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Kat's Mental CD Reviews

 

With Passion

What We See When We Shut Our Eyes 

 Tracks: 1. Pale Horses Ride 2. Through The Smoke Lies A Path 3. What We See When We Shut Our Eyes 4. Triumph Over Tragedy 5. Tales Of Sirens 6. Encryption 7. R.J. MacReady 8. Forgotten Amongst Screams 9. Vengeance in Departure 10. A Road For The Worthy

Genre: Grind core metal

This is the first full length album of this local band and it is a mastery of hard work and dedication. Technical Brutality grips this album through and through, purely a work to be remembered. Starting with, Pale Horse Rider instantly yanks you into a different plane of existence with the technicality of a Necrophagist type work of art then moving into a melodic transformation. Masterfully created and thought out. The riffs are done in such a way that any aspiring guitarist will want to achieve this level of expertise. This album rocks to the core and is worthy of being in any collection. It's truly a shame they disbanded shortly after this was released!

 

Val Emmich

Sunlight Searchparty        

Tracks: New Years Resolution, 2. first Try, 3. This Ship’s Going Down, 4. Cover Up, 5. Teach Me, 6. Now Is No Time, 7. High Noon, 8. At the Risk Of Sounding, 9. If They Come Again, 10. Absolutely Still, 11. The Only One Lonely, 12. Decadent Decline, 13. Last Day, 14. I Don’t Get The Joke.

This album is made at the height of the bad singing movement. He really isn’t bad just so gay and lame. He has a decent voice he just purposefully makes it sound crappy every once in a while. Reminds me of Howie Day. Overall I would say this is a gay album it definitely has a positive message ingrained I would be surprised to hear this on the inspirational radio station. I wasn’t thrilled with this album probably because it’s just so disgustingly positive. I just want to kill myself now. Do you have a razor handy

 

Syphon Christ

Demo                         

 Rating:3.5 Demo

Genre: Thrash Metal

Only 2 tracks on this. But they are brutal and hard hitting. This is a local band that is in it’s early stages but they know how to rock. Watch out for these guys they are worth listening to. Support this local band and go to any of their shows. They have the potential to become a lot bigger when they start playing out. You can listen to these tracks on myspace.com/syphoncrhrist.

 

Soular

Love Crash Heal            

 

Genre: Alternative rock

I really like this album most of these songs have a really grungy 80’s alt feel to them. Overall this album is one of the better ones that I’ve heard in a long time. Normally I’m a heavy metal type of chick but every once in a while I like to hear other things and this would be one of those other things. This has a really smooth but smokey beat accompanied with a warm but clear voice. Almost a romantic feel to it but in no way gay to my ears (unless you listen to it a second time). Then it totally changes for some reason, it sounded so much different the second time around but it was still really good.

 

Scarve

The Undercurrent       

Tracks: 1.Endangered, 2 Imperceptible Armageddon, 3. Senseless, 4. The Plundered, 5. Assuming Self, 6. Fathomless Descent 7. A Few Scraps Of Memories, 8. Rebirth 9. Alteration (Bonus Track)

Genre: Thrash Death Metal

This album has a brutal brand of extremity. Armed with an explosive sound courtesy of producer Daniel Bergstrand (Meshuggah, Strapping young lad) and stunning vocals by Lawrence Mackrory (Darkane). On their last tour they were handpicked by Meshuggah as the only support act on the European trek now. This latest album is an inescapable weaving of blastbeat-fueled madness. “The undercurrent” is sure to leave you with the mind numbing hardcore brutality that you are all so in desperate need of. Personally it sounded much the same as many other death thrash metal out there and there is not really anything that stands out to me on this album so I give it a 3.5.

 

Richard Hawley

Lady’s Bridge                 

 Tracks:1.Valentine, 2.Roll river Roll,3.Serious,4. Tonight The Streets Are Ours,5. Lady Solitude,6. Dark Road,7. The Sea Calls,8. Lady’s Bridge,9. I’m Looking For Someone To Find Me,10. Our Darkness, 11. The Sun Refused To Shine.

Genre: Pop/Jazz

The songs of this album differ in who they sound like some sound like a male version of Nicole Atkins music and lyrics, some are smooth jazz almost like black velvet and others are reminiscent of old time big band music from the 50’s. Great dance music for old people.

 

Nox

Ixaxaar                        

Tracks: 1. Choronzonic Chaos Gods 2. Blind Mad God 3. Darkness Undying 4. Zacar Od Zamran 5. Insane Hatred For The Supposed Creator 6. The Jesus Sect 7. Intoxicated With Death 8. Satan Ex-Machina 9. Zazaz

Genre: Death Metal

This is a brutal mix. It will grip you by the throat and squeeze till the blood comes spurting out of your eyes. This album is grim-faced aggression with a blend of technical mastery. It broods with the kind of oily serpentine riffs not heard since Morbid Angel. This is an awesome album and it exemplifies death metal to the core.

