1888,"Abble Goose Dam" (Planting Seeds Records)
“Abble Goose Dam” is a cd single from a band whose roots grow in the same soil as bands like Wilco and Radiohead. A bit indie pop and a bit alt-country. The following was taken from one of their websites, “1888 must make music that is felt emotionally thru clever songwriting, soulful performance, and innovative craft. Live or in the Studio, we explore the dichotomy between dark & light - sad & happy - loud & quiet. This dynamic is our vision - survival vs. dreams.” That’s pretty much it in a nutshell.
www.eighteeneightyeight.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Curt Porter,"India Journals" (Whose Mother Records)
This started off like an Indian version of Primus with the song “I Wasn’t Born A Saint” but soon changed gears to a more subdued sound. “Circus” is another track from out of left field. I really enjoy the odd stuff and by odd I mean the songs that don’t fit the mold. Mr. Porter has accomplished that on more than one occasion with “India Journals”. This is his self proclaimed attempt at expressing some of what he saw during his travels to India and I think he’s succeeded at giving us a glimpse.
www.smother.net/curt
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

Todd The Nose,"Bourbon Vibes" (No-Fi Records)
Agriculture Club style alternative country with a rock n’ roll feel. “Sweet Mary Jane” is a killer track with it’s lowdown and dirty beat. “Adultery” is a high stepping romp through infidelity. “Shotgun” is a funky, gospel, hayride with a groove deep enough to hit water. There’s some pretty clever stuff to be had on this disc. If your into the whole alt-country thing but long for bands that have a sense of humor then Todd The Nose is right up your alley.
www.toddthenose.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Alice Despard,"Vessel" (Wampus)
Alternative pop that’s catchy and has a Patti Smith feel, especially on tracks like “The Well” and “Firmament”. An indie artist from Washington D.C. whose songs sound a bit like a stripped down Velvet Underground. She lists her influences as Van Morrison, the Beatles, Mission of Burma, East River Pipe, Vic Chesnutt, and the Sea and Cake so that should give you a pretty good glimpse into this album. I really enjoyed the album.
www.wampus.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Linda Draper,"Needlessly" (Planting Seeds Records)
Susan Vega type songs that are soothing to the soul as well as the ears. As I mentioned before when I reviewed her “One, Two, Three, Four” cd, New York singer-songsmith Linda Draper is what the major label heads call the total package. She really does have it all. The great songwriting, the talent and the natural good looks. So, don’t expect her to be an indie artist very much longer because the wolves from the major labels will be at her door before you know it.
www.plantingseedsrecords.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Various Artists,"Only In Canada, Eh 77-81, Volume One" (Punk History Canada)
This is a pretty nice package overall. Twenty-three slabs of Canada’s best punk rock anthems from 1977-1981 on one killer disc. It comes with a 12 page booklet that has a brief history on each of the twenty-three bands represented. Some of my favorites are “Teenage Terrorist” by the Unknowns, “TV’s On The Blink” by The Action, “You’re Tearin’ Me Apart” by Teenage Head, the hyperactive groove of “Thinking Naturally” by Lowlife, “I Broke Her Heart, She Broke My Arm” by Stark Naked And The Fleshtones and last but not least, the Kinks flavored “Get Away From Me” by the Hot Nasties. This is a must have even if your not familiar with the early years of the Canadian punk rock scene.
www.punkhistorycanada.ca
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

The Coffin Lids,"Round Midnight" (Bomp! Records)
Cheap guitars, cheap beer and the Coffin Lids, these are a few of my favorite things. This is rock n’ roll designed to help you forget the shitty day you just had. There’s no deep messages or political views for you to ponder here. Listening to the Coffin Lids requires absolutely no thinking. Just consume some hops, shake a tail feather and enjoy the moment, as your problems seem to melt away. At least until you wake up the next day. This is a fun cd with lots of garage rock groove and attitude. I’m definitely keeping this puppy!
www.bomp.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

The Invisible Eyes,"Laugh In The Dark" (Bomp! Records)
I love the cheesy Farfisa action you get on this disc. It reminds me of some of the Mummies stuff. Garage rock n’ roll just like I like it, loose and sloppy and loads of fun! Bomp is batting a thousand with this batch. With titles like “Trapezoid Stomp”, “Monster Blues”, “Whiskey Vampire”, “Cyclone” and “Little Loretta” you just know you’re in for a good time. I read somewhere that the Invisible Eyes were the last band that the late great Greg Shaw signed himself. No wonder I like this so much. Own it, you deserve it!
www.bomp.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

The Hypstrz,"Live At The Longhorn" (Bomp! Records)
Damn, I love Bomp Records! Practically everything they send my way usually winds up being a personal favorite for weeks on end. This live cd by the Hypstrz is no exception. Recorded way back in 1979 at the Longhorn over a two night period. The Hypstrz are another one of those great bands I seemed to have missed the first time around. After listening to this cd I’m really starting to regret it too. Sounds like they put on one hell of a show. Half of the thirty-seven tracks here are staples of many of todays garage bands. Songs like “Don’t Look Back”, “Let’s Talk About Girls”, “96 Tears”, “Action Woman”, “Sometimes Good Guys Don’t Wear White”, “You’re Gonna Miss Me” and “The Witch”. Not only are they a great band but they have great taste as well. Well worth a listen and deserves to be in your collection.
www.bomp.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

The Bosch,"Buy One Get One" (Indie Release)
Think New York Dolls meets Hoodoo Gurus with flashes of Jim Carroll, Lou Reed, the White Stripes, Violent Femmes and Sha Na Na plus many more I can’t put my finger on at the moment. Extremely infectious rock n’ roll with no noticeable filler. The vocals sound a lot like the Gurus stuff. Hell, this is another one of those albums that sounds like something you’ve owned for years. You could play this and the Dead Boys side by side and neither would sound out of place. Very highly recommended!
www.boschcast.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

Radio Whales,"Infinite Number Of Sounds" (Infinite Number Of Sounds Recording Company)
This rocks pretty hard at times. I like it. I’m having Love Tractor and Pylon flashbacks. Infinite Number of Sounds is an electro-rock/media-art performance group from Cleveland, Ohio according to the website. “Experimenting with musical forms from breakbeat to barbershop, INS throws down elaborate multimedia-style live performances, mixing their music with projected digital video imagery edited live to the beat.” Hell, I liked it when I just thought they were another band. I bet the whole multimedia thing would really kick my ass. I guess I’m going to have to check out a show.
www.infinitenumber.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Travis Abercrombie,"Tied" (Moon Shot)
Radio friendly fodder for the masses. Well crafted and performed songs that bring to mind bands like the Goo Goo Dolls, Hootie and the Blowfish and Matchbox 20. If you were to play this cd for a group of say, ten high school age girls I would say that about eight or nine of those girls would love it. If you played it for ten high school age boys probably only five or six would dig it. So, you see who his target audience is and he’s probably nailed it. His target audience that is. Hey, the little girls understand was the Knacks motto and it worked for them. For a while anyway.
www.travisabercrombie.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

