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

Review Archive: V - W

VACANT GRAVE - Life or Death · DEMO CD
OK, first of all, the last two songs are CD only bonus tracks. Big mistake! They are the best two here. Leaving them off the cassette was insane. The rest of this recording is acceptable, if not actually original or really all that good. VACANT GRAVE have a generic Thrash sound. Take some EXODUS and some METALLICA and remove the aggression and thought process behind it and what you would have left is a shallow VACANT GRAVE. Perhaps they just need some time to develop a more distinct sound... - 6.75 - <Ray>
{VACANT GRAVE’s only claim to "fame" is that this was the first demo I ever received on CD. While fairly common now, a decade ago it was unheard of. As far as I know, V.G. may have been the first band ever to press their demo on CD.} **MC4**

VADER - The Ultimate Incantation · Relativity / Earache
Really cool Death Metal that breaks away from the boring. Yes, they grind like everyone else; yes they growl like everyone else; and yes they have evil lyrics like everyone else. But what they also have, that everyone else doesn't, is style. All their songs have plenty of originality. That makes then stand out. Definitely some of the best in the world of Death. - 9 - <John T> **MC8**

VADER - Sothis EP · Repluse / Baron
This is kind of a weird EP, since it has some experimental, completely un-Death Metal, tracks on it, along with the blistering onslaught you would expect. Also of note is their re-working of the seminal "Black Sabbath," which is musically fantastic, but vocally somewhat embarrassing. Not counting that little stumble, Sothis is a monster, and well worth picking up. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

VADER - De Profundis · Conquest / Impact
Earache must be insane to have let these fiends slip away from them. This is every bit as intense as their full-length debut, The Ultimate Incantation, and the band seems to have left most of their experimental tendencies behind on their Sothis EP. Thus, De Profundis is all Death, from the first second to the last - no bullshit, just destruction. So great is this recording that I would put it in the same league as the best from CANNIBAL CORPSE or DEICIDE. And in an act of nearly unprecedented coolness, the U.S. (Conquest) version of this CD has an extra track, however it (a cover of DEPECHE MODE's "I Feel You") is by far the weakest track on this album, but as Johnny Hedlund once told me, "If you don't like our cover song, use the fast-forward button as Odin intended." - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

VADER - Reborn in Chaos · Hammerheart
At long last, VADER’s legendary Necrolust (from 1989) and Morbid Reich (1990) are released on CD. The sound is quite good - better than I was expecting. And you know what to expect from VADER: Extreme Death! This is a must-buy situation, if you will. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

VADER - Black to the Blind · Pavement
Nearly perfect Death Metal. Just as I expected. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

VADER - Live in Japan · Avalon
Man, I fucking hate Japanese releases! Not because they suck, but because they’re so fucking much better than the shit you get in America. Not to mention the fact that this CD cost me 30 fucking dollars! I’m not sure if this is a Japan-only release or not [an inferior version is available on Pavement. -Ed.], but if it is, it just pisses me off even more! For a live CD, this fucking rules. The sound on it rivals the albums in terms of clarity and it has all the rage and aggression of their live shows thrown in on top of that. This was recorded during their Black To The Blind tour and has tracks from all of their previous releases, as well as three covers: "Dethroned Emperor," "Black Sabbath," and "Reign in Blood." If you don’t know who those are originally by, then you should seriously think about killing your poseur self right about now. The fan response on this is incredible. I don’t know how many people turned up to see VADER play, but it sounds like every one of them was totally into this band. That’s a trend I’ve noticed on every live recording I’ve ever heard come out of Japan – the fans really get into it. And they stay into it for all 70+ minutes of this album. On top of that, the packaging is also top-notch. Like most Japanese releases, the inlay book is fat and not only do they have all the lyrics to every song (except the covers) but they have all of them translated from English into Japanese as well. And if that wasn’t enough, they even added a band bio that tells you which songs came from what album and why the band chose to do the cover songs that they did! American labels take note! This is what kick-ass packaging is all about! The only label I’ve seen that has packaging as good is Moribund, and if they’re doing it, I know the rest can too. Fans of VADER, search this one out at all costs, you won’t be disappointed! [The US version on Pavement is different, of course. It’s missing "Dethroned Emperor," and at least one or two other cuts, as it’s only 61 minutes long, and the booklet is absolutely nothing compared to what is described above, having just a few b&w band photos, and no lyrics nor anything else. Why do the US versions of CDs always suck? - Ed.] - 10 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

VADER - Kingdom · Metal Mind
I was disappointed when this band dropped out of their slot on the MORBID ANGEL/INCANTATION tour because they were the band I really wanted to see. About two days after the show, I wandered down to the local record store and found this. There are 6 songs here, but make no mistake, this is not a new VADER album! This CD has three new trax, one rerecorded cut and two remixes. The new tracks have that signature VADER brutality and aggression (as does the rerecorded track), but if you hate Techno, you’ll hate the two remixes. Actually, I found myself liking the remixes almost as much as the rest of the CD, if you can believe it! It took some time to grow on me, but this is some really awesome shit! - 9 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

VADER - Litany · Metal Blade
Hell! VADER doesn't fuck around when it comes to dishing out the mayhem, do they? Litany is pretty much a carnage-fest from the get-go and from the sound of things, VADER should be passing out neck braces at the front door of every show on their tour. Granted, they incorporate some slower segments into their songs every now and then, but this is pretty much fast, furious and about as cute and cuddly as a psychotic wolverine on PCP. The production is pretty much the same as their previous outings, which is fine because they already have a clear, powerful sound. I don't think that this music can get much cleaner without sacrificing brutality (of which there is plenty). Also, in a move that is slowly becoming more popular, VADER has included a video file for those of us out there with computers. This is probably as close to seeing VADER on Empty-V as you're going to get. If you like tanks (MARDUK and ANGELCORPSE fans take note!) and Death Fucking Metal, the video track has both so check it out! - 9.75 - <Ychoril>

VADER - Revelations · Metal Blade
What would you expect from VADER, other than brutal, yet memorable, Death Metal? And of course, that's exactly what we get. Plus three bonus tracks on the US version! I'm sure that some idiots will complain that this album isn't enough of a "progression," or some kinda gay bullshit like that, but that's just wrong. VADER does continue to slowly refine their sound and songwriting, inching them closer and closer to perfection with each release. And Revelations couldn't be much closer. - 9.75 - <Ray>

VAGUE EMPRESS - Genetic Code Update · DEMO (CD)
I don’t know what to make of these guys. They dress like 80’s Power Metal dorks, complete with bullet belts, yet their music is a muddled mixture of styles, Thrash, Techno, JETHRO TULL-like Folk, Jazz beats, and whatever else they could think of. They get points for attempted diversity, but how about picking one style and doing it until you don’t suck anymore. - 5.5 - <Brainhammer/Doktor Necrosis> **MC12**

VAI - Sex & Religion · Relativity
The singer's voice is annoying. The guitar is less interesting than when Stevie was with David Lee Roth. Very disappointing, and I didn't expect too much. - 3.25 - <Greg> **MC8**

VALKYRIE - Past, Present...Future? · DEMO
VALKYRIE is an extremely talented band. Musically I am reminded of IRON MAIDEN, while the vocals of Doug Herbert sound more like PURGATORY (the one from Ohio). The last two songs of this four song endeavor, "I’ve Seen Tomorrow" and "Bloodthirsty," are impressive enough to merit getting this tape for them alone. The second song, "Endangered Species" is only slightly less impressive, it suffers from being somewhat too long. The first song, "Sea Ravens," is not quite as excellent as the rest. The music is fine, but the lyrics are kind of sappy. This tape has good production and sounds great. Past, Present...Future? is recommended. - 8.75 - <Ray>
{This band’s bassist, Kevin Bolembach, would go on to join NON-FICTION, and after they broke up, start another band called ODD MAN OUT} **MC4**

VANISHING POINT - Tangled in Dream · LMP / SPV
Melodic Hard Rock with excellent, sometimes aggressive drumming. I'm sure that someone would try to call this "Metal," but if not for the drums, this would be unbelievably wimpy. - 5 - <Ray>

VANITAS - Das Leben ein Traum · CCP
If you would like newer THERION if only it were a little heavier, then you might want to check out VANITAS. The "epic" feel is intact, completely with the occasional choirs and femals vocals, but VANITAS generally keep things more rooted in Death Metal, especially the growled male vocals, rather than the more Traditional Metal / Thrash of THERION's heavier recent moments. At their best, THERION might be better, but then again, they're not at their best 100% of the time, and VANITAS is fairly consistantly ass kicking. - 9 - <Ray>

VARATHRON - Genesis of Apocryphal Desire · DEMO
VARATHRON is a Greek 5-piece which is not afraid to show their Slaytanic influences. Several of their leads are note for note off of Seasons in the Abyss. They also are comparable in the skillful artwork of their drummer, Themis. And while he may not be able to keep up with Dave Lombardo for an entire headlining set, it is evident he can hold his own on a couple of songs. The vocals are more Deathly than SLAYER; they hold up fairly well. This is a quality demo- even where they are original, and it came with a good cover. Give it a listen. - 8.25 - <Lar> **MC6**

VARATHRON - His Majesty at the Swamp · Cyber Music
The CD version of this has the best packaging I have ever seen. I won't say any more about that, so you'll be surprised when you get it. Buying this is mandatory. VARATHRON, along with NECROMANTIA and ROTTING CHRIST, are the ineffable kings of Black Metal, and this is their masterpiece. That's all you should need to know. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

VARATHRON - Walpurgisnacht · Unisound
I was surprised to hear the first song sound more like IMMORTAL than the Black Thrash I was expecting. It appears that VARATHRON have taken the best elements of many styles and used them to expand their sound into an all-emcompassing abyss of Blackness. Their traditional riffy Black Metal is everywhere, and still has some keyboard parts, but is now supported by some even more atmospheric stuff, acoustic guitars, eerie whispers, as well as a little Blast of hate every once in a while. Inspirational. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

VARATHRON - The Lament of Gods EP · Pagan
Obviously I’m a huge VARATHRON fan (so much so that my label, Cursed Productions, rereleased their demos and 3 previously unavailable tracks on CD a couple years ago), but even I never expected this perfection. Not only is this VARATHRON’s best work to date, it is the best Greek Black Metal I’ve ever heard - and yes, I have heard it all (previously, ROTTING CHRIST’s Passage to Arcturo held the title). In fact, there is damn little in any category that could equal this, much less top it. Finally, the band has a production worthy of their hauntingly memorable music, and Necroabyssious’ vocals have never sounded more powerful. And to prove that they dare all, the masters of Abyssic Black Metal also include their amazing cover of the MERCYFUL FATE classic, "Nuns Have No Fun," which is, dare I say it, at least the original’s equal. I am very proud to bestow upon my Grecian brothers the highest of all honors possible within the unhallowed pages of Metal Curse: A perfect rating. - 10 - <Ray> **MC12**

VARATHRON - Crowsreign · Black Lotus
Originators of the Black Metal scene in Greece, VARATHRON has always been sort of like ROTTING CHRIST’s more mischievous cousin. Never vying for the spotlight, VARATHRON have maintained a strong underground following for nearly two decades. Their last recording, 2000’s Lament of Gods EP, showed the band experimenting more with an emphasis on atmosphere. Toying with acoustic guitars and pianos really brought a new level to the band’s traditionally raw Black/Death. This time around, I’m sad to report, they may have taken the experimentation too far. We’ll start with the positives. Necroabyssious’ gruff grunts are still in fine form, definitely one of the most unique and unmistakable voices in extreme music. The riffs still kick ass, and musically speaking overall, there is nothing really wrong. Acoustics, pianos, orchestral instrumentation, and perhaps the finest drumming on a VARATHRON record to date assure a diverse and enjoyable palette to add to the extremity. What is wrong is Necroabyssious’ spoken word/talk-vocals scattered way too frequently throughout the opus. He sounds like a Frenchman with irreparable brain damage. It kills so much of this. The song lengths are also an issue. Most of these 8-10 minute songs would be better off cut to 5-7 minutes. Still, flawless cuts "The Grim Palace" and "A Vision of a Nameless Soul" are probably worth the price alone. When it comes down to it, these guys are Metal geniuses and they will always have my support and respect. I’m merely suggesting it wouldn’t hurt to go back to the basics a little. -8.75 - <Jack>

VARECH - Choosen Reekhearsals · DEMO
The synth is strangely more present than the guitars, but they are there, supporting it all, with the drums. It would be more emotional and depressing is the singer didn't have such a barky yell. That sort of brings a different mood to things, and perhaps disrupts the atmosphere. But does not destroy it. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

VAUDEVILLE - To Dimensional Logic · Advent
Since the release of this CD, these guys have changed their name to VAUXDUIHL. I have heard that they have also moved to a heavier sound to coincide with the name change. But, as for this album, it's very technical Progressive Metal, that would make the dorks in DREAM THEATER commit suicide. Musically very impressive, although as you might imagine generally sort of mellow, and the recording is very clear, thus capturing their sound very well. The vocals fit the music perfectly, and are well sung and always exact, although this sometimes makes them sound sort of emotionless. At $22 a disc, you'd think this was the new DARKTHRONE CD. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