 

 

 

Aesop Rock

None Shall Pass          

Rating:1.5 None Shall Pass Tracks:1. Keep Off The Lawn, 2. None Shall Pass, 3. Catacomb Kids, 4. Bring Back Pluto, 5. Fumes, 6.Getaway Car, 7. 39 Thieves, 8. The Harbor Is Yours, 9. Citronella, 10. Gun for the Whole Family, 11. Five Fingers, 12. No City, 13. Dark heart News, 14. Coffee

Genre: Rap/hip Hop

On the Strange end of Hip Hop however not strange enough or rap enough to make me hate it altogether but it’s not something I like to listen to as a general rule. So I can’t really give you a completely unbiased opinion. I didn’t like it.

 

 

Murderlicious

Tracks: 1. Karma Yoga 2. Kali Yuga 3. Kill At Will 4. Set Apart 5. Trash TV 6. Emerson, Lake & Dahmer 7. Coffins Are Beautiful 8. Water Melon 9. You’re Getting Sleepy

Genre: Thrash Metal

This is an awesome album First off this is the only album I’ve heard that uses clips from the movie Ghandi, that is cool. Another thing is this album rocks it’s full of rhythm and hooks simple riffs. Old School Thrash all the way. The vocals are clear and almost understandable but still thrash. I give this album a fuck you all the way. Just awesome, if you get your hands on this local bands album keep it because I would consider it mandatory music.

 

Mortiis

Some Kind Of Heroin      

Tracks:1. Underdog, 2. The Grudge, 3. Twist The Knife, 4. Broken Skin Feat(Septic Wound Mix), 5. The Grudge (Mental siege Mix) 6.Gibber 7. Way Too Wicked, 8. Gibber (Lysergic Club Mix), 9. The Worst In Me, 10. The Grudge (David Wallace Remix), 11. Broken Skin Feat (Funker Vogt Remix), 12. The Grudge (Emotional Heresy), 13. Decadent & Desperate, 14. Gibber (Gibbering Idiot), 15. Way Too Wicked, 16. Worst In Me.

This is not what I expected from a band called Mortiis. However this is a remix from the earlier album. Not bad retro mix. Kinda Cool. This is something you would hear at a raving tweaker party. Mostly Synth-pop with very small touches of metal mixed in. Overall I would say it’s kinda cool.

 

Monster in the Machine

Butterfly Pinned          

Tracks: 1. Fear Of The Mind 2. Helicopter 3. Perfect 4. Under Your Shadow 5. One Way Trip 6. Savior 7. Dot On My Soul 8. Shut The Door 9. Dog Interlude 10. Dog 11. Burns Inside Me 12. Don’t

Genre: Alternative Rock

What a trip. Kinda cool trip. The Fear of the Mind is like a Flash Gordon rhythm and keyboards with some deep wording. The first three songs of this album are just strange they remind me of like a Frank Zappa/Beatles mix. Under Your Shadow sounds a lot like a Cure song, very cool, one of my favorite songs of this album. . Then we start getting into a more alternative type of mix. More cool songs are Dot on My Soul, Savior and Don’t. Mellow and kinda odd this album is an eccentric mix of different sounds and types of music ranging from Beatles to Depeche Mode. Very cool album.

 

 

Modern Skirts

Catalogue of Generous Men 

 1. N.Y. Song 2. Seventeen Dirty Magazines, 3. By Bully 4. Pasadena 5. City Lights 6. Tonight, Before You Were Sleeping 6. September Days 7. My Lost Soprano 8. Save Me 9. Ring The Bell 10. Sugarpile

Genre: Pop/Alt

This is so Elton John with a youthful spin to it that is in no way offensive to old people. This is the music that you would want your grandparents to think you listen to. It’s really ugly. You would probably hear this music with a lame date movie when the guy is about to kiss the girl. Yes it’s that lame but hey on the upside there is a ton of Elton John fans out there that will love this album (probably old people that would absolutely find this music totally cool). Next I will probably be hearing it on the lamest top 40 radio station in my area. AHHHHH Killll Meee NOW! I can’t take it anymore.

 

The Minor Times

Summer of Wolves         

Rating: 2.5  Tracks: 1.Casket City Lights 2. Van Zant 3. Ladder Devils 4. Black hole Living 5. amazing Grace 6. This Is The Blues 7. Bring The Suit 8. This is a fine life you’ve Made For Yourself 9. Fire Spitter 10. Disappear Here

Genre: Thrash Metal

Well this is definitely your average almost screamo thrash metal. It’s really a bunch of kids jumping around trying to make cool music. There isn’t any real shredding going on and it’s all pretty much the same as all the other generic metalcore. Not really much to say on this except sometimes I can’t stand the loud wah that you hear so often now. I don’t know who did that or why it became such a innovative sound but there it is you can’t fight it. It seems to be permeating the metal scene and everybody does it now. Unfortunately there is no talent associated with this band I wish that these metal morons would stop it.

