This is particularly evident during the blast segments where the snare makes every song sound the same. This could have been a great album, because the potential is there. The only problem is that this potential is never realized for more than one or two songs on the whole album. Cursed Visions... isn’t a bad album so much as it is a letdown of an album. After hearing their debut, I had hoped that this one would rage. It does in places but not nearly as much as it could have. - 7.5 - <Ychoril>

RESUSCITATOR - Cursed Visions from His Infernal Realm · Quadrivium
What do you get when you combine second rate SARCOFAGO with tenth rate EMPEROR? Well, you get RESUSCITATOR. Boring, unmemorable, symphonic Black Metal filler with sloppy Old School Thrash parts, and a mediocre production to boot. What a crime to waste such a good, fast drummer. Speaking of the drummer, you know without a doubt that all the really good Black Metal stage names are taken when people start going with Aggressive Beater. - 5.75 - <Jack>

RETALLIATION - Death from the Inside · DEMO
These seven songs were recorded from within prison walls, and with that in mind, I was initially surprised by two things: 1. the excellent production - It's thick and heavy but everything can be heard. And 2. the music is somewhat less brutal and more memorable than I was expecting. They have wisely decided to make the songs a bit slower, although certainly not Doomy, this is 100% Death, just generally mid-paced. For more information, check out their interview elsewhere in this issue. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

REVENANT - Revenant DEMO · DEMO
I don’t understand how it’s possible that these guys have never heard of the real REVENANT from here in the US. I guess I’ve not heard from them for a pretty long time - maybe not since their debut on Nuclear Blast back in ‘91 - but even if they’ve broken up, is it okay to just take such a famous name? Despite the fact that I think that this band is disrespectfully named, it would be crazy to deny their ability. This demo is dark and moody, something like newer ROTTING CHRIST, but with an understandably rawer production, and harsher, screechy vocals. I wouldn’t be surprised at all to see this band get signed soon, but I do hope they change their name. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

REVENGE - Attack.Blood.Revenge EP · Dark Horizon
This is just brutally raw Black Metal, including a cover of BATHORY's "War." I seriously hate to give a Dark Horizon release a bad review, but it's honestly difficult to listen to this. - 4 - <Ray>

REVEREND BIZARRE - Harbringer of Metal · Spikefarm
As a diehard fan and zealous defender of beloved Funeral Doom bands like WINTER, GRIEF, SKEPTICISM, and SHAPE OF DESPAIR, this band really hurts my case. They are undeniable proof that Doom can be too slow. Yes, REVEREND BIZARRE is the sonic essence of boredom. The vocals are beyond gay! Imagine if Jim Morrison never touched drugs. - 3 - <Jack>

REVILE - Demo '94 · DEMO
Pretty standard Death, but the riffs are mostly interesting, and the production lends itself to brutality. Not very original sounding, but really not bad at all. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

REVILE - Revile · DEMO
Even though this demo has 7 songs, I think that 8 bucks is a bit pricey. I would imagine that this has and will hurt sales for them. Anyway, this is usually very tightly played Death Metal. However there are some places (as in the first song, "Again We Go") where the playing gets sloppy for a second. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

REVOLTAGE - Revoltage · DEMO
Fairly speedy Death, with energy like Thrash. There are also seven songs on here, so for only a buck, that makes this a must get. Pretty cool. - 8 - <Ray> **MC8**

RHADAMANTYS - Labyrinth of Thoughts · Displeased
These guys are majestic, in their way, yet for the most part, still heavy. They incorporate quite a few different instruments, and styles, to really create a distinct sound. Always ominous, and generally heavy. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

RHENIUM - Brutal Deception 7" · self released
Other than that the singer wants to be like James Hetfield was when he still had part of a testicle, this isn’t terrible. However, it’s very straightforward Thrash/Metal with little intensity, and a very raw recording, so it’s not exactly great, either. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

RHYMES OF DESTRUCTION - A Sun Revolution · Shiver
At least that intro was something other than wind. I couldn't tell what, exactly, though. Thankfully it only lasts for about two minutes. And then the "Symphonic Pagan Metal" starts. I know exactly how hard it is to program a drum machine so that it doesn't sound like one, so I'm trying to give these guys a break, but sometimes it's pretty distracting. I feel that I must also point out that the programming is occasionally very good, but not consistently so. The band seems to do best when they slow things down and allow the sadder emotions to take over. But, that said, thanks to all the wildly varying styles used on here, this album never seems to be anything more than an odd collection of mismatched pieces, which makes for a somewhat difficult listen. - 7.75 - <Ray>