The Lovetones,"Meditations" (Tee Pee Records)
Interesting pop rock that fits like a glove. Sounds like a record you’ve owned forever. It has the required Beatles influences, all the mandatory hooks and even the generous supply of sickly sweet pop harmonies. Basicly, everything a good pop record should have. Think the Beatles around Sgt. Pepper era or Love & Rockets with an acoustic psychedelic edge. There’s hints of Bowie, Lennon, Syd Barrett and more on this disc. Noel Gallagher could learn a thing or two from these guys.
www.thelovetones.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

The Village Green,"The Village Green" (Hidden Peak Records)
This is a pretty great cd. They sound like an English version of the Kings Of Leon or maybe the Kings Of Leon meet Paul McCartney. I prefer the three flat out rockers to the slower stuff but that’s just me. Don’t get me wrong, it’s all good, I just prefer the rockers. There’s only six songs on the cd but the band makes every single one count. I could listen to this one over and over and, as a matter of fact, I did listen to this one over and over again. It rocks and has just enough of a garage feel to keep me interested. My personal favorites are “Let It Go”, “C’mon!” and “Plastic Woman”.
www.thevillagegreenmusic.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

D Red,"Found Sounds Volume One" (Whose Mother Records)
In this day and age digital editing is launching musical creativity forwards very quickly allowing you too cut, paste, twist, layer, and loop to create abstract electronic pieces that the mind and it’s senses can barely fathom. And this side project of J-Sin known as D Red is a great example of this new revolutionary mind manipulation including some guest appearances by Paris Hilton and The Hiroshima Boys Choir. In “Factory Leg” J-Sin creates a sci fi world of bloops and bleeps, here and there and they are coming and going in a world where time is absent where there are no beats just randomness, a perfect backdrop for a intergalactic post war struggle. With “Spelunking In the Dead of the Chilly Nightlife”, I think of alien abductions, waking up on a cold metal table with wires coming out of my head and abdomen and feeling afraid and violated in the worst sense. I’m sure we would do the same thing to aliens if we found them. Right? “Position Faded” throws you into a realm as an automaton in the industrial sense. The same movements over and over, day after day, reminding me that we are all tiny little pistons working hard making the world grow and grow as we slowly destroy it. Seriously this material is decent, interesting, and intriguing but don’t take it home to your mother, she wouldn’t understand.
dred.smother.net
Rating:

Review by jrumbass

Imogene,"Self Titled" (Intrepid Sound)
I have seven words for you, “groovy, riffed up, and tripped out ride”.Hot off of a recent UK tour, this CA band has a unique vision and musicality about it that is very refreshing. I love the two bass player approach, it sounds absolutely amazing and if you ever do hear the guitar it’s used with a wah wah or it’s adding some grainy textures secretly in the song. This disc is chock full of some great melodies, softly spoken verses which shows the singer going too deep with his vocal range which sometimes doesn’t mesh well. The fluttering Rhodes keys, the doubling up of bass lines and solid simple beats are great. I would describe it as The Smithereens meets Motown with The Charlatans UK pop trippyness or even low key stoner rock. This, I would have to say, is some of the most original stuff I’ve heard in quite awhile.

The opener “Sunny Day Child,” sounds like The Smithereens and Smashing Pumpkins meeting for coffee and pie at a greasy spoon diner. In “Not to Be,” you can hear the fuzzy Big Muff coming a mile away. It’s fuzzier than that mold growing on that tuna casserole from last month. Tasty…On “Wormwood Raindrops” the drum are pushed back in the mix and the snare sounds like a shotgun blast from a distance, the effects and mixing are wonderful too as well as the rotary speaker on the vocals. The sounds hint at maybe a bit of Portishead. “Slow Dive” sounds like Bootsie Collins fighting with Sgt. Pepper over the last hit of blotter, it’s spaced out and so damn funky. All in all a wonderful disc to chill with if you’re into having a fun psychedelic trip out fest.
www.imogene.info
Rating:

Review by jrumbass

Only Now Existing,"Voodoo Doll" (Vision)
Only Now Existing is the brainchild of James Garret. He wears many hats as singer/songwriter/producer who also played all the instruments/programming on the debut album “Voodoo Doll” which is an amazing feat in itself. Voodoo Doll comprises of 11 songs, which dabbles in industrial lite, crunchy fierce geetars ala Deftones as well as treading dark areas of the mind via Tool with softy Lincoln Park Vocals. The songs are well constructed but too similar and familiar. This guy has a lot of talent no doubt about it. Maybe if he pulled from older influences this would change it around a bit. Otherwise, if you like the aforementioned bands pick it up, it’s damn skippy.
www.onlynowexisting.com
Rating:

Review by jrumbass

The Lifted,"A Reason to Live" (Rudy Records)
These Greenwich, CT folks have been hitting it hard this year finishing their long awaited debut album and sharing the stage with heavy handed stalwarts Meshuggah, Shadows Fall, Life of Agony, and Disturbed. This 12 song debut release bounces from nu metal to screamo to plain old rock n roll. They tackle life issues of self destruction, redemption, confusion and suicide and they have excellent musicianship and style ta boot. The highlights of this disc are the dynamics and how well they play together. But it’s shame that it’s somewhat predictable. The vox are sung the same way through out all the songs (ala Three Doors Down) just different words, you know exactly when the screaming is going to come in too. And the songs follow the same regurgitated formula. A big plus though is it comes with a special edition video of the albums first hit “Wrecking Ball” which really strays away from the albums hard edged nature. This extra promotion is first class stuff, to bad we’ve seen it all before.
www.thelifted.com
Rating:

