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

Review Archive: X - Z

X-COPS - You Have the Right to Remain Silent · Metal Blade
This is like only the heaviest parts of the last couple GWAR albums. Which is no surprise, considering that this is another Slave Pit band. Overlook the silly cop stuff, if you must, but I happen to enjoy the humor of both these guys and GWAR. I guess some people apparently miss that part. Excellent cover of "Highway Star," by the way. - 9 - <Ray> **MC9**

XIII PFP - Redefine · An Object at Rest / Double Down
Hardcore / Metal with... a horn section. Now, you'd think that would have to be stupid, but for the most part, this is pretty good, and sometimes even great. Every once in a while these guys all seem to be playing in completely different dimensions, as if they couldn't hear the others, and well, that's not too cool, but they resist that temptation most of the time. They do tend to try out a lot of different ideas and styles, with pretty mixed results. I respect their decision to be unique, but really maybe a somewhat more focused approach would be worth considering. - 7.75 - <Ray>

XXX MANIAK - Harvesting the Cunt Nectar · Red Candle / Crooked Crosses
With 30 tracks clocking in at just around 15 minutes, not to mention the blood-drenched, gory, misogynic cover art and song titles like "Gorebortion," "Fist Fuck Death Grip," and "Semen for the Basement Slaves," you don't have to be a well-seasoned scene veteran to figure out what you're dealing with here. Yes, it's more of that lovable drum-machine driven, sample-ridden, hyper-speed Porno Grind. Not the most intelligent or unique shit on the market, but it is fun isn't it? The vocals on the first track are fucking awful! Not sure if it's one of the many guest appearances or not, but whoever it is should have his tongue cut out in his sleep. Thankfully, the rest of the album features a much more palatable mix of low growls and high shrieks. Taken for what it is, and with a grain of salt, this is just as worthy of a novelty spin as the MEAT SHITS, FORNICATOR, or any other sickos of this ilk. I tell you what, this kind of stuff comes in real handy when you're making a mix tape and you've got one or two minutes at the end of a side that needs filling. Shit, you could fit about eight or nine of these tracks in that space. Best song title: "Buying a DVD Player (Then Raping You with My Old VHS Tapes)." Classy. - 8.25 - <Jack>

XASTHUR - Telepathic with the Deceased · Moribund
All the hype I'd read about this sounding like old BURZUM was complete bullshit. This sucks so bad it's not even funny. This guy has no fucking talent whatsoever. His inability to play an instrument or sing provides the listener with track after track of mindless layered noise. The only thing depressing about this album is the fact that it was actually released. Lyrically this deals with suicide, something this dude should experience firsthand. - 1 - <Jack>

XENTRIX - For Whose Advantage? · Roadrunner
This LP should prove that XENTRIX are a major force, and I hope it does. One thing that I really like about this band is the singer, Chris (who also plays rhythm guitar). He has a rough lowish voice that is perfect for this kind of music. Speaking of which, the music is usually on the fast side and is very heavy, I wouldn’t exactly call this brutal, but each song is extremely memorable and most are on the level of SLAYER, FORBIDDEN or countless others. One song on this LP, called "New Beginnings," is an instrumental, and has a vague Spanish feel to it sometimes, and is a brief departure from the usual. All things said, For Whose Advantage? is one of the better albums of this year and is certainly well worth picking up. No song is weak and almost all of them are about as good as you can get in this kind of Thrash. I understand that the CD version has a bonus track, but I haven’t heard it, so let me know about that one! If you haven’t heard XENTRIX before, then now’s the time! I highly recommend this album. - 9.5 - <Ray>
{A great album, and a great band. I’ve heard that they changed their style in more recent years, but I have purposely not listened to anything after Dilute to Taste, so I don’t have to think bad thoughts about the guys who could write this masterpiece.} **MC3**

XENTRIX - Dilute to Taste · RoadRacer
This six song "mini-LP" has only two new songs, "Pure Thought" and "Shadows of Doubt." The other four are all live: two from their first LP, one from For Who's Advantage?, and of course, "Ghostbusters." All the live tracks are performed well, but I would have liked to have heard more songs. I assume they could've recorded an entire show, so I wonder why they choose to only include these four. Anyway, I guess that's a small point, but more live stuff would've been better. The two new songs are both right on track for XENTRIX. They are Thrashers and while not radically heavy or fast, they are both excellent examples of memorable, technical Thrash. And, as always, Chris' vocals fit perfectly- harsh, but not brutal. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC6**