THE VAYNES / THE PSYCHODELICS - Split 7" · Fanatic
It’s great to see that my old pal Bloody Mess (formerly of the mighty SKABS) has a new band and some new stuff out. Their high energy Punk sounds good on the first of their two tracks, but really shines on the other track, a cover of Nancy Sinatra’s "These Boots Are Made for Walkin’." Man, I hope their full-length album gets released soon. On the other side, THE PSYCHODELICS also do a cover, "Ballroom Blitz," as well as some other, extremely low-fi, tunes of their own. I’m alternately reminded of DEAD KENNEDYS, MISFITS, and early MEAT SHITS, all recorded live to jam box. I’d be really interested in hearing what these guys could do if they were given some studio time. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

VEHEMENCE - Good Shot... Gang Member Dies · DEMO
Hardcore/ Thrash/ Punk five song demo with lyrics and b&w cover. This band would fit perfectly on a tour with IMPETIGO and M.O.D. The singer is heavy sometimes, lame at others. He sounds like the singer of MALEVOLENT CREATION at times. Popular Thrash & Death riffs throughout the whole demo. VEHEMENCE would be a cool band if they didn't borrow styles so much. They even have a little S.O.D. and D.R.I. in them. Not bad though, at least I like it. Favorite song: "Crimson Death." - 8.25 - <Rob> **MC7**

VELOCITY - Ejeyoeria · Black Lotus
A fitting name for this band, as this is high octane Metallic Punk with an IMPALED NAZARENE-like intensity. Now, even though this guy has the perfect Old School Crust lungs, his voice is completely understandable and only about 25% of the lyrics are in English. I’m sorry, it just really throws me and I can’t get past it. A solid band and album, but I’m not going to be learning Greek anytime soon. - 7.75 - <Jack>

VENGINCE - Hatecrimes · DEMO (CD)
After only a few seconds it’s pretty apparent that VENGINCE is a very new band, and I hate to discourage those just starting out. But this is terrible. It’s mostly the very badly sung/spoken clean vox, which are "happy" sounding, and have utterly no aggression or intensity. I honestly can’t believe that anyone could listen to this and think that the vox are anything but a bad joke. The guy singing should have been too embarrassed to ever let this see the dark of night. The music, which is more or less in the Thrash range, probably sounds better live, since the mix has destroyed it’s energy, but there are also quite a few rough spots in it. My advice: More practice and a new singer. - 5 - <Ray> **MC11**

VENGINCE - Mental Implantation · DEMO (CD)
These poor devils. They try so hard, but even with all the musical improvements over their last demo, Hatecrimes, the weird/spoken vocals of Mr. Relentless Mobber really bring this down. When there is an instrumental passage, I can see where they were going with the songs, and often get into it. Then Relentless starts talking or does something crazy (in the bad way), and it’s usually mixed way over the top of the music, so it’s pretty hard to just ignore. Occasionally he breaks out a growly voice, or a shrieky one, and those are better, with the growls usually being passable. In reference to the review I gave Hatecrimes last issue (it got a 5), the band told me, "We’ve never been more insulted in print before." Well, that’s sort of cool really, and they must be good sports to have sent me this follow-up demo after that, so I really wanted to hear the improvement, and like this disc. And they have certainly improved, even with the vocals. But Relentless’s attempts to be "original" (and I only assume that is his reason for the vocal insanity) often don’t fit with the music in any way, and generally fuck things up. Try singing in a way that matches or compliments the music, rather than trying so hard to be different. To be fair, there are even a few good spots vocal-wise, like the buildup to the growled vocals at the end of "Affliction of Pretension." Now that’s a good use of differing vocals styles. Or at least a better one. Some of these 10 songs (this is about 47 minutes long) are musically good Death/Thrash, and they all have elements of greatness in them (parts of "Transmitted Sleaze," for example, are excellent), and things sort of get better as this goes along, but nothing ever really comes together all the way, mostly thanks to the inconsistency of the vocals. If they continue to improve musically, and Relentless can narrow his vocal focus, their next release may be a monster. - 7 - <Ray> **MC12**

VENI DOMINE - Spiritual Wasteland · Thunderload
Picture every self indulgent PINK FLOYD-ian moment from Operation: Mindcrime played with DREAM THEATER’s "epic" overproduced sound. Add to that some Christian Millennium / Apocalypse gobbledygook to create a concept album out of this crap. Why do we need another Metal concept album? The best one was released in 1976: RUSH’s 2112. Buy that, not this. - 3.5 - <Brainhammer/Doktor Necrosis> **MC12**

VENOM - Temples of Ice · Under One Flag
VENOM have returned yet again with their third release since the D-Man took over for Cronos, and while Temples of Ice is no Black Metal, it's not shit either. This LP contains 9 new songs and a cover of the song "Speed King" that is disappointing to say the least. I wish they had simply left it off. They do, however, continue the "Teacher's Pet" storyline with a new tune called "Playtime." It's not quite as good as "Skool Daze," but it is better than "Teacher's Pet." The song "Tribes" is about the movie Nightbreed (or the book Cabal, both by Clive Barker) and is the best track here. I guess I have heard better, but this is pretty good and the D-Man shows off his bass skills a little. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC6**

VENOM - Resurrection · Steamhammer / SPV
The original line up only lasted for only one album (Cast in Stone, their previous one), and of all people, now Abaddon has quit. He'd held things together for so long, that I was sure his departure would mean the end of the band, but Cronos and Mantas just found some new drummer, who is really good by the way, and kept going with this new disc. It's more or less in the same vein as Cast in Stone, which is to say that it's Thrashy and very well produced, with Cronos' distinctive voice being the one thing to really remind you of "old" VENOM. Still, a great album - I just hope they can keep a stable line up... - 9.25 - <Ray>

DIE VERBANNTEN KINDER EVAS - In Darkness Let Me Dwell · Draenor / Napalm
This is the second CD by Darkwave / Gothic sensations DIE VERBANNTEN KINDER EVAS and much like the first album, this is a pure fucking masterpiece. It has atmosphere by the ton and is about as dark and brooding as a stormy day. If you are a fan of bands like AUTUMN TEARS, DEAD CAN DANCE or ARCANA, then this is certainly a band to search out. Black Metal fans might also want to check this one out as it has a member of SUMMONING in the band (I believe it is Protector - Silenius was also in this band, I believe, but is not listed as being on this album). In a way, this band shares a lot with SUMMONING. Both are keyboard heavy and are very atmospheric. DIE VERBANNTEN KINDER EVAS can be considered the yang to SUMMONING's yin in that they are in many ways different sides of the same coin. While one is Metal, the other is Gothic. While one is epic, the other is depressive and gloomy. They both rely heavily on the same instrumentation and song structures but they come off as being two separate entities in themselves. My tastes run deeply through both territories (as well as several others...) so I ended up loving this album to no end. - 9.75 - <Ychoril>

DARRIN VERHAGEN - Soft Ash · Darkwave
About 50 minutes of real minimal ambience. Not bad, I guess, but there’s not much here to work with. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

VERMIN - Scum of the Earth · DEMO
Like a scalpel carving the life out of someone, VERMIN's brutality comes from an utterly relentless attack, with surgical precision. The vocals are raw and rip through the remaining flesh of the listener like a chainsaw, leaving only Death in their bloody wake. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

VERMIN - Millennium Ride · Metal Blade
Your basic mid 90s "heavy" alterna-core "Metal" sound. Think COC but with less soul and sub par vocals. Real nice guitar sound, but that won't make this album good. Maybe with a new vocalist you could sell this someday. The last track is by far the best, I guess they should've put that one first. - 7 - <Bob>

VERY METAL - Hit and Run · Beer City
I'm a little surprised that I don't like this Hardcore Punk band a little more than I do. I can hear the DRI and EXPLOITED influences pretty clearly, and VM are certainly energetic enough... But despite the fact that I can't point to anything as being deficient, this somehow isn't all that great. Not one bad thing about it, though... - 7.75 - <Ray>

VESPER'S DESCENT - Three Faces of Eve · Prime Cuts
Thrashy Death Metal with a huge MAIDEN influence in the melody department. I know you could say the same thing about a million fucking bands right now, but these guys do it really well. I would guess them to be huge DISSECTION fans also, as their faster material really has that feel. The band also utilizes groove, rarely but effectively, leaving me not a lot to complain about musically, and I like the lyrics. So, what's the problem? Yes, unfortunately the vocals leave some to be desired. The vocal style is, more or less, a raspy, dry throat heavily lacking sharpness and depth. The vocals are too quiet, too thin, and just not up to the level of the music, almost a whisper by comparison. It could be the production, I suppose. While everything is clear, there could be more thunder in the guitar and drum sounds, as well. Overall, with a little more vocal fire, and perhaps a Tatgren turning the knobs, there would be nothing to stop this quartet from making a lasting impact. - 8.25 - <Jack>

VHALDEMAR - I Made My Own Hell · Arise
Imagine if DROPKICK MURPHY’s traded in their kilts for studded leather and attempted their best JUDAS PRIEST impersonation. Is it just me or did the number of Power Metal bands staggeringly increase when it was discovered that sex with Rob Halford was actually a realistic possibility? - 1 - <Jack>

VICIOUS CIRCLE - Cryptic Void · JL America
They take a little from Thrash as well as some from Black Metal, and reshape it into a kind of evil science fiction Death Metal. The opener, "Experimental Flesh," is the tale of a mad scientist's murderous henchman that is a highlight of the whole year, and it's too bad it's all not quite as good after that. It does, however, have enough chaos, fear, and reincarnation to keep it afloat. - 8 - <J.J.> **MC8**

VICIOUS CIRCLE - Live Long and Suffer · DEMO (CD)
These four songs are a Thrash/Hardcore crossover, with a few Death elements. Good sound, competent playing, and energetic execution. Not the greatest thing I've ever heard, but it's pretty good, and the price is right. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

VICIOUS FISHES! - Vicious Fishes · DEMO
Weird Punk, I guess. Lots of different influences, and I only call this Punk because I can't figure out anything else, and they are certainly influenced by Punk, but also by a ton of other stuff. This is very far away from any kind of Metal at all, so it may be good for whatever it is and I just don't know, but I don't really care for it. - 6 - <Ray> **MC8**

VICTIMS OF INTERNAL DECAY - Victims of Internal Decay · Grind Core
They play Death Metal, cover both BLACK SABBATH and GREEN RIVER, and have managed to record a good album. Not excellent, but clearly showing the potential. They need only a little more time to further refine their sound, but this is still well worth hearing. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

VIDEO SEX POPE - The Last Temptation of Bob · DEMO
With the name of both the band and demo inspired by Jello Biafra, I was expecting a different sound. These guys are heavy, but not Metal. Sort of like how NEUROSIS is heavy, but their style is different. As with a bunch of other stuff, this is hard to describe, but it's different, and I like it. - 8 - <Ray> **MC8**

VIKING CROWN - Unorthodox... EP · Baphomet / Red Stream
Anymore, I just don’t know what to think. Here we have a side project from NECROPHAGIA member, "Anton Crowley," who as you may or may not know is in reality Phil from PANTERA. Out of respect for Red Stream, and NECROPHAGIA / Baphomet Records main man Killjoy, I should just shut the fuck up now, but I really can’t. Even if I didn’t already despise Phil and his trend jumping main band PANTERA, this Black Metal attempt would be laughable. First off, the recording is bad. I mean, extremely bad. This sounds like it was done with a drum machine (generally set to "blast," of course) plugged into the left channel of a boom box, and everything else played and sung live into the right. That might explain why the left channel is seriously twice as loud as the right, or maybe Phil thought that would make it more "evil" or whatever. And the songs themselves are terrible, anti-riff shit, sometimes little more than white noise. As a parody of Black Metal, this would be hilarious, but since he’s a trendy, clueless poseur, Phil is of course dead serious, and apparently this was the best he could do. Unless he figured that thanks to the "PANTERA factor," brain-dead people would buy it anyway, so there was no need to even try... That could be, but in any case, I just can’t believe that Killjoy listened to this atrocity and thought it would be a good idea to release it. Give me a fucking break! It pains me to give a Red Stream release such a low rating, but you get what you deserve around here. - 1 - <Ray> **MC12**

VILE - Vile-ation ’97 · DEMO
I bought this tape at the DEICIDE show here in S.F. one rainy night and like I expected (having seen this band once or twice before already), this is pretty much your standard CANNIBAL-Death band. These guys have that Tomb of the Mutilated style of CANNIBAL CORPSE worship down very well. Unfortunately, most of us who like CANNIBAL CORPSE already have three or four albums of this stuff. This is not to put down VILE’s ability. They are very tight and have tons of energy when playing live. The biggest mountain they have to climb is the one that has the word "originality" written all over it. I’m hoping that their new album will have this problem sorted out a little more than this tape did. As an added bonus, there are three songs from their Unearthed ‘96 demo on side 2, which makes this a fairly worthwhile purchase in terms of quantity of material. VILE doesn’t suck, they just aren’t doing anything new or different. If they can inject some of their own ideas into the mix, they could be contenders for the crown. - 8.5 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