Review by jrumbass

George Elliot,"Positively Paroxysmic" (Heliocentric)
George Elliot does it again, again, and again. He is one busy man. This newest release is of higher quality then his previous, making more of an impact with his soundscapes. He once again takes a voyage and travels the wide musical spectrum. He is the captain of the ship and you are his guest. George maintains the folkiness of his last release “The Naked Mind” as well as adding more acoustic guitar, percussive elements and a lot of piano to his creations. “Anotheredeemer” is a perfect sing along song either about religious orientation, menstruation or both, not so sure and he touches on some Indian fare in, “Couldn’t Care Less”. This seems to be a less wild George Elliot, not necessarily tamed down but he does more with the song, which makes them more listenable and appeasing. But just as good as anything he has done before.
www.heliocd.com
Rating:

Review by jrumbass

45 Grave,"Only The Good Die Young" (Restless Records)
Gothic punks from way back in the day. “Only The Good Die Young” is the bands first live album and it’s from a show at Raji’s in Hollywood recorded during the summer of 1988. Containing a lot of the bands more familiar stuff like “Evil”, “Bad Love, “Party Time”, Insurance From God, “Wax” and “Black Cross” it also has some of the bands lesser known material as well. Dinah Cancer gives every song her deliciously wicked and twisted touch. If you like your goth punk with a razor sharp metal edge then I suggest you cough up the cash for this disc. See for your self how it was done back in the day.
www.rykodisc.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Stiletto,"Lovely And Lousy" (Indie Release)
It’s wild and a bit ironic how much this band reminds me of 45 Grave since I just got through reviewing the Grave’s newly released live album out on Restless. Again, you get a heavy dose of goth punk with a metal edge. Heavy handed and hard hitting this all female band delivers the goods like most male punks only wish they could. My favorites are the extremely addictive “Crazy” and “Breathe”. I seem to dig this more with every listen. If this is the type of music your into then Stiletto is well worth the money. If you give them a shot and I think you’ll agree.
www.stilettorocks.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

The Morning After Girls,"Prelude: Ep’s 1 & 2" (Rainbow Quartz)
I’m not real sure about this bands unusual name but I’m the last person that should be making any remarks about a band’s name. Trust me. Anyway, this has a funky, half-garage half-spacey progressive rock feel that gets into your head and sets up house. I really dig the garagey “Run For Our Lives” as well as high energy of “Hi-Skies”. This is getting better and better as each song goes along. O’kay, here’s the first slow song. Sounds a bit like an eighties punk song whose title I can’t seem to remember at the moment. Alright, back to the distortion and mayhem. Pretty cool, I dig it. For fans of the Beatles as well as fans of say, Jet.
www.rainbowquartz.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Stephen Clair,"Under The Bed" (Valley Entertainment)
If you know who John Prine is or John Hiatt and you get in to a well crafted song that tells a story then Stephen Clair’s “Under The Bed” cd should be in your cd player. I personally like to mellow out every now and then with just the such. I mean, variety is the spice of life and, who wants to listen to the same kind of music twenty-four seven. I remember seeing Prine on Austin City Limits once and he blew me away with his storys and acoustic guitar. Guys like Clair paint a picture that the listener can see and not everyone can do that.
www.stephenclair.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