XHARATHORN - Immemorial Atlantic Veneration EP · Repluse/Requiem
Straightforward, but intense, Black Metal. Some interesting ideas, such as a horn intro, are implemented, and go over pretty well. The mix is not the greatest, and the riffs are sometimes not up to the intensity of the vocals, which by the way, are generally excellent. Certainly not a bad release, but I think that a lot of the power of the songs is trapped by the production. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC10**

YATTERING - Human’s Pain · Moonlight
Can I really be the only one who’s sick of long intros? Get on with the killing already! And once the intro is over, that’s exactly what they do. This is fast Death, and very nicely played, at that. I’m not sure if I’m 100% in favor of the ENT style twin vocal attack, but it’s okay. And the music is certainly relentless. - 8 - <Ray> **MC12**

YATTERING - Human's Pain · Renegade
This is super brutal Death Metal, which acheives its intensity at the expence of being very memorable. This US version also includes three bonus tracks, including SLAYER ("Dittohead") and BRUTAL TRUTH ("I'll Neglect") covers. Not bad, but there bands a lot more vicious that are also a lot more easy to remember. - 8 - <Ray>

YEARNING - With Tragedies Adorned · Holy
Allegedly, the Finns that comprise YEARNING locked themselves up for a few months so they could fine-tune their carefully honed mental balance with nature, amid several dozen of the thousand lakes, listening to none but their inner voices. Be that as it may, it is a fact that the result, their virgin effort With Tragedies Adorned, captivates from the first "Remnants of the Only Delight" right up to the rear guard, "Canticum." A climax in the middle of this sonic journey is a song like "Bleeding for [a] Sinful Crown," which carefully mimics but thankfully does not sound too much like Aaron and MY DYING BRIDE. Instead of a violin, there’s a keyboard, and the vocals are primarily "clean," though grunty at times. It needs to be said that the people in charge of the Holy Records curriculum have impeccable taste. Again, the Holy stable has been enriched by a fine band. Now let’s cross our fingers and hope that YEARNING will be able to produce a second album that equals or even improves on With Tragedies Adorned. - 8 - <RK> **MC11**

YELLOW MACHINEGUN - Spot Remover · Howling Bull
Even after several listens, this Thrashcore seems to be defying further description. The band consists of three women from Japan, and they really crank out some fierce music, but for all it's energy, Spot Remover never really rises above "good" status. So, although there are exactly zero bad seconds on here, there are also only a handful of really awesome ones, and while I do like it, it's in no way representative of their very powerful, and fairly amazing, live show. - 7.5 - <Ray>

YETI - Volume, Obliteration, Transcendence · Life Is Abuse
YETI are the bold purveyors of Noise / Rock / Doom / Prog / Jazz / Ambient / Experimental / Pick-a-fucking-style-please / No-one-cares-anyway / This-Life-Is-Abuse-shit-is-giving-me-a-headache / The-next-time-Ray-makes-me-review-Life-is-Abuse-stuff-I’m-going-to-cut-his-balls-off-with-dull-scissors / The-only-good-band-on-this-label-is-ASUNDER / If-you-say-you-like-this-you’re-lying-Core. So, make of that what you will. - 2 - <Jack>

YOUTH GONE MAD - Day Job · Moving Target / Celluloid
I've heard alternate versions of some of these songs, but they all sound better here. Y.G.M. have a sound which is kinda hard to describe, but for the most part, they are sorta Punky and usually write really catchy songs. Unfortunately, a few of these 17 tracks (3 of which are telephone-banking messages!?!) really strike me in a bad way. But since all of them are short, the bad ones are over fast. I have two wishes about this band: 1. All their songs would be as great as "Ask Dr. Fly?" And 2. That Sage would sing more. Still, this is pretty likable. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

YOUTH GONE MAD - It's Spreading · DEMO
Pretty upbeat and sorta Punky stuff. I may be a little off base, but I think I detect sort of a DEAD KENNEDYS influence. I'm not too sure what to make of this, but I like it. Also, the band sent me a cassette single of their cover of "Baby Talk." I don't think I've heard the original, but their version sounds as if they had written it. Ask about it, too. - 8.5 - <Ray> **MC8**