VILE - Stench of the Deceased · Listenable
Does anyone remember that period in Metal journalism during the mid-to-late 90's, when virtually any band playing brutal Death Metal was instantly labeled a "CANNIBAL CORPSE clone?" As if being able to equal CANNIBAL CORPSE's brutality and technical skill was such an ashamedly awful thing! Listening to this VILE album again, which has been reissued with three live tracks and a cut from the 1996 Unearthed demo, made me think of those times. Yes, quite frankly, this Californian quintet does owe a tremendous lot to CANNIBAL CORPSE. The influence and similarities to their past and present works are glaring and undeniable. How that's a bad thing, though, is beyond me. To this Death Metal-addicted pothead, it simply means more creamy goodness. In fact, I think I'll have seconds. - 9.25 - <Jack>

VILKATES - Angeldust and Blasphemy · Last Episode
Maybe I have not been clear enough before now: Enough with the fucking weak-assed, long intros. You want a cool intro? Go listen to ACCEPT’s "Fast As a Shark." That’s how you do it! Okay, now that I’ve gotten that out of my system, what we have here is actually pretty evil Black Death Metal. Fast, heavy, and intense, but just not done to perfection. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

VIM PATIOR - Magni Nominis Umbra · Blackened
I really appreciate that these blasphemers slow things down every now and then and allow their Black Metal to occasionally be heavy as well as intense. Fast, keyboard heavy Black Metal is certainly nothing new, but the thicker production and tempo alterations go a long way towards making this a unique experience. But how can these guys play their instruments with those hooker-length fingernails? - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

VINTERRIKET / NORTHAUNT - Split · Flood the Earth
I don’t really know how to review this Ambient soundscape type of stuff. It’s like a really long intro or some kind of film score to me. I appreciate the ominously gloomy, oppressive vibes, but I so rarely crave things like this. Done about as well as keyboards and nature sounds are going to be done, I’m sure. I’m just not the right audience. - 7.75 - <Jack>

VINTERRIKET - Der letzte Winter (Der Ewigkeit Entgegen) · Flood the Earth
Now this I am the right audience for! This is more like it. VINTERRIKET has taken his depressive, astral, instrumental aesthetic and applied a layer of gracefully tormented, ancient Scandinavian Black Metal, complete with vocals, to about 80% of it. The two elements combine for a sound that is truly epic, authentic, and downright evil. Soothing, yet misanthropic. Like both eras of BURZUM rolled into one. Majestically depressing, and in a word, haunting. - 9.25 - <Jack>

VINTERSEMESTRE - Kirkkokyrp- · Autonomy
More new wave Black Metal. It’s fast, with "majestic" keyboards. So, there’s nothing new or innovative about this, but they’re competent and the production is clear, so there’s nothing wrong, either. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

VINTERSORG - Till Fjalls · Napalm
There are some similarities to OTYG and their Norwegian counterpart, STORM, but overall this stuff sounds most like the band ULVER. This isn’t a blatant rip-off, but if you listen to the first ULVER album and then throw this on, you can really hear the similarities. In terms of production, I noticed that when Vintersorg employs the traditional B.M. raspy vocal style, there is some distortion around his voice, which immediately disappears when he uses clean vocals or stops singing. Other than that, things are pretty good in the mixing and recording areas. The CD booklet has all the lyrics printed and a whole lot of photographs of snow-covered mountain sides thrown in. Unfortunately, I don’t know what all the songs are about because everything is in Swedish (yet another language I can’t speak) but they are catchy and, like with OTYG, you may catch yourself attempting to sing along. - 8.5 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

VINTERSORG - Cosmic Genesis · Napalm
Having never heard the earlier VIONTERSORG albums, I'd still have to guess that this is the heaviest and most Metal one so far. While singing in his "harsh" mode and really trying to be energetic, this is very good. However, Mr. Vintersorg also operates in another mode with wimpy clean vocals and an almost total lack of intensity. He should separate these concepts into two different bands, since each ruins the other completely, and I can't imagine anyone who likes one style liking the other, anyway. I should have had my evil cohort Ychoril review this as he is more Folk tolerant than I am... - 5 - <Ray>

VIO-LENCE - Oppressing the Masses · Megaforce/Atlantic
This is the long awaited second album from VIO-LENCE. I for one, think it was worth the wait. If you are not familiar with VIO-LENCE, let me caution you about their singer’s (Sean Killian) voice. It takes some getting used to. His style is very wild, like an insanely demented version of Steve Souza (EXODUS). Musically this band is untouchable. The songs are all memorable and very powerful and heavy. Add to this Sean’s vocals, which sound more like another instrument than someone’s voice (for the most part), and you have a sound that is impossible to forget. Lyrically there are occasional stumbles, but they always recover. So, if you can get used to Sean’s vocal style (as I have), Oppressing the Masses is an incredible album. If, however, Sean’s vocals are a problem for you, then they could well ruin the album for you. I feel that Sean’s vocals add something to the overall VIO-LENCE sound and that the band would be far different without him. I strongly recommend Oppressing the Masses. - 9 - <Ray>
{VIO-LENCE was a unique Metal voice, and it saddens me to think that anyone involved with this great band would ever stoop so low as to be in MACHINEHEAD. The world sucks.} **MC3**

VIO-LENCE - Torture Tactics EP · Megaforce/ Caroline
I have to say that I can't see what the big fucking deal is with the title track. It was not included on either of the 2 VIO-LENCE LP's, because the VIO-LENCE dudes refused to have it censored. I assumed they meant the lyrics, but they are printed here and are nowhere near as bad as the last two songs on this four song EP, "Gutterslut" and "Dicks of Death." So either they changed the lyrics (which I don't think is the case), or this whole thing was just a bunch of shit. There's an interesting story here, somewhere. Also on this EP is a cool, live version of "Officer Nice." A curious, albeit interesting, release. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC6**

VIOLATION - Beyond the Graves · Last Episode
Playing Death that’s both atmospheric & sometimes brutal, VIOLATION have come up with an interesting idea. This was recorded at the legendary Abyss studio, so the sound is flawless, but I’m not sure I can say the same for the music. I like it, & the vox, too, but although they are trying to have an individual sound, they don’t really. This is still cool, but not as innovative as the press release would have me believe. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

VIOLATION - Beyond The Graves · Last Episode
If DISMEMBER and HYPOCRISY ever had a bastard offspring, it would probably sound a hell of a lot like VIOLATION. This has that overdriven distortion that the first wave of Swedish Death Metal and some of the darker keyboard parts that HYPOCRISY added to some of their songs. This has all the aggression and brutality that the newer bands (melody, melody, melody...) lack, with a touch of atmosphere. This band is even produced by Peter and Michael of HYPOCRISY at studio Abyss, so you know the sound is fucking amazing. If you like the first bands to burst out of Sweden when Death Metal boomed in ‘90 - ‘91 (DISMEMBER, HYPOCRISY, UNLEASHED, etc.) with a touch of the newer school, find this, buy it and call your doctor cuz you’re about to experience VIOLATION. - 9.5 - <Ychoril> **MC12**

VIOLENT ENCOUNTER - Prisoner of Pain, No More! · DEMO
VIOLENT ENCOUNTER is a strange band. Sort of Thrashy, like how MUCKY PUP was on their Boy In A Man’s World LP. Yet they are more than Thrash. Or at least different. They seen to have a lot of varying influences. Their sound is different. The vocals of Linwood R. Colpritt III (who also plays guitar) are sort of growly, not exactly raw or smooth: just growly. It’s interesting to hear a band try to do this many different things with their music. Sometimes it works really well and sometimes it just doesn’t. This tape is a real hot/ cold type of thing. Favorite songs include: "Frigid Oblivion" and "Scanky Psychoscumfuck." I think the only problem is their focus is too wide, they need a concentrated attack. - 7.5 - <Ray>
[Somewhere along the way, I unfortunately lost contact with Linwood, but he lead various V.E. line-ups in releasing a lot of original sounding music. Although I haven’t played this tape in years (which is something I’m going to correct as soon as I’m done typing this thought), I can still hear "Frigid Oblivion" playing in my mind.] **MC4**

VIOLENT ENCOUNTER - Holiday Havok EPP Vol. 1 · DEMO
This 10 song demo is mostly tongue-in-cheek, but several of the songs are really cool, such as: "Killer Easterbunny," "I Saw Santa in His Underwear" (which reminds me of the MISFITS a little), "Egotistical Ridiculing Boneheads" (interesting and the VIOLENT dudes even cover "The Gambler" in the middle). Humorous Thrashcore that has more than a little musical integrity. It's not supposed to be serious, and it is an entertaining alternative to all the mega-serious Death and Grind that is currently dominating the Underground. Check it out and have some fun! - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC7**

VIOLENT INSANITY - Violent Insanity · DEMO
Occasionally something really cool happens, usually it's the vocals. But for the most part, this is fairly standard Death, and there are hundreds of bands that play this style. I would suggest doing something a little different than the normal. But I guess I'm being mean to V.I., because this is actually pretty cool, in fact cool enough that I can tell they could be great with a little push toward a more original sound. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

VIOLENT WISDOM - Demo 1 · DEMO
Reasonably harsh Deathrash. Nick's vox are clearly a plus, especially on "The Price of Insanity." He sounds like a cross between Russ (FORBIDDEN) Anderson and Barney (NAPALM fuckin' DEATH) Greenway. Sometimes he actually sings and others it's total Death. An interesting combination, and he really pulls it off. All four songs are worthy and this is worth checking out. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC7**

VIOLENT WISDOM - Demo 2 · DEMO
Wow! The music is heavier and tighter. Nick's vocals are more melodic at times and also extremely more heavy, His wipe-out at the end of "Origin of Sin" is easily one of the best ever recorded. Also some funky bass work can be found, especially on "Grunge Funk." This is an interesting combination of styles. Note: you should get these demos while you can. V.W. have changed their name to DYSPHORIA and their style to ultra brutal Death (they just eliminated the Funky stuff and heavied up the music a little). - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC7**

VIPER - Theatre of Fate · Empire
VIPER sounds quite a bit like old HELLOWEEN, back when they were still good. There are also some keyboards and even actual orchestration on a couple songs. I'm not too sure how many people will like this now, since it really is sort of out of time, stylistically. And that's too bad, since it's always good, and occasionally excellent. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

VIRAL LOAD - Severed Immunity · DEMO
Although drums are credited to Dave Otto, I'm certain that they were actually played by a Dr. Rhythm or some other machine. Of course I don't have a problem with someone using a drum machine, but don't use one if you're embarrassed to admit to it. The music is normally high-energy Death, but sometimes Donny goes all "Hard Rock" with his vocals, which I think is a terrible mistake. - 8 - <Ray> **MC10**

VIRAL LOAD - Brutalized Beyond Belief · Bloated Dog
Brought to you courtesy of flesh, gore & whores. VIRAL LOAD brings forth plenty of horror and death-filled lyrics, a bit of mic cupping, some impressive screams throughout, drum machine action and a quite a few impressive guitar works. In their song, "Crack Whore," they describe a woman addicted to crack and forced to suck plenty of dick to get it. And if the crack doesn’t kill her, it’s clearly stated that the "...viral load will make her sick." That would make me quit smoking crack. - 7 - <ANG> **MC11**

VIRGIN BLACK - Sombre Romantic · The End
This is a beautifully crafted, splendid endeavor of breathtakingly graceful opera-inspired Gothic Metal, woven with symphonic elegance and a keen artistic vision... for me to poop on! - 1 - <Jack>

VIRGIN STEELE - The House of Atreus Act II · T&T / Noise
This mythological concept album 2-CD set is described by the band as a "barbaric-romantic opera," whatever the hell that's supposed to mean. These guys are competent musicians, no doubt, but this is really pretentious, light-as-helium Rock with "Metal" drumming, that even a "Soft Rock" guy like Billy Joel would probably describe as "pussified," if not for the aforementioned drum-work. As an all instrumental band, I might be able to deal with it, but every time they start to draw my interest musically, this guy squeaks out some mousy weakness. He has moments of better vocals, but never of any real duration. It's really a shame that I don't like this, because the mythological lyrics are interesting, as is the overall concept. I guess I'll give them a little extra credit for trying, and for the cool looking dripping-blood prints on the CDs. - 6.75 - <Ray>

VIRUS 7 - Sick in the Head · Metal Blade
Hank Sherman or not, this fucking sucks. There should be more to a song than repeating the title 64 times in a row and ripping off the gayest riffs in the universe. I cannot understand why Hank would be involved with something like this. - 1 - <Ray>