 

Megan McCauley

Better Than Blood      

 Tracks:1. Migraine, 2.Fragile, 3.Wrong Way Out, 4. Reverie, 5. Tap That, 6. Wonder, 7. I Realize, 8. See Through, 9.Come To Me, 10.Porcelain Doll, 11. I’ll Pay You To Shoot Him

Genre: Pop/Rock

If you like Pink than you’ll totally like this album. They sound so much alike same type of sound. Not Quite the same voice though. Still it’s OK Definitely radio worthy. Personally I’m not a big fan of Pink but she does have a couple of good songs out. That is why I rate this a 3 because they sound so much alike but they still have a couple of decent songs.

 

Grizzly Bear

Yellow House            

  Tracks: 1. Easier 2. Lullaby 3. Knife 4. Central and Remote 5. Little Brother 6. Plans 7. Marla 8. On The Neck, On The Spit 9. Reprise 10. Colorado

Genre: Alternative/folk

I suppose this album would be good if I was forever lost in the peak of Acid but since I’m not than I think this album kinda sucks. It’s too weird and eccentric for me to like. There aren’t really a lot of vocals that make sense in what is being said. It’s kinda like Nirvana poetry set to Bjork music. All I can say is this is a stupid album. I don’t want to hear it any more.

 

 

Pete Francis

Iron Sea and The Cavalry

  Tracks: 1. Johny Ocho’s Lullaby 2. Armies of Angels 3. Carousel 4. Carnival 5. Shooting Star and the Ambulance 6. Case of Bad Love 7. Let It Go 8. Iron Sea and the Cavalry 9. Stowaway 9. Heavenly Boat

Genre: Folk

This album pretty much sucked. This album has a Broke Back Mountain country type of feel. You would probably like it if you liked John Denver. The only song I thought was OK was Army of Angels that was pretty cool but other than that this whole album was built for a pole smoker dog rapist. Wallows in lameness.

 

Five Times August

 Brighter Side               

Tracks: 1. Giving It All To You, 2. The Good Life, 3. Overrated, 4. Surface, 5. Beautiful Girls, 6. Sunrise 7. Sentimental Spell 8. Here, 9. Who You Are 10. One Way Road 11. The Lighting 12. It’s Not Over

Genre: pop/ alt

This is a nice album, Sounds a lot like the Dave Mathews band and has the same type of upbeat rhythms and romantic lyrics. Really Gay! One of the things that I really like about this album is it uses acoustic guitar in most of the songs. My favorite song of this album is Surface.

 

 

Endeverafter

Kiss or Kill                 

 Tracks: 1. I Wanna Be Your Man 2. Baby Baby Baby 3. Gotta Get Out 4. Poison 5. Next Best Thing 6. Tip Of My Tongue 7. Road To Destruction 8. All Night 9. Slave 10. From The Ashes Of Sin 11. Long Way Home

Genre: Progressive Rock

You can definitely hear remnants of old 80’s riffs mixed all over in these tracks however they have progressed enough that they are on the cutting edge of rock. This is a very cool album. This also appeals to my feminine side because it has some romantic girly rock in there. In it’s entirety this is melodic and harmonic with many hooks. Very much something you would hear on 106.5. My favorites are Tracks 1, 5, 6, 7, and 10. Overall this is a great album worth listening to and having in your collection.

 

Edible Red

Welcome to My Bad Behavior

 Tracks:1.At Hello, 2.2012, 3.Hey Ya, 4.Meaning of Shady Part, 5.Rectify, 6.Paralyzed, 7.Television, 8.Sugar and Spring, 9.Silently Screaming, 10.Purify, 11.Purple Duck, 12.Better Days.

Genre: Pop/Alt

I’m not sure what to think of this music. It’s quite different from other pop alternative music. Hey Ya is a remake of Outkast's smash hit but  slower  with a way better vocals. I really didn’t think anything of it. A majority of the songs are all remakes of different songs with a new female vocal and instrumental aspect

 

Crash Motive

Consequence         

Tracks: 1. Not Giving Up 2. No Tomorrow, Just Tonight 3. Waiting (Save Your Life) 4. Believe It 5. Live Like Your Last Day 6. Amy 7. Things That Could Be Said 8. Home To Home 9. Through The Years 10. My Own 11. When You Go 12. Good For Me

Genre: Progressive Rock

We will be hearing these guys on the radio soon if not already. They used the track Waiting (Save Your Life) on The Fantastic 4 movie. Anyways it’s not bad. It is typical of what you would hear on KWOD 106.5. I think this album is going to be well loved by the girls. It is definitely girly rock. Some romantic songs on it as well as some with pretty good riffs. The album is again very melodic and harmonic in all ways. Really would appeal to the high school cheerleader team and would probably be used at the prom even. I could see it even used in more movies focused around teenagers.

The Berzerker 

Animosity                  

  Tracks: 1.Eye for an Eye 2. Purgatory 3. False Hope 4. Evolution 5. l. Retribution 7. The Cancer 8. Weapons of War 9. Heavily Medicated 10. Lonely World

Genre: hardcore thrash metal

Insanely brutal, deadly hardcore. That’s all I have to say about this. There is no reprieve from the bludgeoning programmed drums bringing super low end frequencies. The deadly and disembodied vocals sinks you into a sonic nightmare never to escape. This albums first request is for evil and it delivers without reservation.