RIGHTEOUS PIGS - Stress Related · Relapse / Nuclear Blast
This is finally released domestically! Death/ Thrash/ Grind riffs and weird Hardcore-like vox. OK, that's cool. The songs are pretty memorable and usually really speedy, and the CARNIVORE-like vocals add a unique element. However, Joe (the vocalist) also sometimes tries to go the Death route, and it's a bad idea for him. The 'Core style is much better. Fortunately that is the style he usually uses. For something recorded in '89, this sounds brand new. Favorite song: "Stress Related." - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC7**

RIGOR MORTIS - RIGOR MORTIS vs. The Earth · TripleX
This LP starts off with an acoustic guitar intro called "Dying in my Sleep." Hmm... I think it's cool, but not very characteristic of RIGOR MORTIS. By song two, "Mummified," the band I remember is back. This is fast Thrash. Evil too. I thought that Casey and Doyle sharing the vocal chores (instead of just having one vocalist) would detract from this LP, but it does not. Although I do like Doyle's vocals somewhat better. They even cover the RAMONES' "Psycho Therapy" and although it's really generic to cover a song nowadays, this is cool, if somewhat out of place. This album is memorable and perhaps their best effort yet. Buy or die. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC5**

RIGOR SARDONICOUS - Principia Sardonica · Paragon
I have no time in my life for Aldi’s Doom. Piss-poor cover art, a cheap sounding drum machine, plodding emotionless dirges that don’t go anywhere, and pitch-shifted vocals are all this two-man band bring to the table. The only talent on display here is in the lyrics. Not enough for me to give a fuck, however, as the pursuit of quality Doom has been a passion of mine for over a decade, leaving me plenty of aural emptiness to wallow in. Their broken hearts are in the right place, but they need to catch up in the creativity department. I’ll be waiting. - 6 - <Jack>

RINGWORM - Birth is Pain · Victory
This kicks so much ass that I really don't even know where to start! Vincent Price samples, intense Death Metal style drumming, heavy, thick sound, uniquely raw vocals... Yeah, I know that describes most of the Victory roster (other than the Price quotes), but even in competition like that, RINGWORM stands alone. Further description of this flawless Hardcore masterpiece fails me, and I am left with only the most basic of advice: you must hear this! - 10 - <Ray>

RIOT - Inishmore · Metal Blade
A happy little Lite-Metal album, with stupid lyrics. - 6 - <ANG> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

RIOT - Sons of Society · Metal Blade
I respect this venerable Heavy Metal / Hard Rock band, I really do. And possibly I'd have been into this album 20 years ago, but this type of lightweight stuff is currently more headache-inducing than anything else. Still, I'll give RIOT some credit for lasting so long. - 6.75 - <Ray>

RIPHEAD / DROGHEDA - Land of Ruin / Violencia · Extreme Millennium Entertainment
I had extremely high expectations for RIPHEAD, as the band features former members of TON. They're pretty good, but nowhere near as brutal or memorable as TON. They play an Old School style of Death Metal that frequently lends itself to everything from Swedish-style Thrash, to Grind, and even a touch of Black Metal. Their half of the split is a tad underproduced by today's standards, and I think that's all that's really holding them back. It's amazing to see that DROGHEDA is still at it. They've been spewing out their corrosive Grindcore for over a decade now, with the results usually ranging from generally mediocre to occasionally awesome, and this is more of the same. Not the most essential split release ever made, but you could do a lot worse. - 8.25 - <Jack>

RIPPED - Blotter · DEMO
Their singer sounds quite a bit like the guy from an ancient band called INDESTROY - which is good, I like those guys, too. Musically, RIPPED are really good, and very intense Thrash. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

RIPPED - Easter Island · DEMO
Everything is more intense on this demo, but this has caused the vocals to go somewhat out of control. Occasionally, this is a plus, but not usually. Also the first song is a goofy spoken-word bit of crap. Other than those two problems, this is excellent. And the vocals sorta grow on you after awhile. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