End of Level Boss,"Prologue" (Exile On Mainstream)
Blending the particles of space rock, stoner metal, and grunge before the blow up, England’s End of Level Boss is a few flannels short of Soundgarden, but more than make up for it in doomy discord a la Cathedral and Black Sabbath. This quartet, featuring members of Hangnail and Floor, churns away at eight tracks laden with dense guitar riffs, howling mad vocals that resemble Chris Cornell’s longhaired Hessian days, and a unbreakable rhythm section able to go the scenic route while keeping it down like Voivod. Songs like “Vivid” walk the line between fuzzed-out frivolity and driving rock anthem, while the bass driven beat of “Stop the Mind Gap” emits heavy chunks of swirling dissonance. Akin to popping a few pills and watching the room spin, End of Level Boss provides some stalwart moments for all that like in your face heaviness with dashes of evil melodies.
www.mainstreamrecords.de
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Open Ambarchi,"Triste" (Southern Lord)
Experimental to the extreme, Oren Ambarchi’s latest foray into the world of lush soundscapes is the four-track offering TRISTE. Minimal in its approach yet broad in its uncannily eerie vibe, this Australian-bred guitarist’s unconventional style and abstract method of playing is definitely something for the music lover far removed from any popular music base, as the sounds which emanate from Ambarchi’s guitar are unlike any tone you’d expect the instrument to make without massive manipulation from pedals and noise gates. Nonetheless, TRISTE is an intriguing album for those that tend to flock a little further out from the left of center side of the music spectrum.
www.southernlord.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Rigor Sardonicous,"Apocalypsis Damnare" (Paragon)
Rigor Sardonicous is a doom metal band whose super slow pace makes most bands that share the genre look like shredders in comparison. Unleashing eight-tracks of crawling agony not for the faint of heart, mind, or stomach, this collection of dirges releases a very ominous aura. Re-recorded from an earlier release, APOCALYPSIS DAMNARE aims to make you feel as if you’ve ingested a whole bottle of cough medicine and washed it down with a few prescription painkillers. This threatening trio, adorned with a death metal growl from the depths of Hell, diabolically delivers the goods for those that yearn for doom-laden funeral-esque metal.
www.paragonrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Mindgrinder,"Riot Detonator" (Candlelight)
Norwegian melodic death metal clan Mindgrinder’s latest sample of sonic excess is an impressive album full of solid death metal fare. While much of the band’s nine tracks sound like the bastard concoction of Testament and Morbid Angel, RIOT DETONATOR’s thrash and burn mindframe grows a bit weary after a while. Despite the grinding instrumental interludes that lead into glorious guitar solos on tracks such as “Concept of Honesty” and the menacing death metal eminence both vocally and percussively throughout, Mindgrinder’s brutal assault is basically done by numbers.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Twenty After,"Twenty After" (Indie Release)
Modern rock group Twenty After’s Our Lady Peace meets Default slant on things makes for a radio-friendly outing. On the Long Island native’s three-song sampler, the quartet does its damndest to attract the alternative rock crowd with a hole in their hearts by creating lush hard rock centered by an angst-ridden vocalist whose pain is put into every note. While the slightly synthetic feel comes off as a Submersed meets Crossbreed knockoff, the emotion Twenty After places in its in the pocket tunes of heartbreak comes through rather convincing, even if the formula used is a tad contrived.
www.twentyafterband.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Sheavy,"Republic?" (Candlelight)
Sheavy continue its Sabbath worship on REPUBLIC?, an 11-track stoner rock sojourn that finds these Canadians at the top of their game. Produced by heavy music guru Billy Anderson, tracks like the riff-fueled “Spy Vs. Spy” are dense reminders of the glory days of arena rock, while “A Phone Booth in the Middle of Nowhere” packs the Iommi crunch with an Osbourne-esque warble that comes through worlds more powerful than the Oz-man himself. Thick guitars, rock solid rhythms, and of course, the impenetrable vocals reminiscent of the days when Ozzy was a madman allow Sheavy to recapture much of the metallic majesty of the band which they lovingly emulate.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Horse the Band,"The Mechanical Hand" (Combat)
HORSE the band is a spastic outfit whose melding of heavy music with loads of experimentation, including keyboard-applied sound bites from Nintendo games. On this Los Angeles-based band’s 13-track disc, this quintet seemingly paid attention to as much Faith No More as their Gamecube system, as the vocals and rhythms mainly suggest a lot of exposure to Mike Patton and crew on tracks like “A Million Exploding Suns”. But there’s more to these guys than one measly listen exposes, such as a subliminal ‘80s dance rock feel on “Manateen”, an attachment to today’s left of center screamo metal acts and their too cool to care attitude on “Octopus on Fire”, and a raging addiction to thrash metal dynamics throughout, all of which make THE MECHANICAL HAND one of the most pleasant diversions the heavy music scene needs to keep on the edge.
www.combatrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Madball,"Legacy" (Ferret)
The seminal hardcore band Madball returns with a vengeance on the aptly titled 16-track LEGACY. Sounding heavier and thicker than ever, finally this veritable NYHC stalwart outfit has an album that does justice to their influential sound, as the pure vitriolic hardcore of “Behind These Walls” and “Darkest Days” stays the course and wholly delivers what Madball fans expect. Rallying behind anthemic hardcore riffs and battle cries of hard days gone by and the meanings of loyalty, family, and respect, LEGACY showcases a band that wears its battle scars proudly and shows no sign of slowing down, instead opting to crank out even more powerful and insightful hardcore to the legions of believers worldwide.
www.ferretstyle.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Third Degree,"Outstay" (Selfmadegod)
Polish powerhouses Third Degree take their Sepultura meets Napalm Death style death metal to task, forking over 13-tracks of carnage on OUTSTAY. With an incessant thirst for ground down death metal riffs and adding shredding vocals and non-stop yet precise percussion, songs like “Everywhere and Nowhere” will surely beat the life out of you, but will do so in an intriguing way. Brutal and unapologetic, this quintet creates an unsettling atmosphere laden with a menacing metallic backbone, and is a must for fans of the days when grind and death metal initially crossed over.
www.selfmadegod.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Social Hero,"Social Hero" (Indie Release)