 

1945   

The Only Way Out 


The Only Way Out
Tracks: 1. The Dance of The Gods 2. Andar 3. The Best Is Yet To come 4. Hold Me 5. Crisis De Amor 6. Vuelta Atras 7. Abusados 8. Sure

Genre: Pop/Spanish

This band is trying to sound like the Dave Mathews band but with vocals not as good and in Spanish half the time. The keyboards and guitar is decent though. Very mellow music. Hold Me is a pretty good track nice riffs this would be dancing music. Something you would hear on 100.5. Old people would like this music. It’s not totally bad though. Not something I would bust down the doors to have but not bad. However from one my friend that speaks spanish she says that the bands Spanish sucks so I would think that the band is trying to be something its not.

BEN JELEN

Ex Sensitive  

Ben Jelen Rating:2 Ex Sensitive Tracks: 1. Pulse 2.Where Do We Go 3. Ex-sensitive 4. Counting Down 5. Just a Little 6. Not My Plan 7. Papa, Here I Go 8.Vulnerable 9. Mr. Philosopher 10. Short Of The World 11. Wreckage 12. Other Side 13. What Have We Done.

Genre: Pop/Alt/Folk

If I were to put music to the coming of age time in a persons like I would probably use this music. It is what I would call Movie music. It’s great background music for a quirky comedy drama coming of age movie. However it’s not something that I personally would listen to. There is nothing really profound with the instrumentals or vocals. If you didn’t pay attention to the music you wouldn’t miss much.

Aborted    

Slaughter & Apparatus: A Methodical Overture  

Tracks: 1.The Chondrin Enigma 2.A Methodical Overture 3.Avenious 4.The Spaying Séance 5.And Carnage Basked In its Ebullience 6.The Foul Nucleus Of Resurrection 7.Archetype 8.Ingenuity in Genocide 9.Odious Emanation 10.Prolific Murder Contrivance 11.Underneath Rorulent Soil 12.Surprise You’re Dead

Genre: Grind core Death Metal

I absolutely love this band.  Because of this album.  I had never heard of them before until I heard this and the minute I heard it I was hooked.  The Chondrin Enigma is such a hardcore grind that will grab the listener and never let them go.  A Methodical Overture just pure brutality through and through one of my favorites for this album.  The whole album will have your mind bound, tortured, brutally invaded and then left for dead.  Just a mind blowing album in it’s entirety.  If you don’t have this album in your collection you need to get it.  This will be in the same category as either Dying Fetus or Cannibal Corpse which happen to be in a category all their own.

Akercocke

Antichrist   

(Earache 2007)     

Tracks: 1. Black Messiah, 2. Summon the Antichrist, 3. Axiom, 4. The Promise, 5. My Rapturous Angel, 6. Distant Fires Reflect in the Eyes of Satan, 7. Man Without Faith or Trust, 8. The Dark Inside, 9. Footsteps Resound in an Empty Chapel, 10. Epode

Genre:  Black Metal, Death Metal

My favorite tracks of this CD are 3, 5, 6, and 10; however, all of the tracks have some aspect that was pleasing to my ears and was felt in some part of my anatomy.  Some of the tracks transported me to another time and place where a ritual was being performed.  Other tracks blasted thru the speakers—they made me think that it was a mistake in the production of the sound but you will find that beneath the chaos, there is in fact some sort of lyrical theme going on.  A majority of the tracks will give you a sound thrashing and beating, interjecting into other tracks a caress with a melodic softness.  All around an enjoyable CD that belongs in any collection.

Animosity 

Animal  

Tracks:  1. Terror storm  2. Tooth grinder  3. Bombs Over Rome  4. Evangelical  5. Animal  6. Plunder Incorporated  7. Operating From The Ditch  8.  You Can’t Win  9. Progression In Defeat  10. Elucidation  11. A Passionate Journey

Genre: Hardcore Thrash Metal

These boys are a bunch of political and social Deviants.  Their lyrics on this album reflect those on their first album.  These songs range from politics to religion.  Being that these boys are so young it amazes me that they can grasp the concept of or even care about politics and religion.  Overall This smart group of kids has a good concept of hardcore thrash as well, quite talented in fact.  The guitar and vocal rip to shreds as well as keeping in time with the blast beats.  Nice hooks throughout the album delivers an intense hardcore beating. 

As I Lay Dying    

An Ocean Between Us   

Tracks:1. Separation  2. Nothing Left  3. An Ocean Between Us  4. Within Destruction  5. Forsaken  6. Comfort Betrays  7. I Never Wanted  8. Bury Us All  9. The Sound of Truth  10. Departed  11. Wrath Upon Ourselves  12. This Is Who We Are.