RISE - Shadow of Ruins · DEMO (CD)
Brutal, well played Death Metal, with melodic guitar solos. These guys combine impressive playing skills with the uncanny ability to write interesting songs. The clear production really puts them over the top, and makes this damn hard to beat. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

RITUAL - Last Remains · DEMO
Fairly standard Death, but very likable. Not really too heavy or brutal, although the sound is very thick (due to the poor production), but something about this makes me sorta like it - maybe it's all the riffs I've heard every other band on earth play ten thousand times before. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

RITUAL - Onward Through the Agony · DEMO
The music is in the classic Thrash style, with long drawn out solos. I hate long solos. The vocals remind me of Cronos (if you don't know who Cronos is you should be killing yourself right now, you worthless piece of dog shit). The production on this tape is solid. The lyrics are not really memorable, and the music sometimes sounds too much like SLAYER or early METALLICA. If you like old style Thrash, you'll love this. All in all, a good tape. Long live Thrash. - 7.25 - <Darrell> **MC8**

RITUAL - The Summoning · Wild Rags
This band's Black Metal is laced with Doom. They even steal a riff from PARADISE LOST's Gothic album. It's well-played, generally very memorable, and certainly not without speed and aggression. An interesting, worthwhile addition to the collection. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

RITUAL - Macabros Pensamientos En La Oscuridad · DEMO
It’s fairly standard Death, but by varying the tempo and the kinds of riffs they use, they’ve come up with a really interesting demo. Sometimes it’s total Doom, while others all speed. That kind of variation can be confusing, but RITUAL make it sound natural, and very cool. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

RITUAL - Soldiers Under Satan’s Command · Wild Rags
The combination of faster, Thrashy parts, with slower, heavier sections makes RITUAL’s brand of Black Metal stand out, and the added bonus of great production makes this a real plus. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

RITUAL SACRIFICE - Bury the Living · DEMO
Excellent sound and even better songs. Musically very Deathly, yet vocally not quite there - sort of like DEMOLITION HAMMER, but not exactly. That's not to say the vocals don't fit, because they do, and I like them and everything else about this band. Excellent. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

RITUAL SACRIFICE - Dimmer the Light · DEMO
Hmm, I'm sort of reminded of SADUS in both music and vocals. These guys are certainly skilled at their instruments and play as balls-out as possible about all the time. James sounds as if he's screaming his final word with each utterance. A very intense band, who refuse to let being technical tone them down. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

ROACHPOWDER - Atomic Church · TMC
According to their press release, this band took their name from the William S. Burroughs book Naked Lunch. That made me want to like them. It really did. But this spacey, psychedelic retro Rock just kept forcing me to press the "next track" button on my CD player. At last the end mercifully came. - 5.5 - <Ray>

ROADSAW - Rawk N' Roll · Lunasound
Sleaze Rock from, of all places, Sweden. At least they have a thick, heavy sound, so I guess they're sonically better than something like NASHVILLE PUSSY (although ROADSAW doesn't have sluts in the band like NP does). - 4 - <Ray>

ROCKBITCH - Motor Driven Bimbo · Steamhammer
This girl band figured that if they packed their CD booklet with pictures of naked women, nobody would notice how completely pathetic their music is. They thought wrong! The noise on this release hardly qualifies as music. This Hardcore / Alternative Rock is a complete mess utterly void of direction or purpose. Avoid this unless you're looking to give yourself a migraine! - 1 - <Painkiller>

ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT - Circa: Now! · Interscope
There is something about this that makes me not like it. Could be that the songs are simple? That alone doesn't necessarily have to be bad. It's something more. I do like the horns though. They should use them way more often. It would help. This really does very little for me. - 6.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

THE ROCKING DILDOS - Horny Hit Parade · Osmose
Any band with a song called "Teenage Cunt (That’s What I Want)" has absolutely got to be cool. The DILDOS prove this to be true with their very catchy (Black) Metal / Punk combination. I wish my review copy had come (make that "cum") with a lyric sheet. From what I can make out, this is poetry of the highest order. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

ROGUE - Separation 180 · Cellar
The music is generally fairly heavy, somewhat along the lines of early BLACK SABBATH or even a little Thrashy for a second here and there, but the vocals are another story. They’re very smooth, and can be convincing at times, but occasionally sound maybe a little too "Alternative" for the music. They do a musically dead on cover of "Victim of Changes" that sort of highlights the vocal problems. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