From the NYC scene comes Social Hero, a band whose impressive pedigree and familial ties (a set of brothers and a father-son tandem adorn this quintet) speaks volumes, as does the band’s sturdy hard rock concoction. Mixing the wares of ‘70s rock a la Led Zep with some grungy undertones, the four-song sampler showcases flashy yet rugged guitar work and rich, robust songwriting that takes your ears to uncharted territories. Keeping the vibe gritty on tracks like “Ice-9”, while still accessing their exploratory wares on the progressive rock-esque “Fly Home”, Social Hero exhibits the uncanny knack for anchoring a hard rock groove around the ability to reach further than your average rock band would even dream of going.
www.socialhero.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Valencia,"This Could be a Possibility" (I Surrender)
Valencia plays pop-punk rock, but don’t hold that against them, as this Philadelphia-based quintet display a passionate perspective that blows away most of the bands in the genre. For starters, the fortified choruses of tracks like the infectious “How Will We Ever Know” and the candy-coated hard rock of “Eagle Mount Drive” on this 10-track endeavor can easily be pictured rocking arenas around the country alongside Green Day, Yellowcard, and Taking Back Sunday. Second, this outfit’s amazing use of dynamics on tracks like “Away We Go” and “Que Sera Sera” showcases their know how on how to wrote a song bursting with emotion without succumbing to the incessant whining. Armed with clever hooks and airtight rhythms, fans of bands like Simple Plan, Jimmy Eat World, and New Found Glory are going to go crazy over this one, as Valencia encompass all of the best traits of those bands, yet manage to sound fresh and invigorating.
www.i-surrender.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Heuristic,"Parpraxes" (Black Box)
The Heuristic is a Boston-based clan whose aggressive dissonance, spacey jazz-rock interludes, and understated production assist in creating the nine-track, 17-minute PARAPRAXES. Warping your ears with as much indie rock flare as math-rock muscle, there’s also elements of shoegazing elegance amongst the cacophonous carnage, allowing this quintet the ability to maim at any given moment, then suddenly lament about its actions. This CD covers a broad range of emotions and moves very quickly much like a tumultuous storm that leaves you helplessly seeking shelter from. If you dig bursts of insanity wrapped inside atmospheric rock, The Heuristic will serve you proper.
www.blackboxrec.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Terms,"Small Town Computer Crash" (Maple Jam)
The Terms are the kind of band to throw in the CD player on a Sunday afternoon, as the quintet’s relaxed rock ‘n roll delivery displays no shortage of jangly sing a long songs that fit right in between brunch and the 1pm kickoff. This Louisiana-based band’s Wallflowers meets The Eagles stance comes off as genuine and even a bit wistful on tracks like the neo-country sound of the title cut. With smidgens of Tom Petty, CCR, and Wilco in tow, The Terms weave their stoic Southern rock sound with big rock choruses, making SMALL TOWN COMPUTER CRASH charming enough to appeal to all walks of life yet fortified to have “Ransom Groove” rock through hockey arena PA system speakers.
www.thetermsmusic.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Holy Moses,"Strength Power Will Passion" (Crash)
And you thought that Arch Enemy was the only thrashing metal entity to employ a female lead singer? Germany’s Holy Moses has a leg up on them, as this powerhouse quintet have been serving up the lightning-fast riffs and raspy growls since the ‘80s, and show no sign of slowing on STRENGTH POWER WILL PASSION. Angst ridden and mechanically superb, songs like “Examination” streamroll right over your unsuspecting carcass, while the frenetic old school fretwork and skin bashing that dominates “I Will” is set at a breakneck pace that even today’s heavyweights would have a hard time emulating. If you’re searching for edgy, no bullshit metal with everything on 11 and heavy as hell, Holy Moses is a group that won’t disappoint.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Centinex,"World Deciension" (Candlelight)
Chalk another one up for Sweden, producer of the finest melodic death metal on the planet, as the Swedish Centinex return with another blistering exhibition of dark metallic mayhem. On WORLD DECIENSON, this mainstay of the Swedish metal contingent unleash a flurry of cutting guitar riffs, guttural vocals, and a multitude of percussive tricks that should have drummers worldwide stepping up their game. Songs like the apocalyptic “As Legions Come” and the volatile “Sworn” display the sheer brutality of bands like Soilwork with the technical prowess of In Flames, meshing death metal’s chugging riffages with deft compositions drawn from legendary acts like Carcass and At the Gates. Falling somewhere between Hypocrisy and The Haunted this talented lot continues to churn out a solid slab of that infamous Swedish death metal sound.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Blindside,"The Great Depression" (DRT)
Blindside has been fortunate enough to garnish a decent level of success in the U.S. with their ABOUT A BURNING FIRE disc, so it comes as no surprise that the Christian Swedish hardcore troupe go back to the winning formula with a few twists on their latest offering THE GREAT DEPRESSION. Fusing the band’s progressive hardcore wares a la Refused on the opening spoken worded title track that rips into “Heartattack” a dance rock ditty that balances heavy and funky. From there, the band chronicles the different sounds it has championed throughout its career on tracks like the radio friendly anthem “We’re All Going to Die” and the face peeling histrionics of “Yemkela”. There’s a lot to like about Blindside if you’re a fan of bands that rock yet keep the listener on their toes with strong dynamic changes and post-hardcore aggression laden with rambling hard rock melody on tracks like “We Are to Follow” and “When I Remember”.
www.drtentertainment.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Brick Bath,"American Currency" (Crash)
Southern California metal merchants Brick Bath return with another heavy smattering of power grooves, screaming vocals, and pummeling rhythms. AMERICAN CURRENCY is a 12-track hellride of angry metal crossing over with an imminent hardcore delivery. Much like Propain merging with Damageplan with a late ‘80s thrash metal gloss, tracks like “No Mercy” and “Bleed With Me” are basic, direct, and chug along with the kind of overzealous rebellion that fans of Slipknot and Slayer can relate to. Brick Bath manages to stay the course well traveled while churning out solid slabs of meat and potatoes metal.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Bullistic,"Chronicles of Love and Hate" (Backstreet)
Bullistic is a Richmond, VA based quartet whose melodic metal meanderings fall right in the middle between Godsmack and Black Label Society. This 12-track release contains elements of the heavier end of the hard rock spectrum, as the guitars on “Tired of You” are crunchy and the rhythms pack the wallop of bands like Brand New Sin and Soil. While there’s nothing all that original or groundbreaking Bullistic does that stands out, these guys show that they can lay down some grooves that fit right in after a few shots on a Friday night at the local bar.
www.backstreetrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