VISIBLE TOUCH - Forgotten Land · DEMO (CD)
Extremely well played Progressive Hard Rock. Includes a somewhat out of place (but cool) cover of "Love Gun." - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

VISIBLE TOUCH - Vienna · DEMO (CD)
Much like their above CD, but perhaps a bit more emotional. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

VISION OF DISORDER - Vision of Disorder · Roadrunner
When they try to have an original idea, it fails utterly. The rest of the time, they're trying as had as they can to be tough guys, and also failing. I was going to make more fun of these mini-pads, but I need the space for real bands. - 2 - <Ray> **MC10**

VISION OF DISORDER - Imprint · Roadrunner
This is a huge improvement over their last album. - 7 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

VISION OF DISORDER - For the Bleeders · Go-Kart
"Yo, V.O.D., muthafucka!" Yeah, you're real tough guys, you dorks. I wonder if they even believe it themselves. I have a hard time understanding a few things about this band: 1. How can they talk so tough, when half the time they're singing in 64-part harmony like BOYZ II MEN? 2. Go-Kart is the same label THE MEATMEN are on, so why hasn't The Dutch Hercules, Tesco Vee, kicked all their candy asses yet? I was going to go on, but I think I've figured out that V.O.D. just want to be the "Hardcore" version of FEAR FACTORY, and plus I need the space for bands that aren't 10th rate rip-offs of sellout pieces of shit. Tesco, please kill these pussies! - 1 - <Ray>

VISIONS OF ATLANTIS - Cast Away · Napalm
I should have had Jack review this. Then you could be reading something really funny about the extremity of gayness found on this plastic disaster. But you’re stuck with me, and the unbelievably lame Cunt Rock of VISIONS OF ATLANTIS is giving me such a headache that I can’t think of anything other than ejecting the disc and grinding it into dust. Well, that and perhaps also that "...AND OCEANS" might not be the stupidest band name I’ve ever heard of anymore. - 1.25 - <Ray>

VITAL REMAINS - Excruciating Pain · DEMO
This five song demo has a full color cover and a thanks list. Also featured are an intro and an outro, both of which are interesting. Musically and vocally Death, the only fault this tape has is a very "muddy" production. But what can you do? I wish they had a larger budget, because you can tell the songwriting and conviction are both there. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC5**

VITAL REMAINS - The Black Mass 7" · Thrash
Interesting and rather Satanic intro. Hum... Black Metal. Good Black Metal. All the expected "God died in pain" kind of stuff is here, so all you cross burners will be happy. The musical ability is also very much present, as are the raw, powerful vocals. The production is clear and distinct, even though the level is a bit low. This 2 song release is really good, my favored song being "Frozen Terror," although "Of Pure Unholyness" is very close to it. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC7**

VITAL REMAINS - Let Us Pray · Grindcore / Deaf
Even better than their impressive 7". the production is obviously superior, and they have never sounded tighter. Ominous, eerie keyboards occasionally haunt the songs, and add to the evil feeling. Truly a great piece of Satanic Death. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

VITAL REMAINS - Dechristianize · Olympic / Century Media
When I heard that Glen Benton (yes, the guy with the inverted cross burned into his forehead) had joined VITAL REMAINS, I feared for the worst. I was half afraid that VITAL REMAINS would go from being a very good Blackened Death Metal band to being a second-rate DEICIDE clone - a tag that they've been trying to escape for the last decade. Granted, their first couple albums were straight-out DEICIDE worship but their last couple albums showed VITAL REMAINS stepping away from that style and showcasing more atmosphere and songwriting style. The thing that puts VITAL REMAINS above the rest, in my opinion, is the guitar soloing. The songs themselves are good, solid Death Metal but the soloing puts them over the top. Once things get going, Dechristianize is an evil fucking mass of seething Satanic hatred. There is an unholy atmosphere at work on this album and two songs in, it is very apparent that our lord and master SATAN has given his blessing to this project. The rest just put more nails in your coffin. Even the most die-hard DEICIDE fan will have to admit that Dechristianize is a better album than anything DEICIDE has done in the last five to eight years. -9.5 - <Ychoril>

VOICE OF DESTRUCTION - Bloedrivier · Morbid
Pretty decent Death/Thrash with a twist of Doom from South Africa of all places. All the songs have their share of awesome slammy pit riffs and trippy beats, but why are the vocals (which seem to be done well) so buried in the mix? Who knows. This CD might take a couple listens to really get into, and I'd bet they are an even better live act, but overall, I'd say that this is well worth the cash. Fairly original, also, and has a great album cover. Explore. - 8.75 - <JACK> **MC10**

VOID - Posthuman · Nocturnal Art Productions
Jarring Industrial Metal that feels a little like Black Metal. The arrangements are extremely scattered and dizzying, leaving the material not so easy to digest. The biggest hindrance is the Casio-sounding drum programming. Not that the mix is bad, just so obviously fake. On the positive side, VOID can affably create feelings of anxiety, terror, even sadness, and their vocalist is Gothenburg-good. They just need to be a little less Industrial, however, they'll probably go in the opposite direction. - 7.75 - <Jack>

VOIVOD - The Outer Limits · MCA
With its 3-D comic book packaging, this looked like a bummer. Were they going to add some kind of goofiness to the horrible new direction begun by Angel Rat? Well, no, except for the lyrics (about nice people from outer space and bad people from outer space). Musically, it's as good as Nothingface, especially the 17:26 minute "Jack Luminous," which is the best epic-length metal track since VENOM's "At War With Satan." VOI VOD gets comeback of the year. - 9 - <J.J.> **MC8**

VOIVOD - Negatron · Mausoleum / BMG
The CD version of this has some really cool multimedia files on it, such as the entire video for the track "Insect," lyrics for all the songs and some surprises. Unfortunately, this wouldn't play at all in my ancient CD player, so I'm forced to listen to this album via my computer's CD-ROM drive. It worked in several other players I tried, though. Anyway, now pared down to a trio, VOIVOD is back to an older, heavier, less experimental sound. I wonder how much their new singer had to do with that. He fits this style, as he's sort of a yeller. It took several listens to really hear what all is going on here, but now that I have devoted the time to it, I actually like this quite a bit. It's no War and Pain, although it may try to be, and it's also no Nothingface, but it is somewhere in between. The more I listen to this, the more I like it. Upped a little for the multimedia shit. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

VOIVOD - Phobos · Slipdisc
Just as heavy, but also a little more experimental than their last LP, Negatron. Plus, the vocals have improved. Well, the lack of a lot of the experimentation that VOIVOD is known for, and the simple fact that it wasn’t Snake singing on the last LP, were the two big things that kept it from perfection. So, having corrected the former, and convinced Eric to sound more Snake-like, thus taking care of the latter, this is really sounding great! - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

VOIVOD - VOIVOD Lives · Metal Blade
The bad thing about live albums is that everyone will always be disappointed by what songs were not included. We do get some old stuff on here ("Voi Vod," "Nuclear War"), which is highly appreciated, but there are other songs I'd like to have heard. Although, at 70 minutes, I guess this would have to have been a 2-CD set to really cram on much more. If you like VOIVOD, then you probably already have this. If you don't like 'em, I doubt that VOIVOD Lives will do much to change your mind. - 8 - <Ray>

VOLATILE - Quarantine EP · Warhead
Their straightforward Death Metal is kept fairly simple, and the songs are all short (8 of them crammed into 16 minutes) and that does make it sort of catchy. The between-song samples are usually cool, too. Nothing awesome, but not at all bad. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

VOMIT SNACK - Equal Opportunity Destroyer · Fuzzy Bunny
Ahh, a band with a sense of humor. I like that. I like it even more when the band in question is actually any good, and VOMIT SNACK's blend of Thrash and Death certainly qualifies them. They also do a great cover of "Dethroned Emperor." - 8.75 - <Ray>

VOMITORY - Raped in Their Own Blood · Fadeless
Viciously brutal, intense Death Metal. VOMITORY are smart enough to write great riffs that haunt the depths of your mind. But that’s just the beginning of the praise they shall receive here. Everything about this release (riffs, drumming, vocals, production) is just what you always hope for in a Death Metal album. The review copy I was sent has none of the actual packaging (not even song titles!), so I can’t really say if the package is as perfect as the music on the disc (I’d guess it probably is), and that’s the only thing that has held this back from a 10. I can only hope that all the record labels take note of this, and stop the practice of sending out incomplete review copies. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

VOMITORY - Redemption · Fadeless
Holy shit is VOMITORY great! Their Death Metal is unstoppable, and while this onslaught sees them a bit more controlled than Raped in Their Own Blood, it’s even more memorable and every bit as evil. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

VOMITORY - Revelation Nausea · Metal Blade
Metal Blade rules supreme! This, VOMITORY's third album, sees these sick bastards unleash possibly even more speed and extreme brutality than ever before. The drumming alone is stunning in its ferocity, and is certainly matched by the guitars and perfectly growled vocals. Cliff from DRILLER KILLER even lends his Crusty throat to help out with some backing vocals on "The Art of War." Having only a limited amount of time to listen to each album before reviewing it (count the fucking reviews this issue before having the balls to talk shit, fuckstain), I sometimes look back on albums and wish that I'd given them different ratings, and so with that in mind, I'm stingy as shit about giving out 10s. But I might one day look back upon Revelation Nausea the way that I now look back on GOREFEST's False, CANNIBAL CORPSE's The Bleeding, GRAVE's Into the Grave, and all the others, and wish that I'd had the necessary time to spin this some more before I had to write this review. In any case, there is just no reason to not own this un-fucking-believable Death Metal masterpiece. Favorite song: "The Holocaust" (and not just because my band has a song of the same name). - 9.75 - <Ray>

VOMITORY - Blood Rapture · Metal Blade
After all these years, I know what to expect from VOMITORY: Death Metal supremacy! And, as always, this new album delivers like a sledgehammer to the ballbag. Words like "brutal" and "awesome" get thrown all over the place these days, but this brutal album truly is awesome. - 9.75 - <Ray>

VON SIRIUS - The Mystical Doktryn of Spiritual Accomplishment · Nihilvoices/Two Fat Men
Dance meets Pop meets Goth meets Industrial meets Doom meets Death? It really isn’t as horrifying as it looks on paper. It’s pretty catchy and nothing is done poorly, and now the countless millions who wanted someone to blend DEPECHE MODE with VARATHRON can finally rest easy. Nevertheless, after a week or so of spins, the charm and novelty wears off and it becomes more like finger meets stop button meets CD meets case meets cut-out bin. - 7.75 - <Jack>

VOND - Slipp Sorgen Los · Dark Dungeon
Just to make it clear, this is not a new album but a reissue of their debut, originally titled Selvmord, previously released by Malicious Records. From what I understand, this was banned from the German market while on its previous label. Mortiis states that he wanted to change the name of the album to coincide with the cover change. This 30 minute, 4-song CD has well orchestrated strings, keyboard, a few outside sound effects and other than the sparse dialog on the first track, no vocals. Perfectly dark, chilling chamber music. - 8.5 - <Ang> **MC11**

VONDUR - Stridsyfirlysing · Necropolis
If I didn't know better, I'd think that these two ABRUPTUM alumni (It and All) were making fun of the current trendiness of Black Metal. They proudly proclaim that "VONDUR plays untuned," they are apparently in favor of taking heroin, and "use the dark side of the force." Now I remember why I never liked ABRUPTUM. This is completely unmusical, the mix is horrible, and I can not bring myself to take a band seriously who have a painting of Darth Vader on their album cover, even if the Empire is supposed to represent the "Ultimate Evil." In the Necropolis news update I got with this Frisbee, uhh, I mean CD, it is written that VONDUR will cover MOTLEY CRUE's "Red Hot" on their up-coming mini-CD. Well, if that's not truly evil, nothing fuckin' is! Am I the only person left alive who used to beat the shit out of CRUE fans and then sodomize their brainless women? - 1 - <Ray> **MC10**

VONDUR - The Galactic Rock n’ Roll Empire EP · Necropolis
When the best track on something is a MOTLEY CRUE cover, what more needs to be said? As a joke band, this would be supreme, as the lyrics, music, and vox are all pretty funny. "Black Metal Art," this is not. Rating upped a little for making a CRUE song even a little listenable. I must be the only person still alive who remembers when MOTLEY CRUE were gay homosexuals, and not a band to be respected. And covering one of their songs would have been grounds for Paul Baloff to send in the Slay Team to exterminate your poseur ass. - 3 - <Ray> **MC12**

VORE - Dead Kings Eyes · DEMO (CD)
Absolutely kick ass Death from beginning to end. Everything about this disc is close to perfect, and I expect to see them signed soon. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

VORE - Lord of Storms · Frozen Solid
God damn Hell fucking yes! After their awesome Dead King's Eyes VORE has finally returned to once again kick the asses of true Death Metal freaks worldwide. This album may seem strange to newer fans of extremity, because there is no Grind influence here, unlike most other current Death Metal bands, but I assure you that this is plenty brutal and intense. And also just this close to perfection. - 9.75 - <Ray>