RONDELLUS - Sabbatum · Beg the Bug
If nothing else, this is a very interesting concept: This entire album is made of up medieval versions BLACK SABBATH songs, all using traditional medieval instruments and sung in Latin. I've never heard this band's earlier albums (this is their fourth), but I guess that's okay since it's the SABBATH element that I'm most interested in here, although this disc is extremely well done and recorded. And the songs picked to cover all make a good transition to this style, even with occasionally very minimalist soundtrack. Sometimes the translated lyrics sound especially ominous in Latin, which, while hardly surprising, is a nice plus. For fans of medieval music, this might be really cool - I honestly wouldn't know - but for me, it's more of a curiosity. - 8 - <Ray>

RORSCHACH - Patterns · DEMO
This is a strange Thrashfunk showcase. Tim's vocals are very smooth and compliment the psudofunk style of the first two songs. The third song, "Reached in Time", is all acoustic and and interesting departure. The last song is more Thrashy, but Tim's vocals are not a hindrance. There is no lyric sheet, but I think you can easily figure them out. RORSCHACH should appeal to fans of FAITH NO MORE, MIND FUNK and all the other Funky Thrash bands. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC5**

RORSCHACH TEST - Unclean · Slipdisc
If everything was as catchy as the first track ("Satan") on this WHITE ZOMBIE / MINISTRY combo platter, I might just like it in spite of myself. Fortunately for my mental well-being, things deteriorate quickly for R.T. They try to cover too many bases at once & leave themselves sounding confused. Or maybe just trying too hard to be accessible to the largest number of people. Obviously they do have some good ideas, but certainly not a whole album’s worth. And a 10 minute "remix" of the track "Elvis" was neither needed (it’s terrible both ways) nor appreciated. Hopefully, they’ll note that their strength lies with the more straightforward, catchy, material, and stop all the useless jerking around. - 5.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

ROSICRUCIAN - Silence · Black Mark
Impressive, heavy Thrash, with some elements of Death. Mostly yelled vocals, but some Death growls appear. The music is fairly technical, and in some cases, pretty brutal. These guys try some different things, which are usually pretty weird, and they don't always sound right, but at least they have a pretty distinct sound, which is an accomplishment in itself. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

ROSICRUCIAN - No Cause for Celebration · Black Mark
More intense Thrash from these odd fellows. Plenty of technical playing and heavy riffs. The vocals are once again yelled, and it sounds great. Perhaps not for everyone, but certainly an interesting listen. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

ROT - Cruel Face of Life · Morbid
Heavy. That is the word here. I have never heard vocals exactly like these before. Their singer truly sounds like he's in pain. The songs are all short and generally fast, which I happen to like. No clue about the lyrics, as I only have a "naked" CD (nothing besides the actual CD itself), but if the song titles are any indication, they're bound to be very interesting. - 8 - <Ray> **MC9**

ROT / SUBLIME CADAVERIC DECOMPOSITION - Split · Bones Brigade
The ROT section consists of 9 tracks of Crusty Death Grind supremacy. And then S.C.D. start up and really kick this into high fucking gear. These guys are maybe the most intense Grind I’ve heard for awhile. And they have cool song titles like "Female Sphincter Dilation," and "STOP Salad Vivisection ... NOW!!!" If only the lyrics had been included as they are for the ROT songs... But in place of a lyric sheet, you do get a blood splattered CD. This is extremely close to perfection, and absolutely cannot be missed. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

ROT / TWISTED TRUTH - Split 7" · Fudgeworthy
The infamous ROT deliver five devastating Grind blasts on their side, including an AGATHOCLES cover. TWISTED TRUTH Grind their way through their side with equal intensity, but without an obvious tracklisting... To top off this sicknessfest, it’s pressed on red vinyl, the lyrics are printed for I think everything (as I mentioned it’s kind of hard to tell for T.T.), and you get a "split sticker" featuring the logos of both bands. Okay, so I’m a sucker for shit like stickers and printing the lyrics, but you’d be hard pressed to find more or better intensity anywhere. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

ROTTEN SOUND - Under Pressure · Repulse
Their press release says that R.S. are Crust-Core, and they have the lyrics and short, repetitive, fast songs, to back that up. There are times when I think they must have a bit of Death Metal influence, too. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11**

