New Heavy Metal CD Reviews: 11/5/2013
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Genre: Deathcore
Back with their fifth release, Impending Doom unleash Death Will Reign, a mixture of brutality and maturity. As one might expect, the guitars are thick and aggressive with brutal guttural vocals that are relentless. The addition of melodic guitars, strings and dynamics find the band more mature and focused. The songwriting has evolved, but the production is a throwback to their earlier recordings and not overproduced.
Founding guitarist Manny Contreras returns to the band after a short absence and brings a ton of groove oriented polyrhythmic riffs with him. Most of the songs feature syncopated riffs accented along with a killer double bass. The band shines when they break from the monotony, like on the chorus of “Rip, Tear and Burn.”
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
Genre: Celtic Metal
Otherworld is a five song EP from Leah, who blends ethereal music with harder edged elements. The opening track "Shores Of Your Lies" is a quiet, piano track, but then the bombastic guitars kick in on other songs like "The Northern Edge."
The highlight of the EP is "Dreamland," Leah's collaboration with Eric Peterson of Testament. Peterson is the vocalist in his Dragonlord project, and provides both harsh and melodic vocals here. It's an intriguing combination, although the album will appeal more to gothic metal fans than thrashers.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
Genre: Sludge Metal
Press play on Traverser, Lions of Tasvo’s fourth full-length, and you’ll quickly realize that this Austin power trio’s lifeblood flows from the southern sludge scene of the early 2000s. Thunderous riff rippers like “Tunnel Giant” and “Berlahars” might sound exactly like Remission-era Mastodon, but the Lions aren’t just about galloping brutality. The 7-minute “Traverser of Guriin” takes the listener down a deeper and darker path by adding touches of black metal atmospherics.
According to Wikipedia, berserkers were Germanic warriors who fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury. I can imagine these psychopaths headbanging to “Permafrost” while getting pumped up for battle. If violent, dark sludge is your thing, do yourself a favor and check this one out.
Rating: 3.5
(Kevin Sirois)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Longtime hard rockers Mad Max are back with their eleventh release, Interceptor. Filled with driving tempos, catchy vocal melodies and straightforward hard rock tendencies, the band has stayed true to their roots and not let modern music seep into their sound. Vocalist/guitarist Michael Voss and guitarist Jürgen Breforth have been collaborating since 1984, which is an impressive feat in itself.
Album opener “Save Me” features an addictive vocal melody blended with a seductive riff and is easily the bright spot on the album. Unfortunately, some of the material becomes cliché filled and not overly memorable. There are no ballads to be found, as all ten tracks are up-tempo and filled with energy.
Rating: 3
(Dan Drago)
Genre: Death Metal
Putrid death metal upstarts Necrowretch released their debut record earlier this year. Due to its success the band has now piled together their demos and EPs into one package entitled Bestial Rites 2009 – 2012. It features seventeen songs that spew fast tremolo guitars and vocals that sound like they were born in hell. The production on the demos brings a raw sound and creates an excellent atmosphere.
Necrowretch play death metal the way it is intended: aggressive, a tad loose and straight to the point. There is an obvious influence of Scream Bloody Gore, and they even cover the legendary Death track “Zombie Ritual.” Keeping in tradition with early death metal, there is a lot of thrash influence in the guitar playing that adds an excellent dimension to the chaos.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
Genre: Heavy Metal
As much as I’m down with the idea of a Nocturno Culto solo project, I cannot help but wonder whether Gift of Gods is actually little more than a gift of B-sides from his main band’s Circle the Wagons/The Underground Resistance recordingsessions.
Don’t get me wrong – Receive is a pretty nifty little EP – but it’s so close in sound and style to Darkthrone that it’s virtually indistinguishable (and arguably a tad redundant). Still, the gloomy touches of “Enlightning Strikes” and pure riff overload of “Last Solstice” should have fans of old school overlords Witchfinder General, Cirith Ungol and Grim Reaper flailing limbs in reckless abandon.
Rating: 3
(Neil Pretorius)
Genre: Metalcore/Post Hardcore
After making waves when it was released earlier this year in their native country, Singularity, the second album from Australia's Northlane is getting an official North American release.