VOXHUMANA - Lost 7" · Speakwell
This has the same thing on both sides. I really don't like that at all. I guess the band couldn't be bothered to record two different songs. Or maybe the label wanted to save some money. Either way, I think it's a really bad idea. But, about the song: It's actually sort of intense Thrash, but the vocals sound like someone who just ran a marathon trying to scream. Go instrumental next time, and give us more than one song, okay? - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

VUKODLAK - Blackest Autumn EP · Realms of Darkness
The not-bad intro gives way, after about 1:40 of keybaords, to very raw, speedy Black Metal. It's a fairly standard assault, and a recording that has me thinking back to when I liked to make fun of the terrible sound most Black Metal bands had. It sounds as if I recorded this on my old 4-track machine for these poor bastards. These songs, while not great, do deserve something better than this lo-fi garage recording. I can hear some good ideas within the depths of this. The main riff of "Twilight" is superbly creepy and ominous, for example. And the title track is a fine example of Thrashy Black Metal. With more time to develop, and any kind of better recording, VUKODLAK might well become the truly diabolical force they want to be. - 7.5 - <Ray>

VULGAR PIGEONS - Genetic Predisposition · Howling Bull
This Grindfest is a compilation of tracks from two V.P. 7"s (Genetic Predisposition and Vulgar Pigeons), plus an unreleased track, and several live cuts from 1999. Having never heard of VULGAR PIGEONS before, I was unready for their Crusty Grind assault, and my ass was solidly kicked for the duration of this disc. Admittedly, the sound quality of the somewhat noisy live tracks is not up to the excellence of the studio material, but it's not horrible, and there is plenty of reason to check this out even discounting them. - 8.5 - <Ray>

VULPECULA - Fons Immortalis EP · Merciless Records
Chuck Keller and Chis Overton are former members of ORDER FROM CHAOS and NEPENTHE, and they have come together to create VULPECULA, a two-man band full of dark, ambient creativity and a Hell of a lot of originality. Their bio sums it up by stating, "VULPECULA represents the ambient expressions of two secluded entities drifting on solar winds beyond light and shadow, into the dark, into the silence that has no end..." This debut mini album includes dark, strong vocals, fierce guitar and bold bass lines by Chuck. Chris is responsible for the drums and keyboards that are in perfect synch with what they describe their creation as "space music" and Black/Death Metal. This 6 song CD is also available on limited edition 10" mini LP. - 8.25 - <ANG> **MC11**

W.A.S.P. - Still Not Black Enough · Castle
I'm glad to hear that Blackie is still alive, and even more glad to detect zero seconds of sell-out or trendiness on this entire disc. Not to say that it's the greatest thing ever recorded, but it's honest, and these days that's rare enough. To be fair, Blackie really does an outstanding job, playing nearly everything but the drums himself. I can't think of a comparison to this venerable Metal team, but W.A.S.P. always has sort of stood alone. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

W.A.S.P. - Double Live Assassins · CMC
This live album is full of surprises. While there are (some) keyboards, this sounds almost nothing like K.F.D. About half the songs are from their first two albums [mostly from their debut. - Ed.], which I think is a really good idea, and they sound as good now as I remember them. The remaining songs have all been energized, probably by the return of Chris Holmes, and kick more ass than they ever did in the studio. For a band that went downhill so fast after their debut, W.A.S.P. have certainly impressed me enough to give them another chance. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC11**

W.A.S.P. - Helldorado · CMC
According to Blackie, after the double live album, the band realized how great their first two releases were, and this is an attempt to get back to that, pre-Thrash, Devil Sleaze Rock, style. Okay, let’s run through the list: Women and cheap sex (the best kind!) - check. Drugs - check. Hell and Satan - I suppose, although there could have been more. But the song "Don’t Cry (Just Suck)" kind of makes up for the lack of Lucifer. As far as I’m concerned, this is no where near as great as their self-titled debut, but I am glad to see them at least trying to work in that style again, and anyway this might be their second best studio effort. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

W.A.S.P. - Unholy Terror · Metal-Is
Blackie Lawless and company are back again. I remember liking their last album, Helldorado, and thinking that it was sort of a return to their earliest days. But I don't think I've played it much since reviewing it. And despite the title, this album seems much more "polished" and less "evil" than its predecessor - although it does feature more aggressive drumming than I'd have guessed. I guess I probably should write a long review for this, out of respect to Blackie and his long standing in the Metal community, but this kind of "not awesome, but certainly not-in-any-way bad" album always leaves me uninspired. But that's not to say that this album is bad, obviously. It's simply not as good as W.A.S.P. have been and could be still. - 7.75 -- <Ray>

W.T.N. - Rotting in Pestilence · Razorback
I have no idea what this band's name means, but they're from Singapore, so they probably don't know either. I think Razorback Records might have really spoiled me with the likes of INTENSE HAMMER RAGE, MACHETAZO, LORD GORE, and GHOUL, because I seem to always expect another Splatter Gore masterpiece from them every time. Well, WTN offer an admirable slap of CARCASS worship, but it's just not quite up to par. Don't get me wrong, everything here is standard. The raw sewage down-tuned grinding, the pitch-shifted gurgles, blast beats galore, and they can even write a real riff when they want to, but sometimes standard just doesn't cut it. An unfortunately high percentage of this album is easily forgettable. But hey, I'd take this over SLIPKNOT or DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN in a New York minute. I'm even going to go out on a huge limb and say they're the best Gore Grind band from Singapore... ever! - 7.25 - <Jack>

WACO JESUS - Filth · Morbid
For those readers who have not yet seen the album cover for this monsterpiece... Holy Hell! To simply describe this band of sickos as "ultra brutal US Porn Grind" would be a disservice. WACO JESUS is seriously fucked up, and in the tradition of all the best Grind bands, these guys know that sickness, ultra-heaviness and super-speed are not enough: good songs are also important! And on that front, as on all others, WACO JESUS delivers with ease. - 9.5 - <Ray>

WAKELAND - Magnetic · Giant
Jesus fucking Christ these sub-GIN BLOSSOMS preppy little Pop-cheese fuckwads are label-mates of MORBID ANGEL. I thought I had heard the worst Jangle Rock already, but these morons are even worse than the well-known purveyors of that musical Nutri-Sweet. Trite, vapid, and truly a testimony to the kind of crap the major labels fling at the wall and hope MTV gobbles up. If you saw them playing in the basement of a party, you'd make a note to steal their gear when they stepped to the keg between sets. (Or, if you're the scrapping type, you might just kick the shit out of them.) - 1 - <J.J.> **MC10**

WALLACHIA - Wallachia EP · V.M.I.
This is actually this band’s 1996 demo re-released on CD. Not that it sounds like a demo. WALLACHIA’s melancholic Black Metal is unique in that they don’t really sound like anyone else. Sure the influences of Greek Black Metal can be noticed, as can some others, but they’ve really worked on developing their own sound. - 9 - <Ray> **MC11**

WAR - Total War EP · Necropolis
To cram 7 songs into 17 minutes is no small feat. Obviously this all star lineup play fast, but their Black Metal is nearly tuneless speed. When they have riffs they’re okay, sometimes really cool, but they’re sort of lost behind the wall of drums. Actually, the tormented vox, and how they’re sung in relation to the music, are what saves this EP. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

WAR - We Are War · Necropolis
Clocking in at just under a half-hour, we have the debut "full-length" release from this rotating cast of Black Metal maniacs. This is a bit different than their EP, sometimes sounding more inspired by the Crust of bands like WOLFPACK, than the blazing speed-fest new wave Black Metal of IMMORTAL, or whoever. Some of this is pretty good, but I’ve got to wonder if they think it’s "clever," "evil," or "cult," to construct a song using only one riff, played 66 times (no bullshit, I counted - it fades out, but I’m sure 66 is the intention), with maybe three or four different drums beats (thanks to HYPOCRISY’s drummer) behind it. They really did that. The song in question is called "Rapture," and is anything but. How do you even stay awake playing one riff over and over that many times? I mean, this is okay, but I really fail to hear what the big fucking deal is supposed to be. The press release would have you believe that this is the second coming of VENOM, for fuck’s sake. I could have written all these one or two riffers in just slightly longer than it would take to play them. And I’m sure it must have taken them half that long to figure out how to say "god sucks" and "we are the toughest, most evilest guys anywhere" the ten very different ways that they do here. Plus they try to do a SODOM cover. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

WARDOG - Scorched Earth · Metal Blade
An honest to badness Thrash band! This really takes me back. Anyway, WARDOG have the skill of RIGOR MORTIS, the aggression of maybe TESTAMENT or OVERKILL, and a pretty good singer/yeller. The track "Bucket o' Beer" even makes me think of my old heroes, THE MENTORS, and is something of a break from the more serious rest of the disc. I wholeheartedly recommend this to all fans of real Thrash, and congratulate WARDOG on a job well done. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

WARFACE - Warface · demo
Here’s something that you don’t see every day: brutal Death Metal with not only a female guitarist, but in fact a female guitar hero! Well, sorta. I don’t think that WARFACE is going to get signed to Leviathan records (home of guitar wankery of all kinds) any time soon, and that’s good news. The guitar skills displayed on this CD (and yes, it’s a real CD, not a fucking CDR) are almost exclusively put to evil use warping the listener’s mind through a combination of older styled riffs along the lines of good CANNIBAL CORPSE, and a few somewhat newer moments, not dissimilar to DYING FETUS, although minus the maniacal ultra-Grind. If it were still 1992, Earache would have probably made this band an offer, and I’m not sure how to give a much better compliment than that. - 9 - <Ray>
www.warfacemetal.com

WARGASM - Ugly · Massacre / Lonely Planet / Century Media
I'd always wondered what happened to these guys, and I'm glad to see that they haven't quit. And they haven't given up their style, either. This sort of Thrash should appeal to anyone who likes PANTERA but wants something heavier, and truer, and better. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

WARGASM - Fireball · Massacre
Hmm, Fireball is my favorite DEEP PURPLE album, and these guys try really hard to do a good job covering the title track. Musically it's amazing, but vocally it's a bit lacking. At least they knew which song to cover. Four of the other tracks are live and there is an edited version of "Dreadnaught Day," so it's a pretty nice package. Oh, I forgot to comment on the musical style of WARGASM: They're sort of a Thrash band, I guess, and they have certainly been around for awhile. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

WARHAMMER - The Winter of Our Discontent · Napalm
Considering that the logo and album graphics are total HELLHAMMER / CELTIC FROST rip-offs, it’s no surprise that their sound is, too. Well, the sound is perhaps appropriately more HELLHAMMER to go with the band’s name. It’s not bad, in fact, I like it, but they’ll never do this as well as Tom G. did all those years ago. So why not try to create your own sound, instead of attempting to steal the sonic identity of some guys who turned out to be Glam fags in waiting anyway? I mean, will WARHAMMER follow FROST’s whole career, and in a couple more albums, write songs like "Cheery Orchards," and wear ripped up L.A. GUNS shirts in their band photos? - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

WARHEAD - Raping of Angels · Elegy
Brutal crossbreeding of Death and Black Metal. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

WARICIDE - Waricide · DEMO
The first time I listened to this 4 song demo, I admit that I hated the vocals. But with each subsequent listen, I grew to accept and even like them. Bobby, the vocalist, has a style that sounds like a cross between Geoff Tate (QUEENSRYCHE) and Paul Baloff, although mostly Tate. Musically, WARICIDE is definitely Thrash. The drums are somewhat low in the mix, but they are not buried. Gunther's guitar work sounds good, and he seems to have a lot of potential. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC7**

WARKULT - Perseverance of Aggression · Dark Horizon
WARKULT is KREATOR on crack! A high-speed Black/Thrash affair with vocals that sound like Mille choking on bile. The drummer’s performance is most noteworthy, as I don’t think the double bass stops for a second on this LP. Perseverance of Aggression may not be a classic by any stretch, but if you miss ANGELCORPSE half as much as I do, this might fill the void a little. - 8.25 - <Jack>

WARRIOR - Ancient Future · Metal Blade
Fans of Traditional Metal will be orgasmic to see the return of WARRIOR. They’re heavier than their new-wave peers, Perry’s vocals even have a little rough edge, and I’m happy to report that for once I’m reviewing a band of this style that wasn’t playing Black Metal 2 or 3 years ago. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

WARZONE - The Sound of Revolution EP · Victory
Continuing their tradition of producing the finest Hardcore available, WARZONE have unleashed 11 new cuts, and crammed them into about 22 minutes. That doesn't leave any time to fuck around; they go for the kill from the first second to the last. I'm always impressed by the high level of skill displayed by these guys, and especially in the amazing bass-work of The Kid. I would like to think that every Hardcore fan already has this, and I certainly suggest it to all devotees of aggressive music. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC10**

WARZONE - Fight For Justice · Victory
Intense. Memorable. Hardcore. The legendary WARZONE couldn’t be any other way. With the death of their singer, Raybeez, this may also be their final legacy to the legions who have followed them. Do yourself a favor and give this a listen. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