ROTTEN SOUND - Still Psycho EP · Necropolis / Deathvomit
ROTTEN SOUND return with about 16 minutes of new Crusty Death / Grind, including a cover of "Reek of Putrefaction," and for those of us with computers, a shit-load of CD-ROM bonus videos. I'd say this is a clear improvement on their Under Pressure album, and really has me looking forward to their upcoming new LP. Hopefully it will be coming soon! - 9 - <Ray>

ROTTEN SOUND - Murderworks · Necropolis / Deathvomit
This nonstop speed and utter carnal brutality almost overdoses the listener, but only almost. The Crusty Death / Grind found here is intensity personified. The CD-ROM extras (live video clips) are okay, too, but I'd absolutely kill to see an Extreme Metal video that wasn't just a live performance. Okay, I know that's an expensive endeavor, and I guess I'd kill for a lot less anyway... - 8.75 - <Ray>

ROTTING - '93 & '91 demos · DEMO
This starts with the '93 demo, which has an unusually low sound level. They cover DEATH's "Pull the Plug," and do it about as well as Chuck ever has. Really their sound isn't too far off of Leprosy era DEATH, although the vocals are certainly heavier. The '91 demo has a louder sound. but the quality suffers somewhat. On both demos (which are on a single tape) the songs are pretty intense and usually memorable. With some money for production, ROTTING would be unstoppable. - 9 - <Ray> **MC8**

ROTTING - Human Race Liquidation · DEMO
Crushing Death, with simply outstanding production. The songs are interesting for other reasons than brutality, while the vocals are pretty much just brutal. Too bad there are only three songs on this. I hope to be hearing more from them soon. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

ROTTING CHRIST - Advance Tape · DEMO
Kinda Thrashy sounding. Everything here is cool, but the copy I received sounds kinda distorted. I don't know if it's just my copy or what, but it's not so bad. The songs show much originality and are memorable. I even like the Deathly vox, and the occasional variations. With better production, this band will achieve extreme greatness, and right now they beat the shit out of a lot of stuff I've heard. Upped some for having the balls to be as original as they are. - 9 - <Ray> **MC7**

ROTTING CHRIST - Ade's Winds · DEMO
What can I say about this band that is worthy of them? I'm not sure, but these two songs are about as supremely abyssic and dark as any Black Metal is or ever will be. These tracks also appear on their Thy Mighty Contract CD, which, like this demo, you absolutely need to own. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

ROTTING CHRIST - Non Serviam · Unisound
Where some other Black Metal bands try to use speed and a really raw production to evoke the dark sounds they want, ROTTING CHRIST deliver both an excellent production and generally slower, yet very powerful, songs, and manage to sound darker and more abyssic than most. All hail the kings. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

ROTTING CHRIST - Satanas Tedeum · Unisound
I was very happy to see that Unisound had released ROTTING CHRIST's first demo on CD, but this is even better than I expected. Of course the songs have all been remixed, so the sound is great - very raw, but clear. The real extra, for me at least, is the inclusion of the lyrics. I've always wondered what the lyrics are to "Feast of the Grand Whore." Now if only they would tour the USA (with NECROMANTIA and VARATHRON), I could die happy. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

ROTTING CHRIST - Triarchy of the Lost Lovers · Century Black
I must admit to being a bit worried about such a cult band signing to a very well known label, but my concerns were completely unfounded. This album is a slight directional change for ROTTING CHRIST, but instead of trying to become more accessible, they have wisely stripped their Black Metal onslaught back a little bit to the days of their demo Satanas Tedeum, or perhaps Passage to Arcturo. The loss of keyboardist (and NECROMANTIA main-man) M.W. Daoloth has really done little to alter their sound; there is still plenty of eerie synth-work amid the mid-paced riffs. Even after the first spin, the dark, haunting abyss created by these songs will pull you in and not let go. An excellent release! The import digipack version of the CD has 3 KREATOR covers as it's bonus tracks. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