The album has a lot of different textures and styles. Northlane utilize elements of metalcore, post hardcore, djent and rock. The songs are aggressive, and you'll hear some technical parts along with more progressive sections and potent breakdowns. The majority of the vocals are growls and hardcore yells. There's some melodic singing, but it's not the syrupy sweet style you usually hear in the genre. Definitely worth a listen for metalcore fans.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Genre: Black Metal
France’s Otargos have ‘journeymen’ written all over them. Playing fairly typical, modern, black metal that falls somewhere in between Marduk and Watain, Otargos bring nothing new to the table with well produced, slick songs that alternate between brutality with all out blasts and a few heavier dirges played at a mid-paced tempo.
Completely unoriginal in virtually every way, Apex Terror will tide you over for a listen or two, but is utterly forgettable and not much more.
Rating: 3
(Dave Schalek)
Genre: Experimental Metal/Noise
Ovo, an Italian male/female duo, manage to make noisy sludge with enough wackiness that the looping drones of their ‘compositions’ have a certain infectiousness to them. El luchador magnifico, Bruno Dorella, slams out the drum phrases with a hypnotic blend of Gang of Four and metal box PiL ingredients while Stefania Pedretti uses the microphone to amplify her oddly feminine Yoko Ono disembowels a cat vocals.
Noise rock of this ilk abandons music’s mundane reliance on melody and meaning. It slaps buckets of congealed sound against a writhing backdrop, hoping that the throb splatters into something of interest. Ovo get the right swing more often than not.
Rating: 3
(Todd Lyons)
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
Place Vendome are the side project of former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske and Pink Cream 69 bassist Dennis Ward. Thunder in the Distance is their third release together and follows the familiar melodic hard rock path. Ward and Kiske also work together in Unisonic, which pursue a more metal style. Kiske has proven throughout his career to possess one of the greatest voices, this release continues that tradition.
Following the same formula as their last album, different songwriters were brought in to compose the material. The Timo Tolkki penned “Lost in Paradise” fits Kiske’s voice perfectly and features an incredible passionate vocal line. On par with their previous work, the songs contain countless hooks and mesmerizing solos.
Rating: 4
(Dan Drago)
Impending Doom – ‘Death Will Reign’ (eOne)
Genre: Deathcore
Back with their fifth release, Impending Doom unleash Death Will Reign, a mixture of brutality and maturity. As one might expect, the guitars are thick and aggressive with brutal guttural vocals that are relentless. The addition of melodic guitars, strings and dynamics find the band more mature and focused. The songwriting has evolved, but the production is a throwback to their earlier recordings and not overproduced.
Founding guitarist Manny Contreras returns to the band after a short absence and brings a ton of groove oriented polyrhythmic riffs with him. Most of the songs feature syncopated riffs accented along with a killer double bass. The band shines when they break from the monotony, like on the chorus of “Rip, Tear and Burn.”
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
Leah - 'Otherworld' (Ex Cathedra)
Genre: Celtic Metal
Otherworld is a five song EP from Leah, who blends ethereal music with harder edged elements. The opening track "Shores Of Your Lies" is a quiet, piano track, but then the bombastic guitars kick in on other songs like "The Northern Edge."
The highlight of the EP is "Dreamland," Leah's collaboration with Eric Peterson of Testament. Peterson is the vocalist in his Dragonlord project, and provides both harsh and melodic vocals here. It's an intriguing combination, although the album will appeal more to gothic metal fans than thrashers.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
Lions of Tsavo – ‘Traverser’ (Toxic Assets)
Genre: Sludge Metal
Press play on Traverser, Lions of Tasvo’s fourth full-length, and you’ll quickly realize that this Austin power trio’s lifeblood flows from the southern sludge scene of the early 2000s. Thunderous riff rippers like “Tunnel Giant” and “Berlahars” might sound exactly like Remission-era Mastodon, but the Lions aren’t just about galloping brutality. The 7-minute “Traverser of Guriin” takes the listener down a deeper and darker path by adding touches of black metal atmospherics.
According to Wikipedia, berserkers were Germanic warriors who fought in a nearly uncontrollable, trance-like fury. I can imagine these psychopaths headbanging to “Permafrost” while getting pumped up for battle. If violent, dark sludge is your thing, do yourself a favor and check this one out.
Rating: 3.5
(Kevin Sirois)
Mad Max – 'Interceptor' (SPV)
Genre: Heavy Metal
Longtime hard rockers Mad Max are back with their eleventh release, Interceptor. Filled with driving tempos, catchy vocal melodies and straightforward hard rock tendencies, the band has stayed true to their roots and not let modern music seep into their sound. Vocalist/guitarist Michael Voss and guitarist Jürgen Breforth have been collaborating since 1984, which is an impressive feat in itself.