YOUTH GONE MAD / LETCH PATROL - Split · label unknown
The YOUTH GONE MAD side is fairly harmless Punk. Speedy and fun. A good time, and a good recording, too. As for LETCH PATROL: Slower, longer, heavier. Actually a bit too long, and some of my attention began to wane. An interesting combination of music that didn't appeal to me as much as it might to you. - 7 - <Ray> **MC8**

ZANISTER - Fear No Man · Leviathan
Tenth-rate SKID ROW with slightly improved drumming does not impress me, for I have never had a sexual relationship with a member of my own family. There is no Confederate flag hoisted atop my trailer, nor have I spent the better part of my life working on an '81 Camaro. This repugnance can only command my attention long enough for me to declare that I vomit upon the Metal of ass. - 1 - <Jack>

ZAO - Zao · Solid State
A decent offering of brutal Metalcore with its various ups and downs. What I don't like about this album is its robotic, overproduced drum sound; this guy's a fine drummer, but his tendency to play in minimally strict timing, coupled with the aforementioned drum sound, gives much of this an out-of-place Industrial vibe. What I do like about the LP is the huge, fuzzy guitar sound that thrives on aggressive, crunchy, down-tuned rhythms. The singer's raspy scream is also consistently awesome, although a tad overproduced in its own right. The bread and butter on this disc, and really the only reason to spend the dough, is the perfectly executed depressing gem "The Dreams That Don't Come True." This is a haunting melodic song that I can listen to on repeat for hours and never get tired of, and having just done so, I'm tempted to call it one of the best songs ever written. No joke! I was going to make fun of these guys for buying the lie of Christianity, but there is no name-dropping of the Bastard Son, and their lyrics (on this record anyway) are in no way preachy or self-righteous unlike NO INNOCENT VICTIM, HASTE, KILLSWITCH ENGAGE, DISCIPLE, and other genetic debris. - 8.75 - <Jack>

ZARATUSTRA - ...in Blackness EP · Counter Attack
I believe that this is a repressing of the band’s 1996 demo, but the sound’s certainly not "demo quality" - it’s great. You know, I remember way back in the mists of time when demos actually sounded less good than label releases. Back in those ancient days, bands didn’t have any money at all, and so couldn’t afford to go to "real" studios. Stuff like "production" and "sound quality" were rare for unsigned bands. Thankfully those days are gone, but back then a demo that sounded as good as this symphonic Black Metal monster does would have meant an instant record deal. At any rate, ZARATUSTRA are impressive, and hopefully I’ll get to hear more from them soon. - 9 - <Ray> **MC12**

ZATOKREV - s/t · demo
This Swiss trio play an interesting style of Sludgy, yet energetic Metallic Rock. Simplistic, but rhythmically dynamic, melodic, groovy, and loaded with dirges, hooks, and a hint of an Industrial feel, mechanically speaking that is. Imagine HELMET and UNSANE locked in a dungeon with CROWBAR and CLUTCH. Now add a tormented, throaty scream a la BURST, and you see I’ve enjoyed a nice break from the 342 homemade Thrash CDRs I’ve just suffered through. - 8.75 - <Jack>
www.zatokrev.com

ZAXAS - Zaxas · Noise
Mostly acceptable old-style Thrash. The vocals are what really ruins this, as they sound like an extremely bad DIO rip-off. Go instrumental on the next album, and it'll be fine. Why do bands insist on having a terrible singer over none at all? That's stupid and has fucked more bands than just this one. - 7 - <Ray> **MC9**

ZEITGEIST - Prologue · DEMO
This is all over the place. The music ranges from sort of Gothy to more guitar driven, almost Thrashy sometimes. The vocals are not bad when Shane sings and doesn't use any effects (such as flange). I kept losing my concentration and thinking about other stuff while this was playing. - 7.75 - <Ray> **MC10**

ZEKE - Live and Uncensored · Dead Teenager
This is a compilation of old and new studio tracks, along with a bunch of live cuts. And for the most part it's fairly energetic (although it would benefit from being more so), at its best sounding like a weird hybrid of THE SUPERSUCKERS and GANG GREEN. It's just that things don't often hit this zenith. After hearing the first four (of eight) studio tracks, which are easily the best on the disc, I expected the live recordings (from many different shows) to really be over the top, but this isn't the case. - 6.25 - <Ray>