ROTTING CHRIST - A Dead Poem · Century Media
After listening to this album I am surprised that ROTTING CHRIST didn’t change their name to go with this new style. That’s not to say that A Dead Poem isn’t a good disc, it is. I feel really weird about reviewing this, because these guys have been favorites of mine for a very long time, but it’s clear that when Jim Mutilator left after their last album, he took the old coffin spirit with him. This ROTTING CHRIST is too refined, too polished for their own good. Even the amazing production is too meticulous somehow. I guess they need at least a tiny raw edge, because although this is really flawless, it is not perfection. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11**

ROTTING CHRIST - Sleep of the Angels · Century Media
This is about as far removed from Passage from Arcturo as possible. But to be fair, without Jim Mutilator, this is really a different band, and shouldn’t be judged against their earlier work. As I said last issue, when reviewing A Dead Poem, I’m surprised they haven’t changed the band’s name yet - I’m sure that’s got to be coming... To get on with this review: This is even more slick and polished, production-wise than their last album, and also less melancholy, which is the real surprise, but might be due to the uber-production. Every song on here is super catchy, and they will stick with you after even one listen, but the sound is perhaps too perfect, too exact, and I think that has taken some of the energy away from what is otherwise an excellent album of, I guess I’ll say "Dark Metal." And according to the press release, this features a U.S. only bonus track. I hate it when the Japanese or European version has bonus cuts, so although I wish this "geographic bonus song" strategy would just go away, as long as I’m the one who gets the extra shit, I shouldn’t complain. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC12**

ROTTING CHRIST - Khronos · Century Media
Hell!!! I've been waiting for this to happen for a long time now and it's finally happened. ROTTING CHRIST is now officially a Black Metal band once more!! After 3 albums of progressively more and more Gothic music and less and less Metal, the lords of Hellenic Black Metal have returned to their roots. When I heard the first track, I immediately checked the inlay to see if they'd let Mutilator or Magus Wampyr Daoloth back into the band. No such luck, but after the departure of those two members, things changed in a more Wildhoney-era TIAMAT direction and many fans wondered if this was still the same ROTTING CHRIST. Khronos, on the other hand, sounds like a fusion of several of the earlier albums, from Thy Mighty Contract up until Triarchy of the Lost Lovers. This has all the trademark characteristics of older ROTTING CHRIST, the mid-paced melodic riffs, the atmospheric keyboards that don't drown everything out, Satanic as fuck lyrics and most important of all, that older "occult" feeling. - 9.5 - <Ychoril>

ROTTING CHRIST - Genesis · Century Media
I'll be honest, I wasn't completely leveled by 2000's Khronos. It had the unenviable task of following up the band's best work to date, Sleep of the Angels, their magnum opus (which not inconsequentially had an equally dubious task of following up A Dead Poem, my most-listened to album of 1997). So I wasn't exactly overwhelmed with anticipation for this release, but after 3 or 4 spins it's apparent that I should have been. Does this top RC's aforementioned 1-2 punch for the ages? No, but it comes pretty damn close. Genesis serves as a compendium of all the band's previously charted territory reconstructed, rearranged, and redefined with a very modern production and a mechanized flair that only ROTTING CHRIST could pull off. Now, granted there is nothing quite as raw here as Passage to Arcturo, but their rekindled affinity for Thrashy speed is instantly made known on "Daemons" and "Lex Talionis," the LP's first 2 tracks. Other highlights include the poignantly majestic "Dying," which would not sound out of place anywhere on A Dead Poem, and the haunting "Nightmare," which I believe is the sequel to "Der Perfekt Traum." It even seems to feature that song's lead melody backwards and the similarities don't stop there. Overall, this album should appeal to fans of ROTTING CHRIST from any era, unless you're one of those fags that gave up on them. Dumb asses! -9.5- <Jack>