Genre: Heavy Thrash Metal

Awesome opening to tracks 1, 2, 4, 8).  The twin lead guitars totally rip up all these songs especially at the beginnings.  We have a bit of a melodic vocals mixed in by new bassist Josh Gilbert as well as the original behemoth growling vocals of Tim Labesis.  Overall a fuckin Bitchen album.  This will rock your fuckin socks off.  Hardcore is still at the center of this band but they have incorporated a bit of a new melodic sounds that is both welcome, engaging and necessary for progress.

 

Atreyu    

Lead Sails, Paper Anchor  

Tracks:  1. Doomsday  2. Honor  3. Falling Down  4. Becoming the Bull  5. When Two Are One  6. Lose It  7. No One Cares  8. Can’t Happen Here  9. Slow Burn  10. Blow 11. Lead Sails (And A Paper Anchor)

Genre:  Hardcore Thrash Metal

These guys sound different than before. The vocals have improved dramatically.  This album sounds like they had fun producing it and you can feel it.  This is a fun album to listen to and it makes you feel good.  It is almost radio worthy nowadays.  Doomsday Honor and Falling Down are just all around hardcore feel good songs.  Good beats and riffs.  Lose it mixes cool and soft to hardcore pounding that makes you want to scream.  Be prepared to feel good.  OMG Is the Clean Sheet bonus track actually a remake of the Faith No More “Epic”? Not a bad remake.  This album resonates with a positive air that you can hear in the lyrics.  These guys have come a long way and this album proves it.

Blood Red Throne  

Come Death  

Tracks: 1. Slaying the Lamb 2. Deranged Assassin 3. Rebirth In Blood  4. Gutterual Screams  5. Taste of God  6. No New Beginning  7. Come Death  8. (78-88) Disincarnated  9. Another Kill

Genre: Death Metal 

This is an excellent 2nd release for this band.  The Norwegians have once again proven that Death is a Science.  All of these tracks have a plethora of hooks in every track.  Slaying the Lamb is an excellent opening track with awesome blast beats and rhythm to keep you in their grasp until the very end of the album.  Rebirth in Blood and Deranged Assassin have a decidedly Nile feel to them.  Guttural Screams has a nice opening with heavy licks and a new ostinato rhythm that I’ve not heard before.  Overall this album is an awesome album.  This is a perfect example of progression in Death Metal.  This album has way more hooks in every song than a lot of metal that I’ve heard including their first album.  1st album is worth listening to but this one has topped it, to be expected.

 

Bring Me The Horizon    

Count Your Blessings  

Tracks:  1. Pray for Plagues  2. Tell Slater Not to Wash his Dick  3. For Stevie’s Eyes Only  4. Alot like Vegas  5. Black and Blue  6. Slow Dance  7. Liquor & Love Lost  8. (I Used to Make Out With) Medusa  9. Fifteen Fathoms, Counting  10. Off the Heezay

Genre:  Grind core Thrash Metal

These guys are early but really talented.  They define Grind core to the bone throughout this album.  They hit you heavy and hard with all the strength they have in their arsenal.  However they did give the listener a little depth into their talents with Fifteen Fathoms, Counting.  A truly masterful work of instrumentals that proves that not only are these guys knowledgeable in what their fans want but also how to produce beauty.  If you see the interview on Capitalchaos.net you will see that these boys truly are characters.  Just watch out for flying liquids from these guys you never know what it could be.

 

Bring Me The Horizon 

This is what the edge of your seat is for  

Tracks: 1. They have no reflections  2. Who Wants Flowers When Your Dead? Nobody  3. Rawrrr!  4. Traitors Never Play Hangman

This album is very short so I’m thinking it’s an EP even though they are playing these songs at their shows.  Well this album is much the same as their last album very much a grind core band.  Lots of high pitched rips tearing up the beat reminds me much of their first album.  Who Wants Flowers is a fun song “MOSH PIT!!!!!!”.  Rawrrr! Has a nice female scream in it although it sounded practiced kinda like a horror flick just more thrashy.  Traitors Never Play Hangman has lots of ostinato.

City Sleeps 

Not an Angel  

Tracks: 1. Hotel  2. Prototype  3. Just Another Day  4. Walkers Ridge  5. Ordinary High  6. I Can’t Make You Love Me  7. Andrea  8. Bones  9. Be a Man  10. Sleep With Me  11. Check Out

Genre: Progressive Rock

This is an excellent album.  I would expect to hear Prototype and Bones on 106.5 soon.  This music you can listen to over and over it’s the kind of music that you can either party to or dance to or drive to.  It’s not depressing or mind altering it’s just good music that is easy to listen to.  The kind of music that you would tap your fingers to.  My favorite tracks are Prototype, I Can’t Make You Love Me, Bones, and Sleep With Me.  Sleep with Me is a very romantic.  The whole album is chalk full of hooks and good riffs.  The vocals are sung and not screamed or growled as I said easy to listen to.

Darkest Hour    

Deliver Us  

Tracks: 1.Doomsayer(The Beginning of the End) 2.Sanctuary 3.Demons 4.An Ethereal Drain 5.A Paradox with Flies-The Light 6.The Light At The Edge Of The World 7. Stand and Receive Your Judgement 8.Tunguska 9.Fire In The Skies 10.Full Imperial Collapse 11.Deliver Us.