ZEMIAL - Sleeping Under Tartarus 7" · Gothic
I never thought I’d hear Black Metal coming from marbled pink vinyl, but here it is. That this Australian band has a kind of Greek sound is no surprise, since ZEMIAL main man Emperor Vorskaath actually used to be in VARATHRON. The sound is excellent and these 3 songs really couldn’t be cooler. Not many 7"s are perfect, but I’ll ignore the pink wax, and add one more to those unhallowed ranks. - 10 - **MC11**

ZEMIAL - Necrolatry · DEMO
For some reason, this doesn’t strike me as being as perfect as their Sleeping Under Tartarus 7", but it’s close. ZEMIAL’s memorable, sort of old Grecian-style, Black Metal is truly awesome, and it’s always a treat to get to hear some more of it. - 9.5 - <Ray> **MC12**

THE ZEPHYR - Celestial Evil God EP · TOAJ
An excellent, sometimes strange, combination of Death, Thrash and Black Metal. It’s interesting that these blasphemers are from Mexico, since this has sort of a more Greek approach to Black Metal - in some ways I’m reminded of very early ROTTING CHRIST, but more experimental & maybe with a little more emphasis on Death Metal & technical playing, although these songs are still very easy to remember. - 9.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

ZEPHYROUS - Entrance and Wandering... · Impure Creations
Simple, yet effective, Black Metal. Their use of keyboards is interesting - sometimes haunting, as in the intro and outtro. The band is from Greece, but their sound is faster, and more raw than many of their countrymen, which helps give them a unique identity. - 8.25 - <Ray> **MC11**

ZERO HOUR - Metamorphosis · Sensory
This is 100% unadulterated Buttock Metal! I know I sound like a broken record, but I feel obligated to mention that the music is okay. That is normally the case with the Metal of Ass. It is some of the most talented guitarists in the world that often choose the path of the hindquarters, and this is no exception. This guy is undoubtedly skilled, and the band's chunky riff/keyboard fastball specials frequently reach the heights of a newer IN FLAMES vibe. But it's these awful, forced, overdramatic, Freddy-Mercury-fucking-Dio-in-the-ass vocals that expunge this band's worth to me. There is no place for such foolishness in my collection. - 5 - <Jack>

ZEROMANCER - Eurotrash · Cleopatra
I hate that I don't hate this. I want to despise its slick Euro Industrial gloss. I want to loathe the band just because of their dorky post-Alternative pseudo-Goth look. And I tried, I really did. Right up until I actually put the disc in and played it. It's instantly catchy and is guitar oriented enough to make things sometimes sound like really highly polished and "evolved" form of computer-enhanced Thrash... sort of. But I could have rejected that if that vocals were wrong, but they're... damn it, they're not. I was expecting them to be distorted and overdriven, but they're not at all. At their most aggressive it's kind of along the lines of the lightest moments of (forgive me) VOI VOD, and mostly it's sort of New Wave-ish. And despite the suicidal, homicidal, misanthropic lyrics, I'd have hated that 15 years ago. But in these days of abominations like "Rap Metal," something like this Industrialized, slightly Metalized, New Wave is actually a welcome relief from the barrage of mainstream bullshit. And it's just so fucking catchy. I hate myself for it, but I won't lie to my loyal readers. I admit it, I like Eurotrash. But I don't love it. - 8 - <Ray>

ZIPGUN - 8 Track Player · Empty
The first song I really liked was the third one, "Together Dumb." The rest were all okay, but nothing really special, until song eight, "Cool in the Cell," where a young girl announces during the intro that Jesus Christ "owns" her. Uhh, yeah. - 7.25 - <Ray> **MC8**

ZOETROPE - Mind Over Splatter · Red Light
After hearing an old demo, I wasn't expecting too much. So I initially thought this was pretty good. However, with each listen, I found myself liking it a little less. One of the songs, "New World Order," was written by three of the MEGADETH guys, so this gives you an idea of the direction of the music. Actually, this is easily heavier than MEGADETH, but in the same league, I suppose. Nothing really bad, but nothing to get all excited about either. Uhh, why the Rap/Metal tune guys? Nice sample from the Punisher [the original one from 1988 -Ed.] movie, though. - 7 - <Ray> **MC8**

ZOINKS! / THE GAIN - Split · Rhetoric
This Poppy Punk is just too happy for me, but it's obvious that ZOINKS! are very good at what they do. THE GAIN are somewhat more abrasive, and thus slightly more interesting to me, but all the good production and catchy hooks in the world can't keep me awake through this. - 7 - <Ray> **MC10**