ROTTING CHRIST - Genesis · Century Media
Hell Fucking Yeah! The old ROTTING CHRIST logo is back! This is the kind of album I've been wanting to hear since Thy Mighty Contract. You saw traces of the old Black Metal style and feeling creeping back into this band's music back on their last album (Khronos - also on Century Media) and with Genesis, ROTTING CHRIST has come full circle. Genesis is a rebirth of sorts as this is really the first time in almost a decade that the Satanic lyrics have made a full-on reappearance. The old Luciferian undercurrent made its way back on Khronos but never went all the way. Over the last four or five albums, ROTTING CHRIST has distanced themselves from the Black Metal genre and went the route of TIAMAT and MOONSPELL. The Goth Metal stuff was good, but at the same time, it seemed that the old ROTTING CHRIST sound and feeling was slowly slipping away. This is an older, wiser, ROTTING CHRIST that incorporates some of their Gothic style with the Hellish darkness that spawned them. The Gothic element gives them atmosphere but at the same time, the keyboards and female vocals are never overused. This is still primarily a guitar driven album with a keyboard backing. The combination of the older and newer styles is seamless, resulting in a very professional album that doesn't sound forced or contrived in the least. I'm probably going to regret not giving this a fucking 10 but I think that though Genesis is great, Thy Mighty Contract is still ROTTING CHRIST's masterwork. - 9.75 - <Ychoril>

ROTTING CHRIST - Sanctus Diavolos · Century Media
ROTTING CHRIST are not human. They are Gods and I worship them. Their musical vision is beyond anything mortal men can comprehend. The last decade or so has seen them really come into their own, far surpassing not only the style of Grecian Black Metal they themselves seamlessly hand-crafted, but music as we know it. This album further continues the experimentation they began with 2002’s Genesis a thousand fold. While this may be some of the fastest material they’ve ever created, it is also the most ambient, the most dark, the most passionate, and the most ominous they have ever sounded. Some of the angles and tempos on this album are so perplexing, that I have to wonder how they were possibly memorized. The production is otherworldly, the Gothic romanticism is rich, and the synthesizer work is downright eerie. It never ceases to amaze me how authentically evil ROTTING CHRIST make their music feel. This would not be an easy album for even the bravest of souls to listen to in the dark. Now, I may not hold this in the same class of absolute perfection as life-changing albums like A Dead Poem and Sleep of the Angels, but it’s simply because so much of this record is artistically beyond me. But make no mistake about it, Sanctus Diavolos is the soundtrack to demonic possession. - 9.75 - <Jack>

ROTTING CORPSE - The New Stuff · DEMO
ROTTING CORPSE is a highly talented Speed-Thrash unit from Coppell, Texas. They consist of Walt Trachsler (guitars & vocals), Dave Gryder (drums), Steve Murphy (bass), and Luke Brewer (guitar). This is the band’s third demo with which they hope to obtain a record deal. They are very fast and Dave seems a master with the sticks. I like how this band comes out of warp speed to a dead stop, then hits hyperspace. They are very good at speed changes. ROTTING CORPSE is definitely too fast to mosh to. They also appear to have put a lot of thought into their lyrics, which is something that many other bands somehow miss. It must be a gift. I enjoyed this tape. Pick one up. - 8.5 - <Lar> **MC4**

ROTTING CORPSE - Pain to Pleasure · American Line
Excellent riffs, but somewhat sloppy playing, especially the drums. This band's Thrashy Death attack could be tightened up a little, and I'm sure that will come with time. This seems to be more a hint of the band's potential than anything else. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

ROTTING HEAD - Backwardness · Shock Wave
Sometimes simple riffs can be used with awesome results. That happens occasionally here. The rest of the time, they’re too simple and repeat too often. R. H. seem to need more time to refine their material, because the good riffs they use do kick ass. It’s high-energy, but fairly by-the-numbers Death Metal. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

ROTTING HEAD - Backwardness · Shock Wave
This sometimes reminds me of a more raw NAPALM DEATH. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

ROTTREVORE - The Epitome of Pantalgia · DEMO
Extreme Death that is properly done. Brutal, raw, evil. The vocals are among the most intensely harsh I have ever heard. This borders on Noise. All five songs are equally heavy. There is really very little else to say. If you like extreme Death, ROTTREVORE fits the bill. - 8 - <Ray> **MC5**

ROTTREVORE - Copulation of the Virtuous & Vicious 7" · Relapse
Heavy, brutal, and fast. The heaviest vocals. ROTTREVORE is extreme Death/ Grind. And with this 4 song 7", they solidify their place among the leaders in the field. All four songs stand out and the only negative thing I can say is that the production is kinda bad. Not bad enough to ruin things, just enough to call attention to itself. A fine example of extreme Death. - 9 - <Ray> **MC7**

ROYAL ANGUISH - Shocking the Priest · A.R.T.
While the production leaves a little something to be desired, the songs are all pretty speedy, and fairly Deathly. The vocals are fairly raw, and the lyrics are of the Christian variety. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