Genre: Thrash Death Metal

This is a great album to get your fill of distortion and thrash, very common though.  Nice guitar riffs throughout this album the distortion that they’ve used in all of these songs adds to the ambiance of this album. Doomsayer has a gifted guitar riff in the beginning then it starts to beat you senseless.  Light at the edge of this world is a beautiful instrumental that really emphasizes the groups abilities.  Tunguska has a melodic hardcore throughout that is relentless.  This group has been working long and hard to get this far and it shows.  This album really shows their dedication to their craft and is definitely worth listening to over and over. 

Denial Fiend  

They Rise  

Tracks: 1.They Rise  2. Return To The Tombs Of The Cursed Blind Dead  3. Flesheater  4. Cover Me In Blood  5. Ripped Inside Out  6. L.O.D.  7. Son Of The Creature From The Black Lagoon  8. Frankenstein Conquers The World  9. Let The Blood Flow  10. Children Shouldn’t Play With Dead things  11. The Day Of The Undead

Genre: Horror Metal

These guys sound a lot like Slayer just not as hard hitting.  Pretty good album Nice rhythm and speed.  Not a lot of Growling.  Overall a good sounding album I think these guys will become a little more well known in the future.  Not as big as Slayer because no one can replace Slayer but a good band none the less.  Cover Me In Blood has a very catchy rhythm that makes you want to bang your head.  Ripped inside out has a decent guitar solo at the end.  L.O.D. has good lyrics that put you in a horror flick with a catchy rhythm.  All the songs on this album have a good catchy rhythm that you can bang your head to.

 

Dethklok 

The Dethalbum  

Tracks: 1. Murmaider  2. Go Into the Water  3. Awaken  4. Bloodrocuted  5. Go Forth and Die  6. Fansong  7. Better Metal Snake  8. The Lost Vikings  9. Thunderhorse  10. Briefcase full of Guts  11. Birthday Dethday  12. Hatredcopter  13. Castratikron  14. Face Fisted  15. Dethharmonic

Genre:  Cartoon Metal

They are not using the behemoth type of voice.  This is more like talking in a growling type of voice.  Lots of hooks on this album.  The lyrics are vivid and capture the imagination.  Overall a pretty good album.  Reminds me a lot of Amon Amarth  This album has sold over 34,000 copies and has gotten a lot of hype because of the cartoon metal, that I hear is phenomenal.  However, since I haven’t seen it I can only judge this album by what I hear.  I think it’s a pretty good album to have and it’s easy to listen too.  Also, from what I hear Brandon and Mike are 2 of the fastest guitar players in the world there is no demonstration of their greatness on this album and that is a little disappointing.  Maybe Brandon’s comedy on the cartoon makes up for that.

 

Devil Wears Prada  

Plagues  

Tracks:  1. Goats On A Boat  2. Number III Never Forget  3. HTML Rulez Dood  4. Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?  5. Don’t Dink And Drance  6. You Can’t Spell “Crap” Without “C”  7. This Song Is Called  8. Reptar, King Of The Ozone  9. The Scorpion Deathlock  10. Nickels Is Money Too.

Genre: Screamo Christian Metal

Right off the bat this album kicks you in the ass with blast beats and heavy riffs tinged with keyboards and the screaming vocals.  Hard to believe they are actually singing about how great God is.  Yep this is a Christian Band.  Not what you would think huh.  Hey John, What’s Your Name Again?  Is a hard hitting song with clean vocals and heavy distortion.  Don’t Dink and Drance has some pretty cool riffs mixed in and a nice beat, they used the keyboards a little more heavily in this as well.  One of my favorites of this album is This Song Is Called, it throws in some piano riffs to soften things up a bit with being every bit as hard in the other parts of the song as any other in this album. 

Dr. Dog 

We All Belong  

Tracks:  Not even worth mentioning.

Genre: Some throw back from the seventies Partridge Family Beatles sound alike

Could someone tell these guys that it’s not the seventies anymore and they need to come up with something original.  Oh wait they are being original there are no seventies throwback bands.  The seventies are the seventies lets leave them there.  Anyway, back to the review If you like The Beatles then The Girl and Alaska are pretty good songs.  Ok this album is a little nostalgic it reminds me of the days of smoking pot with incense burning after dropping a hit of acid.

 

Envy on the Coast   

Lucy Gray  

Tracks: 1. sugar skulls  2. artist and repertoire  3. the gift of paralysis  4. tell them that she’s not scared  5. (x)amount of truth  6. vultures  7. mirrors  8. if god smokes cheap cigars  9. starving your friends  10. lapse  11. …because all suffering is sweet to me  12. I’m breathing…are you breathing too?

Genre: Almost Emo

Not bad.  Almost Incubusish.  Pretty good sounding, Nice beat.  Good instrumentals as well as vocals.  You can tell these guys are young but they are talented and know how to produce music.  Definitely radio worthy. Don’t be surprised if you hear them on KWOD 106 in the near future.  The girls will really like this album.  The last two songs are romantic, slow, and I was ready to fall asleep. 