WASTE - The Last Two Songs · DEMO
The music is in the background to the vocals and depressing lyrics. One of the two vocal styles is a sort of growl, while the other is sung clean. Sometimes the two are simultaneous, which is an interesting effect. I've not heard anything really like this before, and that's saying something right there. I'm just not sure that the music shouldn't be more up-front, but hey, they briefly quote BLACK SABBATH, so I like 'em. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

WATCH THEM DIE - Bastard Son · Century Media
Why is this band on Century Media? Why would anyone buy this? It’s a boring, modern, sterilized interpretation of Old School German Thrash like SODOM and KREATOR. Sure, the recording quality is terrific and it’s played convincingly well, but the music itself fails to permeate the soul. Mine, anyway. - 7 - <Jack>

WATER FRONT - Confusing the Truth 7" · Flatline
WATER FRONT is difficult to describe. They have moments of intensity, when they get sort of Thrashy. The musicianship is always impressive, and these songs are pretty catchy. I'm kinda reminded of SUICIDAL TENDENCIES around their How Can I Laugh Tomorrow... album. I'm honestly impressed, and I hope to hear more from them very soon. Let's not forget that this 7" is pressed on marbled yellow vinyl. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

WATERDOWN - The Files You Have on Me · Victory
This German sextet's major strength is that they offer the listener so much to take in. Successfully leaping from Hardcore to Emo to Pop to Punk to all out Rock and back again, all accompanied by two vocalists which master in all about half a dozen clean vocal styles, in addition to frequent HC screaming, the group's ambitious, heartfelt music somehow never sounds clustered or confused. This album is leagues above their debut, Never Kill the Boy on the First Date, which was a pretty damn good record in its own right. This time around there is just so much more emotion in the music. More pain, more passion, more sadness, more fight, and just about every song has a vocal harmony or a chorus that will have you crooning along every time. WATERDOWN deserve many cheers for creating such a terrific album, and for improving their music so much overall. My only fear is that mainstream success is not far away. - 9.75 - <Jack>

WAYNE - Metal Church · Nuclear Blast
Former METAL CHURCH frontman David Wayne offers up some hard-hitting Heavy Metal with his solo debut. These songs have a more straightforward approach and are somewhat less Thrash-based than what he did with METAL CHURCH. This album will sit quite well with those of you who enjoyed the headbanging Metal of the '80s. You'll find rock-solid double-bass drumming, catchy riffs, and more than a few scorching solos. Although this disc really isn't heavy enough for my tastes, those of you who liked The Dark would be wise to give this release a spin. - 8 - <Painkiller>

WEEDEATER - ...And Justice for Y'all · Berserker / Game Two
Thick and low Sludge, that's certainly not always slow! Down South style. The vocals are scratchier than I'd thought they would be, but I'm not entirely sure that's in the "good" way. Maybe the overall recording is a touch too "dirty" for its own good. I'm not sure. In any case, I think I'd have started this out with the second song, "Monkey Junction," and moved the actual opener, "Tuesday Night," either to the middle or just off altogether. WEEDEATER seems to me to be a little hard to take in large doses, and this album is kind of a large dose... - 7 - <Ray>

WEEPING PROPHET - Broken · DEMO
Inside this very professional looking package is a band who are just as high quality. They write complex songs, and jump from acoustic to heavy distortion and back, like they were hanging out with John Zorn all the time. Unfortunately, when in "heavy" mode, I hate the screechy yelled vocals. I would think that a band this talented would've noticed that they're grating, but maybe it's just me. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

WEJDAS - Dykra · Dangus
When these dark Ambient soundscapes don't sound out of tune, they're not too bad, creepy even, but every once in awhile a note comes from outer space that has no relation at all to its fellows and that's just plain annoying. -7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

WEJDAS - Wejdas · Red Stream
Pure ambient oddities. Nature sounds, and spoken word vocals with heavy delay. Occasionally a beat here or there and some Folk chants. What’s the criteria for quality ambient strangeness anyway? I suppose as long as it’s interesting. This is. The second track is an electronic looped rhythm with variations, much of which are very distorted. The third and last track is this open keyboard piece with an accompanying cornet where I can’t help but be reminded of the KENNY G. monster at times. Ugh. Full length and there’s not once ounce of evil to this release, but at least it’s Pagan. Your girlfriend might like this. - 7.75 - <Bob> **MC12**

WEHRMACHT - Shark Attack · New Renaissance
It's about time that this classic album is back in print! Sure, the packaging on this reissue is a bit anemic (the lyrics would have been a nice addition, for example), but after waiting for more than a decade, I'm just happy to have it on CD at all. Back in 1987 WEHRMACHT were one of the fastest and most intense bands on Earth, and Shark Attack is just as important now as it was then. In fact, unless you just picked this zine up by mistake, you probably need to own this album, as both a historical document, and just an ass-kicking slab of real Speedthrash. Rating lowered from perfection because my 13-year-old cassette has the lyrics printed, but this doesn't, and I'm picky about that. - 9.75 - <Ray>

WEHRWOLFE - Godless We Stand · Magick / Cleopatra
Fresh off their appearance on the Covered in Filth · A Tribute to CRADLE OF FILTH compilation, WEHRWOLFE delivers an impressive slab of slightly Blackened Death Metal. And the guys even thrown in, of all things, a CORONER cover ("Masked Jackal")! I wasn’t expecting that. I’d bet that this band is something to see live, but despite their technical ability, the songs, especially the almost constant super-fast drumming, all start to blur together after a while. - 8.25 - <Ray>

WELT - Paranoid Delusion · Progress
The raw, punishing production does quite a bit to heavy this up, but it's all betrayed by the tough-guy vocals. I keep thinking that maybe this is pretty good, then the singer sort of gurgles something, and it's all over. Not horrible, and in fact the music is fine, but I just can't fully accept this new "Power Metal" vocal style. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC9**

WELTER - The Elder Land · Berzerker
What the fuck!?!? God damn do I hate long, stupid intros! This particular bullshit is about a minute and half of some idiots chanting. I’m sure they think that sounds "cult" and "evil" and that Odin’s one eye must shine down upon them for doing it. And then the music starts... Man, you have got to be kidding me. They’ve got all this imagery of Viking stuff, runes, spiked armbands, fire - you get the idea: The packaging looks sort of cool (until you look at the photo collage, and realize that something is horribly wrong). But the music is just about the most mellow, pussy crap I’ve ever had the displeasure of hearing. How the fuck do bands like this get signed? Someone explain that to me! This sounds like little kids should be dancing around in a circle, holding hands, and singing along. Oh yeah, there’s a really fuzzy guitar buried way behind the easy-listening synths. Oooh, I’m scared now! On the third track, they actually try to play a little really simple Black Metal, but since all their credibility has already been obliterated, it just becomes an even greater joke. And plus they do a terrible, tenth-rate job anyway. During one song, this clueless bastard even belts out a "Yee haw!" like he was Garth Brooks. I fell out of my chair laughing my ass off! Too bad it’s supposed to be serious, because as a comedy album, this would rule. I may keep my copy just to prove that shit this bad really does exist. So I guess that means it’s not utterly worthless... If you really feel the need to blow some money just for a laugh, this is extremely funny. Just not intentionally. Of course, if I had actually paid for it, I doubt I’d hear the humor. And on their press release, they seriously dare to put the phrase "Death to false Metal!" I laughed so hard I cried. - 1 - <Ray> **MC12**

WHEN - Psychedelic Wunderbaum · Jester/Voices of Wonder
The press release says to "Imagine a cross between THE BEATLES’ "Revolution No.9" and modern day Techno." I’d really rather not. - 1 - <Ray> **MC12**

WHERE FEAR AND WEAPONS MEET - The Weapon EP · Revelation
For once I feel bad calling this an EP, but 21:30 just isn't enough time to qualify as a full-length album, even if there are 15 songs. And even if it's as good as The Weapon. Instantly catchy, WFAWM's old-style Hardcore is nonstop intensity and masterful writing and playing, evoking the legendary AGNOSTIC FRONT. After several listens, I still can't decide if this does or does not deserve a 10, so I suppose that means that it's just slightly less than perfect. But god damn, is it ever close. The Weapon is truly awesome, and I'm really looking forward to hearing more from WHERE FEAR AND WEAPONS MEET. - 9.75 - <Ray>

WHITE SKULL - Tales from the North · Nuclear Blast
One problem I have with the new crop of Power / Traditional Metal bands is that they have a tendency to be really un-heavy. Sure, WHITE SKULL's drummer gets an occasional workout on this album, but otherwise it's Hard Rock on about the level of the SCORPIONS. It's not horrible, and they do a good job for what this is, but I have a really difficult time believing their bas-ass Viking lyrics when everything is so pussified. - 6.75 - <Ray>

WHITE SKULL - Public Glory, Secret Agony · Nuclear Blast / Radiation / Breaker
See above, except replace "Viking" with "Ancient Greek, Roman, and/or Egyptian." Man, going all instrumental would do wonders for this band. - 7 - <Ray>

WHORE - Unfinished Business · Moribund
And now, from the man that brought you the timeless family favorites such as "I'm a Goddamn Rapist" and "I Got Your Fuckin' Kid, Bitch." Yes, it's more depraved MEAT SHITS worship from the perverted mind behind FORNICATOR. This is actually very similar to FORNICATOR, except maybe a stronger Old School Death Metal flavor. Still, if you're looking for ultra-offensive artwork (the album's cover is a Mike Diana classic, and the layout is just plain wrong), misogynist, murder/rape/molestation-inspired lyrics and samples, and a bevy of cool riffs with occasional blasting, not to mention Rob's patented Deathragesque vocal style, treat yourself to WHORE today. - 8.75 - <Jack>

THE WHORES OF BABYLON - Metropolis · Candlelight
This was certainly a surprise from the label who's debut release was the EMPEROR / ENSLAVED split CD. I have no idea how to describe this band. They hang out with PORTISHEAD, and have a sort of Dancy feel to them sometimes, but others they bring in some guitar, or totally space out. Fuckin' shit, mang. This is very interesting, however, I would think that it's not for everyone. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC9**

WICKED ANGEL - Caught in a Vise · DEMO
Mercifully my "promo copy" of this only has 4 of the 8 actual tracks. This is, at its heaviest, SKID ROW level music, and even more commercial vocals. I believe their guitarist, Jeff Oppen, thinks himself a guitar hero. Who cares? Pretty ucky at best, and at worst it made me want to puke. WICKED ANGEL I guess they were too embarrassed to out their address on the tape. Can't say I blame 'em for that. - 3.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

WICKED INNOCENCE - Omnipotence · Napalm
Lorin covers everything from screams to gurgles to roars to vomits with his pulverizing vocal sickness. The music is as heavy as the vox, and nearly as varied. A brutally interesting release. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

THE WILDHEARTS - Earth Vs. the Wildhearts · EastWest
For daring to take the name of MOTÖRHEAD in vain, these fucks should be dismembered - slowly. This is a piece of worthless, poppy, derivative, shit. - 1 - <Ray> **MC8**

WILL HAVEN - WHVN · Revelation
According to their press release, Kerrang described this album as "SEPULTURA, KORN and CLUTCH on a rollercoaster ride to hell..." Believe it or not, but I completely agree. Of course Kerrang meant that as a compliment, and I meant it as the insult that it rightfully should be. Holy fuck, is this ever a piece of trendy shit. And to prove how "cool" they are, the first song on this CD even has, really loud, added tape hiss! It absolutely makes me puke to think that anyone could possibly like this NWOHSCPM, but as I have no illusions about the fairness of life, I'm sure this abomination will sell in the millions. And that, my friends, really sucks. - 1 - <Ray>

WILLARD - Steel Mill · Roadrunner
This one's dead simple: WILLARD is an immature band who got signed too soon because they're from Seattle. Their sound is half SOUNDGARDEN/ half SABBATH and Jack Endino's production brings it out very well. Most of the songs are bunk, though, and they would have been much better putting out a single with "Steel Mill" and "Folsom," their only solid songs. "Steel Mill" is their best original and it features the best lines on the whole album: "I saw the fire burn inside the steel mill/ I had to stop and get high." The cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom" is pure smoke, especially the line about shooting a man in Reno just to watch him die. WILLARD are certainly not the worst Seattle band - they definitely burn up PEARL SHAM and ALICE IN MENSTRUAL PAINS - but they just aren't ready yet. - 6.5 - <J.J.> **MC7**

WILLOW WISP - Delusions of Grandeur (A Gathering of Heretics) · Full Moon/ Raven's Claw
Hey, I didn't know that Full Moon was signing Techno bands! The press release for this well-titled abortion says that these chicks "blend a strange mix of Black Metal with Gothic." What's odd is that I don't hear any Black Metal at all, other than a very weak attempt occasionally found within the backing vocals. And as for Gothic - I guess someone must be smoking way too much crack, because this is neither gloomy nor eerie in any way. It's sometimes unintentionally funny, though. - 1.25 - <Ray>