RUDE AWAKENING - Scaring the Paper People · Nious
Fairly interesting Metal, perhaps comparable to a less upbeat HELLOWEEN, that ten years ago, would have probably been called "Power Metal." It's not completely amazing, but it absolutely has its moments. - 8 - <Ray> **MC10**

RUINATION - Rests of Beauty EP · Dangus
Majestic and dismal Doom/Death. It's well done, although they occasionally seem to lose their way for a moment. Not the heaviest, nor the most depressing, nor the most memorable, but enjoyable nonetheless. - 8 - <Ray> **MC10**

RUINATION - Visionary Breed · DEMO
When I hear that something was recorded at Abyss, I don’t really think of Death Rock, ala SENTENCED, but that’s where RUINATION recorded, & what they play. Play well, I might add. I’m not the biggest fan of this style, but there’s no denying that these guys are experts. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11**

RUMBLE MILITIA - Stop Violence and Madness · Century Media
Well, this band certainly has a wide musical range. From Deathrash all the way to a very commercial sounding song called "You're Sure." When they crank up the power, they're pretty cool, and to be honest, even when they become more mellow it's still kinda cool. Except they just go too far with the aforementioned "You're Sure," it sounds like some clusterfucked Glam/New Wave combination. That's not good, but what is worse is the awful "You're a Reflection of Your Video Programme," which starts really, really good then simply goes down in flames by repeating the title at least 16 times. They are original, but need some fine tuning and a more focused approach. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC7**

RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER / JUMBO'S KILLCRANE - split 7" · Red Candle
RUMPELSTILTSKIN GRINDER play uninspiring, sloppy Old School Death Metal with an embarrassingly bad array of vocal styles. It's like they aren't even trying. JUMBO'S KILLCRANE play a sludgy Stoner Doom, not unlike EYEHATEGOD or IRON MONKEY, that while being fairly heavy is poorly executed and under no circumstances enjoyable to listen to. Wow, two shitty songs by two worthless bands with gay names, and it's on an inferior format. Hurry, they only made 500! - 1.5 - <Jack>

RUNNING WILD - Victory · Pavement
RUNNING WILD released their first album over seventeen years ago. According to their bio, Victory is their eleventh studio album and, believe it or not, this is my first experience with them. Victory is a traditional Heavy Metal album (think mid-'80s JUDAS PRIEST). Most of the songs are mid-paced, but a galloping Power Metal style comes through on several tracks. They even do an enjoyable cover of "Revolution" by THE BEATLES. The guitars really stand out on this release. The production is well done all around. Those of you who own music by JUDAS PRIEST or ACCEPT will want to give RUNNING WILD a try. - 8 - <Painkiller>

RUPTURE - Elektra Complex · Fudgeworthy
While RUPTURE may not yet be the masters of depraved Grind, they're certainly trying. Just to read the lyrics to "Nudity Not Unity" was inspirational, and the actual music is even better. Misseth it not. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

RUST - Rust · Atlantic
For a second here and there this displays some energy, but then it evaporates. Pretty wimpy, and for the most part not very interesting. - 5 - <Ray> **MC8**

RUSTY - Fluke · Atlantic / Tag
This sounds like a record of out-takes from all the other Atlantic "Alternative" bands. When they really try, they can get almost tolerable for a second or two. You know, if you went to a party and this was playing, you would only have to murder everyone and fuck their corpses. It wouldn't be necessary to then later desecrate their graves, like it would had they been playing COLLECTIVE SOUL. - 3 - <Ray> **MC9**

RZEZNIA - Mathematic Grind · Selfmadegod
I usually don't subscribe to anything musical when the word "math" is applied. However, these guys aren't really mathematic, just Polish. They play a filthy brand of Grindcore, in the vein of FOUR SEATS FOR INVALIDES, old NAPALM DEATH, and old PUNGENT STENCH. The lyrics are in Polish, but guessing by the looks of things I'd assume "fuck Bush" and "save the animals" are the band's favorite concepts. This isn't bad, but it sure isn't great either. The intensity really begins to wear down after about five minutes, and there is a complete lack of catchiness. They might be a raging live act, but this disc doesn't hit nearly hard enough to make a dent in the genre. - 7 - <Jack>