At All Cost,"It's Time to Decide" (Combat)
At All Cost has concocted something really different on their 13-track disc IT’S TIME TO DECIDE. By melding face-ripping metal with elements of pop and dance, this Texas-based quintet definitely succeed in awakening the senses. From the opening scream-a-thon “Death to Distraction”, you’d never guess you’ll hear synths and a vocoder, but they both play prominent parts throughout the disc and truly shape this unique unit’s hybrid sound. But don’t be fooled by this band using tricks usually reserved for Cher and Kylie Minogue; these guys have no issues about bringing the metal, as they display the penchant for unleashing strands of brutality at any given notice. Tracks like “The Irony” and the album’s closer, “What Is Left to Inspire?” which unfolds into a classical guitar and string piece, are just two examples of this group’s vast array of devices. Experimental and left of center, At All Cost shake the metal realm up with IT’S TIME TO DECIDE.
www.combatrecords.net
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Fear Factory,"Trangression" (Liquid 8)
Heralded as one of the most groundbreaking metal acts in the last 20 years, Fear Factory’s TRANSGRESSION finds the band continuing to explore new territories and horizons. This 11-track release finds the veteran band scaling down the industrial strength metal mechanical side of things and reconnecting with the organic, especially on their cover of U2’s “I Will Follow” and the synth-laden epic “Echoes of a Scream”. Burton C. Bell and company still can rip though, as “Spinal Compression” and “Moment of Impact” exhibits the kind of vintage batterings and brutal ballistics with a robotic edge that put Fear Factory on the map in the first place. But these moments are few and far between on TRANSGRESSION, as this album yields to a way cleaner sound on tracks like “Supernova”, undoubtedly alienating the folks that want to hear SOUL OF A NEW MACHINE again. While many longtime fans may have a tough time with the band’s constant evolution (some say that they lost it when ex-guitarist Dino Cazares exited the fold) and changing sound, Fear Factory still trudge on, unafraid to experiment and push the envelope.
www.fearfactory.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Charney Valley,"The Dark Archives" (Paragon)
Armed with knowledge of the black metal scene and a love of the game, Charnel Valley was born to pay homage to the forefathers of black metal, and this five-track endeavor nails the vibe, right down to the shaky production value. Blending minimalist metal riffs with raw aggression, Charnel Valley’s savage output sounds like a traded tape from 1986 that you found at a garage sale, a testament to this project’s penchant for truly keeping it real. Bust out the corpse paint, light a few candles, and crank this one up.
www.paragonrecords.net
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