WIND OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS - Forced Fed Into Blasphemy 7" · Moribund
Keyboards, female vocals. No, it's not a Doom band. WIND OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS is atmospheric Black Metal, and really have the style down to a science. I'm ready to hear some more of this vile evilness, so hopefully Moribund will light a fire under these goat-worshippers and get a full length album out fast. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

WIND OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS - Sing Thou Unholy Servants · Moribund
It’s hard to believe that Tchort did all this more or less by himself. He has a great understanding of what it takes to make a memorable song, but doesn’t always use that knowledge. However, he also doesn’t fall into the Black Metal trap of being too extreme either way with the production (either terrible, or too slick), which sometimes gives this a fairly heavy sound. Not everything on here is as flawless as the opener, "Forcefed into Blasphemy," and there are a few moments that are really lees than inspirational, but for those there are also moments of genius. Mr. Tchort can write an awesome riff if he chooses to do so. The experimental parts (most pronounced in the song "Beautiful Sorrow"), such as acoustic guitars and female voices, may not seem to be all that new or interesting, but they are used in unusual ways. However, they don’t always help the song, and occasionally detract. This album shows a huge range of styles and ideas, and as you would expect, not all of them work. Tchort clearly doesn’t want to limit himself, and I certainly respect that, but nevertheless, I’d suggest that he concentrate on the slower, heavier, riff-driven, material as I feel it’s not only the best stuff on here, but sometimes really amazing. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

WIND OF THE BLACK MOUNTAINS - Black Sun Shall Rise · Moribund
Ex-MASOCHIST frontman, Tchort (not to be confused with the Tchort from BLOOD RED THRONE / GREEN CARNATION / CARPATHIAN FOREST), returns with his second full-length album. The Sing Thou Unholy Servants disc was much more atmospheric compared to this, and the keyboard involvement here is markedly less. While I enjoy dark atmospheric parts a whole lot, I still got a lot of enjoyment out of the more Death Metal oriented songs. If you listen to the old MASOCHIST demos, you'll notice the same Black / Death Metal style. Truth be told, I'm glad that Tchort is going back to that style because the MASOCHIST stuff was fucking unholy! WOTBM also included a ripping cover of SODOM's "Blasphemer," which has all the evil feeling of the original. My only gripe about this album is the drum sound. The bass drum sounds like a light switch for the bulk of this album. Next time, get a better drum tone - please! - 8.5 - <Ychoril>

WINDHAM HELL - Complete Awareness · DEMO
This varies quite a bit on the standard Death Metal style. These guys don't mind a little experimentation, and they certainly don't lose much, if any, heaviness to it. Very interesting. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC8**

WINDHAM HELL - South Facing Epitaph · Moribund
I'm not really sure what to say about these guys. There are lots of very interesting guitar solos over their unique style of Black / Thrash Metal. Also some eerie noises, and TWIN PEAKS samples. And what vocals exist are mostly limited to background screams and growls. If this makes it sound strange, that's only because it is. It's also pretty god damn cool. Why not list the "hidden" last track? - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

WINDHAM HELL - Window of Souls · Moribund
Here's a band that likes to keep all their bases covered. The first track is Ambient, the next Thrash / Death (with an acoustic guitar interlude). For the most part, I couldn't make out much in the way of vocals, other than some growls, but this album does seem to have more lyrics than their debut. The experimentation with different styles, technical difficulty of the material, and the precision of the playing make this a must have for all musicians, and I think that the songs are intense and memorable enough to keep the interest of everyone else, too. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

WINDHAM HELL / NOTHING - Split Cassette · Vivid Dreams
W.H. contribute 2 songs from their forthcoming LP, Reflective Depths Imbibe (on Moribund). They sound much as they have in the past; mostly technical instrumental exercises in heaviness & strangeness, with some evil growled or whispered vox. NOTHING also deliver a pair of cuts, but they are more "majestic," synth based, & not concerned with being heavy as long as they get an emotional response - which they do. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

WINDHAM HELL - Windham Hell 7" · Order of the Death’s Head
These two unreleased tracks will have to hold us over until WINDHAM HELL’s new album, Reflective Depths Imbibe (for which, I’m proud to say, I did the layout), is finally released on Moribund. For those of you familiar with this excellent band, you know to expect a combination of different Extreme Metal styles, delivered more along the lines of technical, Progressive Metal. For those unfamiliar with these musical masterminds, this is an inexpensive way to correct that deficiency. Then you can also rush out and immediately get their two CDs. The sadly photocopied sleeve is nearly all that keeps this from perfection. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC12**

WINDHAM HELL - Reflective Depths Imbibe · Moribund
This dark Neoclassical Metal is an absolute feast for the ears and the mind. Reflective Depths Imbibe is a non-stop whirlwind of amazing creativity and stellar musicianship that will shock and amaze you! These guys play their instruments with an incredible dexterity that will earn the respect of any musician. Each of the fifteen tracks on Reflective Depths Imbibe is a different journey to the furthest reaches of the human mind. This is almost completely instrumental music. The only vocals are some far-off growls appropriately placed to add a chill to the atmosphere. And what an atmosphere these geniuses create! If you are looking for a way to escape reality, this is definitely the ticket. Avantgarde! - 9.75 - <Painkiller>

WINDIGO - Windigo · Pavement / NMG
Since their singer, Matt, is one of the coolest bastards alive, I really wanted to like WINDIGO’s Hard Rock / Groove / Metal, and it is better than most, I guess, but I’m just not a fan of this doped out style. - 8 - <Ray> **MC11** - "Last Second Additions"

WINDIR - Arntor · Head Not Found / Voices of Wonder
Whoever did the layout job for this CD should be killed. You’d think that Head Not Found could afford to hire professionals for that sort of thing. All of their other releases look good, though, so maybe it’s just the idiot (it’s a one man band) in WINDIR’s idea of being "obscure" or whatever. And finally, after the stupidest intro (and at 3:15, one of the longest, too) I’ve ever heard, the real music starts. I was really wondering if this was going to be synth-Folk for the whole 45 minutes. Thankfully it isn’t completely; what we get usually instead is very synth-heavy Black Metal. In fact, if not for the white noise that I assume to be guitars, I’d almost think that they had been replaced by the keyboards altogether. At least the bass is mixed loudly to compensate for the lack of guitars. It’s just weird to hear this "pretty" music with the screechy Black Metal screams over it, as they seem completely out of place. And then he’ll go right back to the ridiculous Folk stuff. If I wanted to hear Folk music, I’d go buy something done by a real Folk band or singer or whatever, and not waste my time with this. - 5 - <Ray> **MC12**

WINDS - The Imaginary Direction of Time · The End
Hellhammer (or Axl Rose van Halen, or whatever the fuck this wanker wants to be called this week) and company return with their second installment of John Tesh Metal. This would actually be fairly decent Doom Metal if you could replace the vocals of Barry Manilow with growls or screams, or anything a heterosexual male could enjoy. As is, it’s a waste of musical talent and pretty cool lyrics. I’m going to go listen to De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas and cry. - 6.75 - <Jack>

WINDS OF SIRIUS - Beyond All Temples and Myths · Season of Mist
Taking elements from the symphonic side of Black Metal and incorporating them into a structure more closely resembling Death Metal, and adding virtually exclusively Death-growled vocals, W. OF S. has come up with an interesting idea. And, for the most part, it works for them. Never does anything sound forced, and everything seems to fit together snugly. With the keyboards and slower tempos, this could easily be Doomy, but that's not generally the case, although the atmosphere is certainly one of gloom and depression. - 8.5 - <Ray>

WINTER - Into Darkness · Future Shock
WINTER seems to be a Sludge- Death band. I think that makes them, if nothing else, one of a kind. They play very slow, for the most part, but occasionally speed up to slow. Sometimes they even sound a bit Industrial. The vocals are always slow and are best described as Death. The seven songs on this album are at best scary: as in "Eternal Frost," which is OK; and at worst boring, as with the first track "Oppression, Freedom, Oppression (Reprise)." Into Darkness is a weird album and I imagine it would take quite some getting used to, which is bad. I suppose this is what WINTER wanted to sound like. I can’t really bring myself to recommend this, but it is different. I just don’t happen to like it. - 6 - <Ray>
{Relapse later re-released this album, and the band then put out an EP before calling it a day.} **MC4**

WINTER OF APOKALYPSE - Solitary Winter Night · Moribund
I was highly anticipating this debut, as this features former members of the mighty THY INFERNAL who are now sadly defunct. Well, I won’t say this is a total letdown, but I am a tad disappointed, as I was expecting a little more. Whereas THY INFERNAL’s attack was a vicious, melodic approach reminiscent of the golden age of Swedish Black Metal, WINTER OF APOKALYPSE take the much more traveled path of emulating the giants of the Norwegian scene. Take elements of DARKTHRONE, BURZUM, MAYHEM, and IMMORTAL and put them in a blender and you have Solitary Winter Night. I know what you’re thinking. How could that not be cool? Well, it is, but you have to take into consideration the amount of times this has been attempted in the past couple years alone, and quite frankly, I’ve heard better. Plus, nothing really rivals the feel of the originals in the first place. In summary, this is a decent endeavor in rekindling the fires of old (especially when you consider this band is from fucking Oregon), but a far cry from THY INFERNAL. - 7.75 - <Jack>

WINTERHORDE - In Traditions of Winter · demo
Here we have a very promising 4-song demo of quality symphonic, majestic Black Metal. Not sure where this sextet is from, but they know how to bring it. Well produced, tightly played Black Metal that is mostly mid-paced, but what they lack in speed they make up for with heaviness, dynamics, and depressive melodies. The keyboards are not overdone, and the vocals are big league sharp. If you're into DIMMU BORGIR and CRADLE OF FILTH, and I know there's a lot of you that are, dig a little deeper into underground soil and discover these monsters in the making. It won't be long before some lucky label does the same. - 8.75 - <Jack>
contact@winterhorde.com

WINTERS BANE - Winters Bane · DEMO
Although musically accomplished, this really doesn't do anything for me. Fairly progressive, musically, and with old JUDAS PRIEST style vocals. I'm occasionally wowed by a second or two of something great, but it is never sustained. - 7.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

WINTER'S BANE - Heart of a Killer · Century Media
I don't really comprehend why labels do things like this, but I've been sent only one of the CDs in this 2-disc set, and somehow I'm expected to review the entire thing, I guess. Okay... Well, the CD that I do have is the band's 1993 album, re-released, probably remastered and so on. In case you're wondering why anyone cares, this is the band Tim "Ripper" Owens was in before he landed the JUDAS PRIEST gig, and as you might guess WINTER'S BANE sounds a lot like a bad PRIEST rip-off. Sure the guys had tremendous music ability, but not too many people can really pull off this literally homosexual vocal style with any conviction, and "Ripper" isn't on that list, although he does try. Even worse, though, is when he tries something different, such as the "deep" spoken parts, which leave me wishing he'd stick to anything else. And then we have the actual lyrics... I've heard that disc #2 possibly contains live and demo material, and perhaps that's better. - 6 - <Ray>

WITCH-HUNT - Darkened Salvation · DEMO
Clearly these guys spend the time to make sure their riffs can be remembered by the listener. But are they brutal, you ask? Yep. Are the vocals raw? Of corpse. Is the production good? You know it. So it's a good demo, then? Sure is. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC9**

WITCH-HUNT - Prophecies of a Great Plague EP · X-Rated
The thick production adds the final necessary bit of sickness to this brutal slab of Death. Precise playing, great riffs, monstrous vocals - 'nuff said. - 9 - <Ray> **MC10**

WITCH-HUNT - Souls Enshrouded Fire · X-Rated
After waiting several years for this release to finally come out, I've got to say that I was somewhat surprised to hear how much more Black Metal influenced this band is now. I suppose it's not that strange, considering the lineup changes, but this Black Death just isn't exactly what I was ready for. However, the important question really is: "is it any good?" And the answer to that is a resounding "yes!" The infusion of new sounds and styles has given the band a fierce attack, and yet they're sometimes also Doomy and atmospheric, which makes for an interesting listening experience. Favorite track: "Enshrouded." - 9 - <Ray>

WITCHERY - Restless & Dead · Necropolis
At last! These guys have naked boobies in their ads, so they have got to be awesome, right? Well, not really. I mean, this isn’t bad, but this Thrash is too Hard Rock influenced for me, and it in no way lives up to the hype. But what ever does? Man, in the press release, it’s says to "raise your hands and do the W!!!" Seriously. I could not make up something that stupid. - 7 - <Ray> **MC12**

WITCHERY - Dead, Hot and Ready · Necropolis
Bow down before our mighty marketing hype machine! "Do the "W" as so many others have!" That's a quote from a stupid little postcard the label sent me. Yeah, be good little sheep and do what you're told! Give me a god damn break. I'm absolutely not impressed by hype, and I like to do my thinking myself, so I have a hard time accepting this band as being legitimate. I will, however, admit that this is an improvement over their debut, Restless & Dead, and I'm trying to listen with an ear untainted by catch-phrases and marketing gimmicks. But that's pretty difficult. - 7.5 - <Ray>