ZOMBIE RITUAL - Night of the Zombie Party · Razorback
Average Death Metal. Nothing much else to say, really. It's heavy, the singer has a good growl, the lyrics, imagery and themes are absolutely zombie-obsessed, but there is nothing here that's going to stay with you. The end result is just plain boring. In a stereo in which the new BLOODBATH does not leave, something this middle-of-the-road doesn't stand a pubic hair's chance on a porn set. - 6.75 - <Jack>

ZUCKUSS - Zuckuss · DEMO
These guys almost get by on sheer intensity alone. If not for all the different vocals styles being horrible - except for the "regular growls," which are used the most - this speed-fest would be a lot more listenable. Uncontrolled energy can only do so much. - 7 - <Ray> **MC11**

ZYKLON - World Ov Worms · Candlelight
Let me begin by saying that this is a 1000% improvement over their debut MCD. For those of you who don't have that particular release (my guess is that it is long out of print by now), ZYKLON (known as ZYKLON-B back then, but the name was shortened to keep people from thinking that they were a Nazi band) is essentially one of those Norse "supergroups" composed of guys from several well known bands. In this case, ZYKLON is essentially EMPEROR with some guest musicians providing support. The original line-up contained Frost from SATYRICON and the singer from DODHEIMSGARD, both of whom are absent this time around. They have been replaced by EMPEROR drummer Trym and members of MYRKSKOG, LIMBONIC ART as well as Norway's favorite freak, Trickster G (AKA Garm from ULVER). In a way, it's sort of an EMPEROR reunion as Bard Faust (former drummer for EMPEROR if you didn't know) provides all lyrics. The music on this isn't all that far removed from EMPEROR with the exception of the massive keyboards. There are keyboards on this, but it is essentially relegated to the background when they are used at all. In a way, this is very much in the Death Metal realm. The guitars are crystal clear but still brutal as fuck and the vocals are harsh and though they aren't as guttural as, say CANNIBAL CORPSE, they are none the less harsher than what you normally get for Black Metal. I don't doubt that this will sell tons of CDs with just the name value attached to this band. The difference is that ZYKLON has the ability, the songs and the sheer brutality to give you not only whiplash but a concussion as well. You can't ask for much more in brutal Death Fucking Metal. - 9.5 - <Ychoril>

ZYKLON - World Ov Worms · Candlelight
ZYKLON are a Black/Death Metal super-group that features Trym and Zamoth of EMPEROR, Destructhor of MYRKSKOG, and Daemon of LIMBONIC ART. Their sound can most closely be compared to that of MYRKSKOG or newer BEHEMOTH. The music is heavy, fast, intricate, and intense. Song-structures are adventurous and even chaotic at times ensuring that, for some listeners, it may take repeated listens to absorb the technical aspects of this release. Every member of the band puts forth his best effort on World Ov Worms. Destructhor's raging guitar-rhythms and Trym's flawless drum-work are undeniably brilliant. Daemon's vocal performance is of particular interest showing that his deathly growls here are every bit as lethal as the blackened shrieks he is known for behind the mic with LIMBONIC ART. Although ZYKLON have a lot going for them, this release does have its negative points. Some of the songs venture off into experimental post-Black Metal weirdness at times. This aspect tends to rob some of the songs of their intensity. But, the weirdness is usually confined to the end of those songs. Also, the production feels a little too polished in certain places. Still, I would recommend this release to those of you who like what MYRKSKOG and BEHEMOTH are doing these days. Overall, a great effort. - 8.75 - <Painkiller>

ZYKLON - Aeon · Candlelight
From what I’d heard of their first album, this is about a thousand times cooler. It still needs work, though. Musically it is tight, skillfully played Death Metal with a huge fucking DEICIDE influence. Traces of MORBID ANGEL are also found as well as the faintest echo of the old EMPEROR days. (I assume most everyone already knows this is Samoth’s new band.) Like I said, a huge step up from the debut which was essentially an endurance test/noise affair. Now, there are two vocal styles, one is a dead-on Glen Benton impersonation, and the other sounds like L.G. Petrov one shot of gin from passing out. Sometimes the latter works to make the song more memorable, and sometimes it just plain sounds fucking goofy. However, this is an easy bug to work out, and if they do, with the exceptional talent they naturally possess there’s no reason why their next album shouldn’t be a masterpiece of devastation. - 8 - <Jack>