Ephel Duath 

Pain Remixes The Known  

Tracks:  a bunch of holes.  Not kidding each song is hole 1, hole 2 and so forth up to 9

Genre: I have no clue.  It’s kinda a death screamo raver dance music.  Whatever that may be called.

This is weird even scary, I want my mommy.  There is no way to describe this music really.  It is a genre all it’s own.  It’s nothing like death or screamo or alternative.  It’s kinda like a raver dance music with more sinister lyrics and serious minor key tonality than any I’ve heard before.  I can envision this kind of music being used in an underground drug infested german dance club.  Weird.  Produced in Italy, this is an electronic deconstruction of the 2005 album Pain Necessary To Know.

 

Evile 

Enter The Grave  

Tracks: 1. Enter the Grave  2. Thrasher  3. First Blood  4. Man Against Machine  5. Burned Alive  6. Killer From The Deep  7. We Who Are About To Die  8. Schizophrenia  9.  Bathe In Blood  10. Armoured assault

Genre:  Hardcore Thrash metal

If you like Metallica then you will definitely like these guys.  This group is almost a Metallica tribute band the style and sound of the music is much the same but the vocals are a little different, the lyrics are also different but other than that they sound just like metallica.  In some of the Songs they have used a couple of metallica riffs and one or two words from Ride the lightning and Master of Puppets.  Other than that nice hooks and guitar riffs.  They meant to sound like metallica and they did a good job of it. 

 

Maroon 5 

It Won’t Be Soon Before Long  

Tracks: 1. If I Never See Your Face Again  2. makes Me Wonder  3. Little Of Your Time  4. Wake Up Call  5. Won’t Go Home Without You  6. Nothing Lasts Forever  7. Can’t Stop  8. Goodnight Goodnight  9. Not Falling Apart  10. Kiwi  11. Better That We Break  12. Back At Your Door

Genre: Pop Rock

Always a fun band to listen to.  This album exemplifies the original Maroon 5 playful groove and disco-ish beats.  My favorites are If I Never See Your Face Again, Makes Me Wonder (Groovy) and Wake Up Call (featured on last months show).  Those may be my favorites but the whole album is just so cool it belongs in all music libraries.

 

Municipal Waste

The Art of Partying   

(Earache 2007)

Tracks: 1. Pre-Game, 2. The Art of Partying, 3. Headbanger Face Rip, 4. Mental Shock, 5. A.D.D. (Attention Defecit Destroyer), 6. The Inebriator, 7. Lunch Hall Food Brawl, 8. Beer Pressure, 9. Chemically Altered, 10. Sadistic Magician, 11. Open Your Mind, 12. Radioactive Force, 13. Septic Detonation, 14. Rigorous Vengeance, 15. Born to Party.

Genre: Punk Thrash Metal

OK to all you old school thrash punk metal fans this CD is for you.  At first I thought “is this Suicidal Tendencies?”  But no, it isn’t.  So piss off your parents, break out your skateboards, and head to the stairs in your house and get ready to do some bailing.  This is the perfect kind of music for Jackass-style stunts.

Nicole Atkins 

Neptune City  

Tracks:  1. Maybe Tonight  2. Together We’re Both Alone  3. The Way It Is  4. cool Enough  5. War Torn  6. Love Surreal  7. Neptune City  8. Brooklyn’s On Fire!  9. Kill The Headlights  10. Party’s Over

Genre: Folk Pop

How do I describe this album?  Eccentric.  It seems like it was big budget to sound like the old Loretta Lynn or Crystal Gayle style of music.  This album includes a full orchestra as well as the rock guitars and keyboards.  I think I would find my parents enjoying and listening to this music.  If I was my parents I’d probably like it.  Oh wait I am becoming like my parents.  This albums not that bad after all.

 

Pinback 

Autumn of the Seraphs  

Tracks:  1. Barnes  2. Good To Sea  3. How We Breathe  4. Walters  5. Subbing For Eden  6. Devil You Know  7. Blue Harvest  8. Torch  9. Bouquet  10. Off by 50

Genre:  Alternative

This is a cute, catchy and cool album.  Sounds kinda like The Cure.  My favorites for this album are Good To Sea which has a new unique sound and How We Breathe which has a very mellow acoustic sound.  Overall a good album and I would expect to hear these guys on 106.5

 

Silent Fate 

The Autumn Machine  

Tracks: 1. Permicide  2. The Autumn Machine 3. Whisper My Sweet Dear  4.Come Undone  5. Sadly  6. Skin  7. Create  8. Whole  9. A slow Decay  10. Just Like Me  11. Ice  12. Black

Genre:  Heavy Metal

This is a really good album.  Really appeals to my feminine side.  It’s kinda romantic in a killswitch engage sort of way.  It also has some really nice instrumental demonstrations in the songs that are easy on the ears.  Not your typical sound.  Permicide has the mix of nice instrumentals.  Whisper My Sweet Dear has some almost soft and engaging vocals mixed with some volatile screams at the same time hitting heavily on the distortion most of the time except on the guitar solo which is particularly Thrashy.  Come Undone is a remake of Duran Duran and they did a pretty good job of it.  It’s a little more artsy than it’s original, it also has more distortion in all aspects of the song.  Sometimes the vocals seem a little weak for this song but overall they pulled it off well.