Album opener “Save Me” features an addictive vocal melody blended with a seductive riff and is easily the bright spot on the album. Unfortunately, some of the material becomes cliché filled and not overly memorable. There are no ballads to be found, as all ten tracks are up-tempo and filled with energy.
Rating: 3
(Dan Drago)
Necrowretch – ‘Bestial Rites 2009 - 2012’ (Century Media)
Genre: Death Metal
Putrid death metal upstarts Necrowretch released their debut record earlier this year. Due to its success the band has now piled together their demos and EPs into one package entitled Bestial Rites 2009 – 2012. It features seventeen songs that spew fast tremolo guitars and vocals that sound like they were born in hell. The production on the demos brings a raw sound and creates an excellent atmosphere.
Necrowretch play death metal the way it is intended: aggressive, a tad loose and straight to the point. There is an obvious influence of Scream Bloody Gore, and they even cover the legendary Death track “Zombie Ritual.” Keeping in tradition with early death metal, there is a lot of thrash influence in the guitar playing that adds an excellent dimension to the chaos.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
Nocturno Culto’s Gift of Gods – 'Receive' (Peaceville)
Genre: Heavy Metal
As much as I’m down with the idea of a Nocturno Culto solo project, I cannot help but wonder whether Gift of Gods is actually little more than a gift of B-sides from his main band’s Circle the Wagons/The Underground Resistance recordingsessions.
Don’t get me wrong – Receive is a pretty nifty little EP – but it’s so close in sound and style to Darkthrone that it’s virtually indistinguishable (and arguably a tad redundant). Still, the gloomy touches of “Enlightning Strikes” and pure riff overload of “Last Solstice” should have fans of old school overlords Witchfinder General, Cirith Ungol and Grim Reaper flailing limbs in reckless abandon.
Rating: 3
(Neil Pretorius)
Northlane - 'Singularity' (UNFD)
Genre: Metalcore/Post Hardcore
After making waves when it was released earlier this year in their native country, Singularity, the second album from Australia's Northlane is getting an official North American release.
The album has a lot of different textures and styles. Northlane utilize elements of metalcore, post hardcore, djent and rock. The songs are aggressive, and you'll hear some technical parts along with more progressive sections and potent breakdowns. The majority of the vocals are growls and hardcore yells. There's some melodic singing, but it's not the syrupy sweet style you usually hear in the genre. Definitely worth a listen for metalcore fans.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Otargos - ‘Apex Terror’ (Listenable)
Genre: Black Metal
France’s Otargos have ‘journeymen’ written all over them. Playing fairly typical, modern, black metal that falls somewhere in between Marduk and Watain, Otargos bring nothing new to the table with well produced, slick songs that alternate between brutality with all out blasts and a few heavier dirges played at a mid-paced tempo.
Completely unoriginal in virtually every way, Apex Terror will tide you over for a listen or two, but is utterly forgettable and not much more.
Rating: 3
(Dave Schalek)
Ovo – 'Abisso' (Supernatural Cat)
Genre: Experimental Metal/Noise
Ovo, an Italian male/female duo, manage to make noisy sludge with enough wackiness that the looping drones of their ‘compositions’ have a certain infectiousness to them. El luchador magnifico, Bruno Dorella, slams out the drum phrases with a hypnotic blend of Gang of Four and metal box PiL ingredients while Stefania Pedretti uses the microphone to amplify her oddly feminine Yoko Ono disembowels a cat vocals.
Noise rock of this ilk abandons music’s mundane reliance on melody and meaning. It slaps buckets of congealed sound against a writhing backdrop, hoping that the throb splatters into something of interest. Ovo get the right swing more often than not.
Rating: 3
(Todd Lyons)
Place Vendome – ‘Thunder in the Distance’ (Frontiers)
Genre: Melodic Hard Rock
Place Vendome are the side project of former Helloween vocalist Michael Kiske and Pink Cream 69 bassist Dennis Ward. Thunder in the Distance is their third release together and follows the familiar melodic hard rock path. Ward and Kiske also work together in Unisonic, which pursue a more metal style. Kiske has proven throughout his career to possess one of the greatest voices, this release continues that tradition.
Following the same formula as their last album, different songwriters were brought in to compose the material. The Timo Tolkki penned “Lost in Paradise” fits Kiske’s voice perfectly and features an incredible passionate vocal line. On par with their previous work, the songs contain countless hooks and mesmerizing solos.
Rating: 4
(Dan Drago)
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