You Will Die,"You Will Die" (Hawthorne Street)
Indianapolis-based trio You Will Die wheels out the instrumental magic on their frantic nine-track self-titled debut. Clocking in at a lean and mean 23-plus minutes, You Will Die waste no time to unload the monster grooves on tracks like “Crime Boss” and “Pudge”. Heavy and dark with a stoner rock edge, this group takes pieces of Keelhaul and Karma to Burn with a dash of The Fucking Champs and come out with a feral display of what goes down when three seasoned noise rock veterans ditch convention and mesh all of their wares together to make an explosive entity.
www.hawthornestreetrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Ringworm,"Justice Replaced by Revenge" (Victory)
Cleveland mainstay hardcore troupe Ringworm have returned after a four-year hiatus with JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE, a menacing 13-track disc that shows no sign of rustiness from the vitriolic quintet. Hailed along side Earth Crisis and Integrity (who some members of Ringworm used to belong to) as progenitors of the metalcore movement, this band, despite the long layoff between albums, can still unleash the power and fury unlike most in their genre, as the flawlessly executed “God Eat God” and the rapid-fire relentlessness of the title track unquestionably exhibit. Yeah, they may not be the most technical or the most brutal, but on the merit of undetermined anger alone, Ringworm’s latest rekindling of the metalcore flame burns brighter than ever.
www.victoryrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Otto's Daughter,"The Becoming 001" (Indie Release)
Sultry industrial strength cyber rock is what Los Angeles by way of NYC outfit Otto’s Daughter uncoils on their latest release. This five-track offering combines a hard electronic edge with a Goth rock flare, as tracks like “Angels” provide both a Danzig rock stomp with an ethereal vibe a la Dead Can Dance. Armed with expert programming and an enchanting lead vocalist whose commandeering style combines sex appeal with a gritty delivery, THE BECOMING 001 has all the nuances to become the soundtrack to your wild side.
www.ottosdaughter.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Erik Larson,"Faith, Hope, Love" (Small Stone)
Alabama Thunderpussy axeman Erik Larson’s latest solo sojourn is the 12-track FAITH, HOPE, LOVE. This disc resonates with the stoner rock groove of his current outfit meshed with his old band Avail’s drinking on the porch punk rock vibe, resulting in some introspectively heavy lyrics with music to match. Where “Bleeding Fire” is chock full of acoustic apathy, “The Bar Song” creeps up on you with a catchy chorus that is impossible to get out of your head, and the steamroller send-off on “Bloodshot” cranks the amps up to the sky and allows them to rip. Bridging the gap between Larson’s many musical personalities, this disc unveils a doom punk rock explosion that fans of the man and his many bands will deeply appreciate.
www.smallstone.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Soho Violet,"For the Musas and the Gentlemen: Songs from a Velloner" (Indie Release)
Hailing from what they herald as the barrios of NYC where tourists never go, the five-piece clan known as Soho Violet stir up quite a ruckus on their five-track EP. Gelling Latin rhythms with Iron Maiden guitar licks and a NYHC mentality, these guys present a fortified effort laden with metallic energy and screamo aspirations. “Star Crash Hollywood” sounds like the melding of Funeral for a Friend and In Flames, while the ferocious “A Preview Scars From a New York Romance” is as unforgiving as midtown traffic during rush hour. Blending what’s in with what matters in the heavy music realm, Soho Violet display the musical prowess and sonic armament capable of making something really big happen.
www.sohoviolet.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Most Precious Blood,"Merciless" (Trustkill)
Talk about truth in advertising. The venerable NYC hardcore band Most Precious Blood returns with a seething new release that has trimmed the fat, drops the hammer, and supplies the missing ingredient that only a band that grew up on CBGB matinees and in Brooklyn playgrounds can bring out in hardcore. It’s called reality, and MERCILESS is a 13-track dose of it, from the Cro-Mags meets Agnostic Front stomp of “Damage Control Freak” to the scathing lyrical content meets chugging madness of “Type A Personality”. Looking for the leaders of the next wave of NYHC? You’ve found them, and Most Precious Blood is their name, as this quintet’s undying love of the game and unwillingness to stay complacent puts them squarely on top of the mountain.
www.trustkill.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Saviours,"Warship" (Level Plane)
Muscular yet doomy, this triple-guitar led outfit that reside in Oakland, CA take the best from epic hard rock, death punk, yesterday’s black metal heroes and today’s crustier metal groups and concoct the three-song WARSHIP. Saviours has as much Danzig in them as they do The Bronx, and this merger of high-octane evil is a crushing endeavor that fans of real, raw rock need to hear. Tune down, smoke up, and groove out to this one, it’s worth the time.
www.level-plane.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Audition,"Controversy Loves Company" (Victory)
With the recent pop-punk explosion flooding the market these days, it’s hard to decipher one band from the next. Add Chicago’s The Audition to that mix, as this sturdy yet slightly unrecognizable five-piece’s 10-track debut is enriched with huge hooks, shimmering guitars, water-tight rhythms, and slightly emo vocals that should have the teenage female quotient swooning. There’s also some intriguing songwriting tactics employed on tracks like the acoustic bridge in “Lawyers” and the made-for-MTV contagiousness of “Approach the Bench”. Senses Fail meets My Chemical Romance meets Fall Out Boy meets insert flavor of the month band here kind of applies here, yet CONTROVERSY LOVES COMPANY ultimately goes down a lot smoother, is way less annoying than many of its contemporaries, and does have its moments when they break the mold and come into their own. There’s just not enough here to distinguish them from Hawthorne Heights or any other of the bands currently enjoying their day in the sun.
www.victoryrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Abeynace,"Experience is the Words that are Written" (Crash)
Long Island metal merchants Abeyance showcase their modern approach on the quintet’s 11-track EXPERIENCE IS THE WORDS THAT ARE WRITTEN. While progressive prodding and crushing riffs prevail throughout the affair, a convincing death metal growl ultimately leads the procession of punishment. Abeyance gets machine-gun fire heavy like Meshuggah sans the technical brilliance quite often, but they can also throw out the metal gallop a la As I Lay Dying just as well. It’s these traits, coupled with a fine production job, which allows Abeyance to stand out amongst the countless bands trying the same devices on for size.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Aiden,"Nightmare Anatomy" (Victory)
Aiden is a quintet from Seattle, WA whose look and sound has undoubtedly been molded after Good Charlotte, My Chemical Romance, and AFI, which, while being completely unoriginal, actually produces a well-crafted sing along mall punk album that all the junior class of high schools across America will fall in love with. Despite the obvious aping, these guys convincingly whine and lay down some high-energy anthems with the Gothic punk feel that has kids everywhere glomming up the black nail polish. To most, these guys are going to come off as a joke, but if you’re too young to buy cigarettes and are lamenting over algebra, Aiden will be your new favorite band.
www.victoryrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Ram-Zet,"Intra" (Candlelight)
Norwegian extreme metal troupe Ram-Zet travel way above and beyond to be different on INTRA. So much so that the odd melding of operatic female vocals, churning death metal, ambient electronics, and blast beated madness almost sounds incongruent to the point of sloppy and disjointed. Even though the death metal parts really wail, and the strings and orchestration are quite luxurious, the melding of the two together is awkward at best, making INTRA an album to proceed with caution on.
www.candlelightrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Ready in 10,"Ready in 10" (Indie Release)
Ready in 10 is a Long Island based rock group whose easy going melodies and soft rock vibe should appeal to those who want to run every time they hear a booming bass out of a car trunk or a menacing guitar solo ripped through a club’s PA system. Having much in common with Matchbox 20 and Bon Jovi, these accomplished Long Island musicians have written some radio ready adult alternative anthems that would best accompany romantic comedies and television melodramas on the WB. Proficient songwriting and on the money performances also bolster this group, who just may turn up on the speakers of a doctor’s office or an elevator near you.
www.readyin10.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Beecher,"This Elegy His Autopsy" (Earache)
eecher may sound like the swarms of other left of center weirded out metal bands currently on the frontlines, but after a few listens of THIS ELEGY HIS AUTOPSY, a discernible difference should be recognized. This British metal machine takes equal parts from Dillinger Escape Plan, Isis, and Refused and pieces them altogether to form a cohesive cornucopia of frenetic heavy music. The 13 tracks that adorn this disc are caustic, ferocious, and spastic, with a wealth of signature changes, meaty riffs, and impassioned screams woven into each meticulously crafted track. Manic fretwork, bombastic rhythms, and even dashes of introspective ambiance grace this powerhouse progressive hardcore animal whose rapid mood swings and penchant for dynamics are second to none. If you like your hardcore adventurous, welcome your new favorite band.
www.earache.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Fuckshovel,"Wake up or Die" (Indie Release)
Fuckshovel seems to be the perfect name for this English quintet, as the band’s three song sampler showcases an outfit emblazoned with ample amounts of both sleaze and rawk grit, treading the same ground as bands like Every Time I Die if they crossed paths with Warrior Soul. Big grooves, loud guitars, crash and burn rhythms, and an appetite for destruction is what these guys bring to the table, as their brand of heavily armed cock rock sans political correctness (check out “Redneck Nazis” for an example) kicks you in the head sans any sense of humor or remorse.
info@fuckshovel.info
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