Skullgrid

Behold...The Arctopus  

Tracks: 1. Skullgrid  2. Canada  3. Of cursed Womb  4. You Are Number Six  5. Some Mist  6. Scepters  7. Transient Exuberance.

Genre: Instrumental Thrash

This is a cool album.  Very rarely do you ever come across an instrumental band.  Usually always has vocals but not this one.  If this had vocals it would detract from the musical abilities to perform this style of music.  At first it has the almost chaotic in a rhythmic sort of way as Psyopus.  Then they add in the jazzy thrash mixed with solos done at a max.  This album commands your attention there is no way to talk over this or ignore it.  Of Cursed Womb, Skullgrid and Transient Exuberance are my favorites.

Strata 

The End Of The World  

Tracks: 1. Night Falls (the weight of it)  2. Hot/Cold  3.The Dotted Line…  4. Cocaine (we’re all going to hell)  5. Coma Therapy  6. Poughkeepsie, NY  7. Stay Young  8. The Brothers  9. Love Is Life  10. The New National Anthem  11. Natoma Alley  12. Daylight In The City

Genre: Alternative

OK this was an unexpected album.  Judging by the cover I thought it was going to be a silly or even stupid album but it turned out to be quite serious and good.  On this Album this group has a song about everything from politics and religion to love.  The music turned out to be quite good.  Very alternative though even trendy in no way is this a thrasher album.  My favorite tracks are The Dotted Line, Cocaine, Coma Therapy and The New National Anthem.  This music is U2ish, mixed with a dose of the Cure and a piece of an Incubus.  Pretty cool.

 

The Tony Danza Tap Dance Extravaganza 

Danza II:The Electric Boogaloo  

Tracks:  1. T.R.O.U.B.L.E  2. You Gonna Buy The Beers Or The Whole Damn Bar  3. I Don’t Mean To Impose, But I Am The Ocean 4. Go Greyhound  5. Top English  6. The Electric Boogaloo  7. Crunchy Black Did Me In At Midnight Madness  8.  Mad Max Beyond Superdome.  9. Carroll 14 Wossman 7  10.  Nobody Eats BBQ Two Days In A Row  11. Shot Of Whiskey  12.  Rollin’ And Tumblin’ On Satan’s Rotisserie  13.  The Louisiana Dive Bar Massacre

Genre: Hardcore Thrash Metal

Besides the opening of all songs are of skits depicted in a bar.  It’s like hearing the texas chainsaw massacre on CD.  The lyrics are insightful and even whimsical.  The thrash beat is hardcore get in the pits and do your thang.  Other people better be watchin out cuz they might get hurt.  The hooks aren’t really hooks they are just hard thrummings on the base with a  guitar combo.  The guitar work is almost nonexistent really not much done there. This album sounds so much like Animosity or beneath the massacre, however, there are some unique aspects to this album.  Overall I would say that it’s not a bad album but it’s not the best either. 

 

Twin Method 

The Volume of Self  

Tracks: 1. ….And Yet Inside I’m Screaming  2. Flawless  3. Pedegree  4. Defeated  5. Stare Through Me  6. Twelve  7. The Abrasive  8. All Becomes Clear  9. Reality Check  10. Fake  11. Lost Signal  12. I live, I smile, I Obey

Genre: Heavy Metal

I got to meet these guys at Family Values.  Pretty Cool bunch of Brits and it shows in the music they produced for this album.  Kindof a mix of Korn and Sonic Youth.  This is a really cool album lots of digital keyboard mixed in.  There are quite a few really cool songs on this album …And Yet Inside I’m Screaming is a really cool song.  Defeated is really cool combines both hard and brutal with soft and caressing.  This is a brutal album but not so brutal that it can’t be heard on the radio.  Overall excellent job.

 

Vivesect  

Six Points Of Direction  

Tracks:  1.Lost  2.Six Points of Direction  3.Poisoned Tears  4.Shedding Wings  5.The Mourning…  6.The Mourning After  7.The Mourning End.  8. Condemned  9. Construction of Power  10.  Roses Fade Away  11. Another Passing Moment

Genre:  Thrash Death Metal

This is a good album. Right off the bat with Lost starts a pounding to create the mosh pit.  Six points of Direction and Poisoned Tears has a decidedly lamb of God feel to them.  Condemned has a lot of really good hooks.  Shedding Wings has some really good guitar riffs and an awesome beat (one of my favorites on this album) and Construction of Power has some really nice screams and growls. Overall a really good album to have this looks like their first album but they are gaining a lot of popularity with it.  They did a good job and I look forward to their next album.  With the progression that they show in this album I’m sure the next album will be just as good.