WITCHERY - Symphony for the Devil · Necropolis
Probably one of the most prolific bands in recent history, WITCHERY have returned with their fourth release (third full-length) in 3 years. This is yet another fiendish offering of Blackened Thrash replete with those trademark guitar-hooks for which the group has become known. As always, Patrick Jensen's ingenious song-writing abilities are the strength behind this band. All the positive attributes of past releases have been brought together to make Symphony for the Devil their best release to date. Opener "The Storm" sets the tone with its speedy, energized attack. It must be tough to create an entire album's worth of catchy riffs and adequately varied, memorable songs, but these guys do just that! Check out the air-guitar inspiring instrumental tracks "Bone Mill" and "Hearse of the Pharaohs." Metal doesn't always have to be so serious. These guys realize that, and they play music that always manages to put a smile on my face. The title of track 7, "Wicked," is possibly the most accurate word to describe this effort. It's absolutely wicked...and, god damn it, it's fun! If you are one of those people who are so uptight that you can't appreciate this style of hard-hitting, head-banging Black/Thrash, go listen to your Grand Declaration of War (...of stupidity)...and go fuck yourself! - 9.25 - <Painkiller>

WITCHERY - Don’t Fear the Reaper · Century Media
I was never really very impressed by this band’s previous releases, or the lame "do the W" gang-sign faggotry. But after hearing drummer Martin Axenrot kick the universe’s ass on BLOODBATH’s Nightmares Made Flesh album, I had high hopes that he’d make WITCHERY cooler, which he has. Hanging out with Blakkheim, Jonas Renkse, and Dan Swanö can only be time well spent. And so, Don’t Fear the Reaper, despite not being a BLUE ÖYSTER CULT tribute album, isn’t bad at all, and even has a couple really good tracks on it. Oddly, the first three songs are the weakest, both musically and vocally, including several unfortunate stupid "ohhs" and so on, not to mention quoting FLEETWOOD MAC (via JUDAS PRIEST, I’m sure). However, by the time that the fifth track, "Ashes," rolls around, things are sounding better, but for once I’m glad that a lyric sheet didn’t come with our review copy, so I can at least try to ignore lines like "Ashes to ashes and dust to death." It makes me wonder if the band even tries with the lyrics at all. A few lyrical and minor vocal tweaks, and WITCHERY might start actually living up to its old hype. - 8 - <Ray>

WITCHES - Aggressive Soap · DEMO
This nine song tape is fairly harsh Deathrash. Sibylle's vocals sound somewhat like Glen Benton (DEICIDE), except on the last track, "The Strange End of the Fight of the Beginning", where she tries to actually sing. I would suggest sticking to the rougher style. This tape is good, but not much really jumps out. However, you can tell that there was some effort behind this. - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC5**

WITCHMASTER - Violence & Blasphemy · Pagan
After reading the press release, I was expecting a bit more old-school Thrash form this fast Black Metal outfit. It might have helped them have a more unique sound, which they could really use. The few times when they slow things down, the songs become more memorable, but generally this speed-fest is anything but. And the possibly overdriven, generally double-tracked, vocals don't do much to help out. Not a horrible release at all, but from Pagan Records, I expect perfection and I'm usually not disappointed. - 7.5 - <Ray>

WITHERED EARTH - Abolish in Thorns · DEMO
"Supernatural Terror Unearthed by Storms" starts this off and it's like the floodgates of Cthulhu have spilled forth their evil on pathetic earth. Four tracks are on here and they're all top-notch. Classic Death Metal in every respect, with the bonus that the lyrics are well thought-out and suitably diabolic. Although there's nothing here I've not heard before, it's just refreshing to hear a new band who are this mature. Nice artwork and layout, too. - 9 - <J.J.> **MC10**

WITHERED EARTH - Into the Deepest Wounds · Olympic Recordings
When I saw the term "Hardcore" in their bio, I was prepared to dislike this band. Terms can often be misleading as I found out soon after hitting the "play" button. WITHERED EARTH's sound can best be described as a combination of the song-structures and brutality of early INTERNAL BLEEDING, with MORBID ANGEL inspired melodies. There is a Hardcore element in their sound, but it's not as obvious as I would have thought. Although the vocals are shouted at times they never seem to reach that high-pitched yell that causes me to avoid Hardcore in general. More often than not, the vocals are deep and growling. The singing isn't as quite as brutal as that of INTERNAL BLEEDING, but it's definitely not as irritating as something like EARTH CRISIS. That's just a matter of personal preference, though. The production on this release is very well done. I am particularly impressed with the drum sound. I just love that double-bass attack that makes the walls shake! So, I've taught myself a lesson here, which is to disregard the bio and just let the music speak for itself. Great job, guys! - 8.5 - <Painkiller>

WITHERED EARTH - Of Which They Bleed · Olympic / Century Media
This album seems to be somewhat more Death Metal, albeit modern Death Metal, than I remember WITHERED EARTH being in the past, although the 'core infusion is still very much there. This combination of musical styles leads to an utterly ferocious slab of intensity, although the band's most effectively brutal moments come (and they're rare) when they slow things down a little and crush the listener half to death. - 8 - <Ray>

WITHERED GARDEN - Exhausted Eden EP · Dark Moon
After suppressing my laughter at their ridiculous band photo (which depicts them in all their "evil" glory standing around in their mom’s living room, some with corpse paint, some without, and all looking like a confused bunch of 14 year olds), I managed to stick this disc into the player. It’s fairly typical Black Metal, with some Thrashy parts in there, and also some Doomy bits. They’re obviously young, so they’ll likely get better, and a more unique sound, which is essential if you ever want to stand on your own. But maybe they don’t want to anyway... - 7.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

WITHERING SURFACE - Unique · DEMO
Thrashy Black/Death with keyboards and some female vocals. It's nothing new, but they do it extremely well, sometimes sounding a little like EMPEROR, others more like ROTTING CHRIST, and yet others calling forth the suicidal feelings of the most intense Doom. The songwriting is second to none, but even more impressive is the flawless playing. The lyrics are all hopelessness and despair, and are complemented perfectly by the vocals, which change to fit the mood from clean to growls to tortured screams. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

WITHERING SURFACE - Scarlet Silhouettes · Euphonious
After looking at the band photos, I was just sure these guys would suck. I was wrong, but who could blame me for my assumption? Their (male) singer is wearing black lipstick and some kind of eyeliner. I hope that gets him the chicks, ‘cause it looks pretty funny and I’d hate to see it be all for nothing. The music is kind of "Goth" Black Metal. Maybe like a somewhat toned-down version of CRADLE OF FILTH. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

WITHERING SURFACE - The Nude Ballet · Euphonious
Returning with a slightly less dorky band photo in their press kit this time, the Grammy nominated (in Denmark) W.S. have toned things down a little, but still retain a bit of intensity in their Thrashy, melodic, umm Black Goth Metal, I guess. It’s a little like a more Black/Thrash version of CEMETARY’s Godless Beauty LP, which is okay, but if they get any more smooth, it’s gonna be bad. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

WITHIN TEMPTATION - Enter · DSFA
Rather less heavy than your average Metal Curse band, WITHIN TEMPTATION is best described as a cross between THEATRE OF TRAGEDY (Norway), THE GATHERING (Netherlands) & ORPHANAGE (Netherlands). This time we have a soprano who really lets rip, as well as a grunt along the lines of old THE GATHERING. This was a purest case of love at first sting... I walked into the local record shop where it just happened to be playing, and I was sold. Hook, line and sinker. Some of the songs on this are true classics. I love this disc. If you like especially THEATRE OF TRAGEDY but you think live Kristine never really lets herself go, Enter is just the cure for you. - 8 - <RK> **MC11**

WITHOUT FACE - Deep Inside · Dark Symphonies
The album starts off with a slightly Progressive keyboard intro, which leads into a vicious, tight, crunchy Thrash-riff. Things look good so far. Just when I think this song is gonna smoke, keyboards wash over the sound, quickly neutralizing the power of the guitars. And then the vocals enter the picture and derail the whole damn thing. A combination of clean male and clean female vocals breaks in sounding completely off-key and totally awkward against the music. I found myself immediately cringing. This torturous vocal-abomination continues throughout the duration of the album. Intermittently, a more aggressive male vocal (more suited for Thrash) surfaces, but this happens nowhere nearly enough to salvage this disc. It seems as if WITHOUT FACE is trying to blend Thrash, Progressive Rock, and Goth together, and that's a recipe for disaster in this case. If they would ditch the female vocals and the Goth elements, stick to the more harsh male vocals, and concentrate on the Thrash / Progressive style, then they would have a much more powerful sound. It's a shame too, because they are obviously talented musicians, and the production on this effort is very good. But the vocals just made this an extremely unpleasant listening experience. - 4.25 - <Painkiller>

WITHOUT FACE - Astronomicon · Earache / Elitist
Yeah, okay... I'm sure these guys think they're super progressive and really, really serious "artists." But this is "art" in the "art fag" sense of the word, and them being this deadly serious about it just makes me laugh because it's so wimpy, self-important, and flat out goofy. I'm sure that this band wants desperately to be OPETH, who are real artists, and I will admit that the members of WF are all very proficient at their instruments, but the music they write is cold and sterile and lifeless. And faint of heart and often unintentionally humorous. Plus, it's too annoying to put me to sleep. - 5 - <Ray>

WITHSTAND - ...and Anger Was a Warm Place to Hide · Mayhem / Fierce
I’m not too impressed with this CD. I think it’s because of the vocalist’s style. It’s almost like listening to one of the BEASTIE BOYS. The music also lacks in originality, style, tone and construction. Every guitar riff is played in the same chords, I can’t hear any real distinct bass lines, but the drumming is well done. It’s a far cry from any traditional Metal. The phrase "Ghetto-Metal" comes to mind when I listen to this. - 5 - <ANG> **MC11**

WOLFHEART - Cold Breath · Mighty
Melodic, yet intense, Death Metal, with excellent production. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

WOLFPAC - Evil Is... · Megaforce
God damn, Megaforce is still around! I had no idea this label still existed! Getting on with the review, it would be a good move if this totally lame Pop Rap band (who erroneously claim to be "hard") changed their name, since WOLFPACK is already the name of the awesome Swedish Crust masters [Who have since changed their name to WOLFBRIGADE - Ed.]. Not that I'd expect these wanna-be tough guys to know anything about that, of course. It's almost sad how much this album sucks, though, since from what I understand some of these idiots are in BLOODHOUND GANG, which can be a very funny and entertaining band (and obviously the other members of which are in charge). Thankfully, I've never heard the ultra-weakness of INSANE CLOWN POSSE, but I'd bet that this so-called WOLFPAC sounds like (if it's even possible) a wimpier version of their trendy queerness. And I really don't understand how anyone can claim to be "evil," have supposedly scary lyrics, and some super-hot naked slut on their album cover, and then thank "God" first (or at all) in the liner notes. This album isn't "evil," it's the height of brain damaged, pop culture stupidity. I really expected more from Megaforce, and I'm extremely disappointed in them for releasing this bullshit. Believe it or not, but at one point in time this label was a leader in the Metal field, and the initial home of METALLICA, ANTHRAX, OVERKILL, TESTAMENT, and S.O.D., among others, and not a pathetic trend follower. Megaforce, come to your senses! - 1 - <Ray>

WOLFPACK - Lycanthro Punk · Distortion
Damn! The awesome Hardcore Punk played by this band is pretty Metal influenced, maybe a bit similar to the EXPLOITED at their most intense, but with a dirtier, more raw sound. Sometimes Hardcore bands get a yeller who is too screechy, but WOLFPACK’s singer is lower and raspier than normal, like what one of Lemmy’s bastard sons might sound like. To say that this kicks ass is a gross understatement. - 9.75 - <Ray> **MC11**

WORLD OF SILENCE - Window of Heaven · Black Mark
About an hour of Progressive Rock, with hints of a Metal guitar tone here and there. I wasn’t impressed with the vocals or the playing. They’re okay, but for me to tolerate this style, I have to be really floored. - 7.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

WORLD XXI - World XXI · Music Mine
These guys sound like an '80s Hair "Metal" band. 'Nuff said. - 2 - <Ray> **MC9**

WOUNDED KNEE - Wounded Knee · DEMO
These guys are certainly talented enough, but this kind of Progressive Rock / Metal is usually just too bland for me. However, I must admit that I was thoroughly impressed by this band’s technical ability, and the 70’s style keyboards were sorta cool, too. And surprisingly, the lyrics proved to be interesting, as well. It took a few listens, but this full-length (8 songs) tape really started to grow on me. - 8.75 - <Ray> **MC12**

WRETCHED - ...With Malicious Intent · DEMO
Only two songs here