With Honor,"This is our Revenge" (Victory)
Palatable hardcore for the MTV nation is what Connecticut based quintet With Honor throws our way on the hard working outfit’s THIS IS OUR REVENGE. Taking the Bad Religion/ Rise Against route, the 11-track endeavor is chock full of anthemic fist pumping tunes homogenized for mass marketability, as tracks like “Plot Two” retain just enough of Minor Threat’s rebellious nature to enable this band to still be regarded as hardcore. Replacing tough guy posturing and low-end rumblings with shouted melodic choruses and high-energy riffs reminiscent of bands like Ignite, Gorilla Biscuits, and 7 Seconds on tracks like “Closets” and “20 Strong”, With Honor plays the punkier side of the hardcore spectrum with convincing results.
www.victoryrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Hoods,"The King is Dead" (Eulogy)
The Sacramento, CA troupe Hoods return with another unremitting hardcore offering that embodies tough guy hardcore. THE KING IS DEAD displays this outfit’s decade-long mission of laying down beatdown riffs with the struggles of the street in the forefront. Much like Hatebreed, Madball, Sick of It All, and the like, Hoods have never strayed from the formula of combining heavy riffs, heavier subject matter, and the unbreakable NYHC spirit, spilled over to the West Coast. While this disc doesn’t cover any new ground, the undeterred spirit and imminent delivery of tracks like “26 Seconds of Hate” and “This Time” provide the proper backdrop for Hoods to convey its hardcore wares.
www.eulogyrecordings.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Snowblood,"Being and Becoming" (Superfi)
Snowblood’s sophomore effort finds the Scottish quartet continuing their ambient aural assault, as the eight-track, near 70-minute BEING AND BECOMING successfully merges the styles of Isis and Today is the Day. From the two-minute caustic snarl of “The Year of the Bastard” to the sprawling epics “Young” and “Black Stars Over Glasgow”, this group lovingly embrace the stoner rock side of the spectrum while implementing a slew of doom rock devices and Opeth-esque pristine interludes, allowing the dynamics to shine brightest throughout the entire endeavor. While other bands merely ape the lineage of Neurosis, Eyehategod, and Mogwai, Snowblood has the musical enrichment and dexterity to include the aforementioned band’s influence while creating its own intriguing tangent. A must have for fans that enjoy music that builds up to colossal proportions.
www.superfirecords.co.uk
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Johnny Cage is a Fake,"Johnny Cage is a Fake" (label)
Recreating the sounds of a rush hour traffic jam in midtown Manhattan via spastic bursts of metallic hardcore and left of center jam freakouts, the four members of Johnny Cage is a Fake radiate the feel of living in the Big Apple via song. On the quartet’s 10-track offering, a smattering of noisecore’s adventurous nature, hardcore’s bombastic dynamics, hints of crusty punk, and metallic screamo are very much apparent in the slash and burn rhythms and disjointed six-string sting of such roller coaster tracks like “So Far So Bad” and “Niggaplease”. A desolate feel devoid of hope and reason pervades throughout the entire collection, much like a more unorthodox, less technical version of Meshuggah, especially present on the final breakdown of “Bitchslap the World”. As destructive as a steamroller and armed with the musical firepower that would make most hardcore bands jealous, Johnny Cage is a Fake take the ball Botch brought to the game and drag it through the five boroughs, giving their self-titled release that unmistakable NYC attitude.
www.purityrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Scars of Tomorrow,"The Horror of Realization" (Victory)
California crushers Scars of Tomorrow have learned a few new tricks since A ROPE TIED TO THE TRIGGER but have thankfully retained that ferocious hardcore firepower. Sharing the stage with bands like Norma Jean and Atreyu, whose lead vocalist Alex appears on “The Hidden Grudge”, has given THE HORROR OF REALIZATION a penchant for the melodic end of the metalcore spectrum, while production work courtesy of Matt Bayles undoubtedly shaped songs like “SSNova” to embody the more avant-garde heavy side. Leaving room for ambiance amongst the aggressive assault of tuned down guitars and unsettling rhythms, Scars of Tomorrow’s prevalent new attitude is ambitious and always forceful, even when the 11-track endeavor sounds a bit forced.
www.victoryrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Gemini Five,"Babylon Rockets" (Deadline)
Technofied hair metallers Gemini Five portray the trash rock persona with ease on the quartet’s 12-track offering. With throaty lead vocals a la Michael Monroe and semi-poppy hard rock choruses of tracks like “Poison Envy” and their routine cover of Dead or Alive’s “You Spin Me Round (Like a Record)” that belong in the time machine set back to Sunset Strip-era Los Angeles. This Swedish treat, heavy on the sizzle and short on the steak, try their damndest to help you rock out with your cock out, even when they try too hard to impersonate Bush on tracks like the inappropriately titled “Hardcore”
www.cleorecs.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Track the Curse,"The New Land" (Spins Good)
Track the Curse is an outfit that sounds like two completely different bands on THE NEW LAND. One side uses an unfittingly gruff vocal sounding more like a growling Florida death metal act, while the other opts for a more West Coast punk rock vocal vibe, as the band trudges through a bastardized concoction of splattercore, black metal, and three chord punk stomps. On the 11-track offering, this quartet aim for the lowest common denominator of rock, keeping it at gut level throughout tracks like “Serpentine City” and “Reaching for the Lost”. If Cannibal Corpse hooked up with Hot Water Music, this would be the result. www.spinsgoodrecords.com
www.spinsgoodrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Draugar,"Weathering the Curse" (Moribund)
Is Draugar a cross between Dracula and a jaguar? By the bleak yet muscular sound of WEATHERING THE CURSE, the answer just might point to yes, as this corpse-painted individual’s eight-track interpretation of black metal has all of the malevolent elements in place to convincingly summon the evil. Layered guitars, pushed back vocals, and a plethora of doom-laden melodies advance this disc to the top of the don’t touch if you’re feeling on the brink list, as the feelings of despair and impending doom are hard to shake after a sample of “Sold/ Tortured Old Soul” or “I Come as a Curse”.
www.moribundcult.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Fission,"Crater" (Napalm)
The two-man tandem known as Fission also play together in Vintersong, furthering an already solid bond on the 11-track CRATER. This disc teeters on the progressive side of the metal spectrum, yet never endorses the genre’s excessiveness. Instead, the duo twist and turn thrash metal riffs, electronic effects, and majestic metal passages when other bands noodle, creating a fresh sound whose unbound energy and unorthodox nature are seldom heard, but greatly appreciated on tracks like “Catastrophe Consumer” and the Deep Purple meets Black Label Society by way of Fates Warning stomper “Mind Vortex”. Progressive without pretense, CRATER is a disc for fans of bands like Grip Inc. and Dark Tranquility.
www.napalmrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Lacrimas Profundere,"Ave End" (Napalm)
Lacrimas Profundere bring their self-professed “rock ‘n sad” music out again on the 11-track AVE END, a melancholic sojourn whose piano-led pain and Goth rock dynamics put the band in prime position along side Lacuna Coil and Paradise Lost as masters of the mopey metal. Heavy and brooding throughout the entire album, a feeling of desperation is especially apparent in the low registered vocals, the determining factor that ties everything together on this disc. Well textured yet simplistic, tracks like the driving synth rock of “Amber Girl” and the heavy guitar churn of “Evade” showcase two major pieces to this crew that succinctly melds aggression and sorrow.
www.napalmrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Fallout Project,"Hopes & Ropes" (Dare to Care)
Quebec hardcore mavens The Fallout Project’s six-track offering supplies ample amounts of dissonance for the avant-garde heavy music follower. Going deep a la Neurosis, this quintet spins intricate webs of spiraling rhythms, sprawling riffs, and angst-ridden vocals that not only hypnotize, but seep into your subconscious without warning. Grab the pills and have a ball with this one, kids, as HOPES & ROPES is the perfect soundtrack to bug out to.
www.daretocarerecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Send More Paramedics,"The Hallowed and the Heathen" (Hellbent)
Prepare for a vicious onslaught of crusty punk-metal courtesy of the British sickos Send More Paramedics, whose 14-track release channels Slayer, SOD, and Misfits in a way that maintains the band’s unique identity while unmercifully beating the hell out of you. Featuring chugging guitars galore, screams in every pitch and range, treacherous bass lines, and top notch percussion, THE HALLOWED AND THE HEATHEN tackle dark subject matter and bleak imagery with the skill of an all-pro linebacker, subjecting your ears to some of the best sing along beatdown tunes heard in a very long time. If you like your music heavy and a little gory with hearty chunks of NYHC, thrash metal, and sludgy punk, this is a must have album.
www.iatde.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Fear My Thoughts,"Hell Sweet Hell" (Lifeforce)
German metalcore mongers Fear My Thoughts get all Swedish on y’all with a 12-track homage to At the Gates. On HELL SWEET HELL, this quintet pull all of the aforementioned’s tricks out of the bag for maximum headbanging, complete with ripping twin guitars, death rock vocals, and the kind of intricate compositions bands like Children of Bodom and Soilwork are known for. Using the synths for added darkness, this crushing clan may not be doing the most original act on the block, but Fear My Thoughts pull off the visceral viciousness rather well.
www.lifeforcerecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Drawn and Quartered,"Return of the Black Death" (Moribund)
Gargling vocals and blast beats aplenty are staples of Seattle’s Drawn and Quartered’s nine-track assault of your headspace, as this bloodfeast is as nasty as death metal gets. Brimming with blistering guitar work and subliminal melodies underneath the maelstrom of metal, tracks like “A Forest of Gore” meshes the wares of Cannibal Corpse and Nile so well, you’d think the two bands had joined forces. The best attribute these merchants of the macabre have is that they know how to groove as well as they grind, keeping the mood foreboding enough to properly build up cranium cracking crescendos on tracks like “As Fools Fall” that will have you begging for mercy. Horns up, this one rocks.
www.moribundrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Anthrax,"Alive 2" (Sanctuary)
Anthrax gets nostalgic, goes backwards, and becomes a reunion act? Sadly, that’s how these NYC pioneers of metal, after putting out unquestionably their best work to date with WE’VE COME FOR YOU ALL, have spent much of 2005. With all original (well, best known anyhow) members in tow, Anthrax commemorates this reconvening with the 12-track ALIVE 2. So, of course it sounds great, but is it a step in the right direction to reinstitute a lineup from 20 years ago and give it another go-round? That’s really up to the fans, but if you have any doubt about how the band sounds, fear not. They still rip with the vigor and virtue that you’d expect from this incendiary act. Let’s just hope they get it out of their system and continue breaking new ground sans the KISS-esque chicanery.
www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Anthrax,"Anthrology: No Hit Wonders (1985-1991)" (Island)
Cashing in on reunion-mania, the boys in Anthrax have chronicled their most popular time with this twin disc set containing all of the best from 1985-199, a.k.a. the Belladonna era. Undoubtedly put out to coincide with the recent reuniting of the classic ‘Thrax lineup, if you own all of these tracks already, there’s really no need to purchase this one. Yet if you are relatively unfamiliar with the groundbreaking metal act that not only spearheaded the rap-metal trend, but also put out some mighty fine metal in the process, then this collection is a great place to start. Let’s hope that the band decides to make a move out of this time machine in the very near future and continues to forge ahead and show the metal world how true crossover is done.
www.islandrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

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