Urgencies,"Desolation Chic" (Bubble Empire)
If you want to take a walk on the dark side of power pop then this is the album for you. The songs on “Desolation Chic” are much like Stiv Bators recordings after the Dead Boys. Too polished to be garage rock but it has the same appeal and not really glam but it has that appeal too. They’ve also got the classic rock ‘n’ roll look down as well. One guy looks like Izzy of Guns & Roses, one looks like a Ramone, there’s an eighties punk guy and a Johnny Thunders stunt double. Good music, classic rock ‘n’ roll looks, plenty of hooks and a good dose of attitude. What more can you ask for? I’d definitely recommend it to my friends.
www.theurgencies.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Rock ‘N’ Roll Stormtroopers,"On Fire" (Full Breach Kicks)
These four German punk rock ‘n’ rollers deliver a lethal dose of high-energy bulldozer rock that’s guaranteed to make your jaw drop. We won’t talk about the fact that they wear cut-off Daisy Dukes while rocking out. This is fun filled, hyper drive, good old three chord rock ‘n’ roll action that brings to mind all those great bands like Sweet, Dead Boys, New York Dolls, Heartbreakers and such. You can hear traces of AC/DC here and there but for the must part it’s more of a Sweet style glam feel with a dash of the Ramones from time to time. Think “Desolation Blvd.”. Check it out you won’t be disappointed. Favorite track: “Astrogirl”.
www.bulldozer.de
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Cowboy Mouth,"Voodoo Shoppe" (Eleven Thirty Records)
Cowboy Mouth is a New Orleans good time punk pop band that sounds like Good Charlotte, Blink 182 and Third Eye Blind all rolled into one. They have a great song on here titled “Joe Strummer” about a guy dumping a girl because she doesn’t know who Joe Strummer is. The whole album is probably a notch above most of the stuff the previously mentioned bands have released but that’s just my opinion. You got to love a band that’s this tight and can play with so much energy. If you have Green Day in your collection or any of these other bands then you will probably dig “Voodoo Shoppe”.
www.cowboymouth.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

The Apparitions,"As This Is Futuristic" (Machine Records)
More fun than Cake, quirkier than the Talking Heads, not quite so serious as Television, less moody than the Cure but somehow they seem to have some like minded connection to all of the above. They call it “spacey golden pop rock” and I guess that’s a damn fine description if you ask me. My favorite track was the two parts quirky, one part funky “Electricity + Drums”. Other tracks of note are “She Burned Out Their Eyes”, “With Wolf Clothes On” and “Positively Charged”. This will brighten up your collection as well as your day.
www.theapparitions.net
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Yawn Temiseva,"Everything Solves Itself" (Indie Release)
Temiseva has been writing and singing songs for the last seventeen years in Canadian bands Lung Slug and The Baggage Handlers. Influenced by such diverse bands as The Band, Gang Of Four, Neil Young, Guided By Voices and Dinosaur Jr. This is his first solo album and it offers up everything from rock to folk to space rock with hints of Violent Femmes, Weezer and the quirky Beatles stuff like “Rocky Raccoon”. This is kind of Pink Floyd trippy at times which just means it’s never boring. My Favorite songs are the Beatlesque “Loud People” and the REM sounding “Studies”.
www.sketchydetails.ca
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Purr Bats,"Salt Lake City" (Rest 30 Records)
Like a somewhat quirky Gang Of Four or a funky Devo this band delivers the goods. Creating a sound that’s just as refreshing as it is fun to listen to. This band seem’s to be highly prone to wearing dresses from what I saw on their website and one of them is even a girl, so they’ve got that going for them. They also have some pretty weird looking bat suits that are eye catching to say the least. The title track is so damn catchy it should be a crime. I also dig “The Buses Don’t Run At Night”, the funky, Shaft style guitar of “Poultry”, the techno dance beat of “Cricket” and the Devo-esque pulse of “Bird Shit Bombs”. This is well worth putting in your collection if for no other reason but to mess with your friends when they come over.
www.purrbats.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

When Girls Collide,"Hit Me With Your Tail Wag" (Crush Records)
This has a kind of punk, jazz feel that is a bit hard to describe. The vocals sound almost as full and commanding as Annie Lennox and that’s quite a compliment since Annie is one of my all time favorite singers. The songs all seem to have a very funky and up front bass line that not only carry the tunes but also open things up for the guitar, vocals and keyboards. “Hit Me With Your Wag” is as danceable as it is engaging. This reminds me of the Waitresses in many ways. I think my favorite tracks from the album is “Talk To Me”, “Josephine” and “Song For Me”.
www.whengirlscollide.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Lozenge,"Undone" (Sickroom)
Lozenge’s vast array of spastic, jazzy noisemaking antics are splattered across UNDONE much like an abstract painter’s final canvas. This 14-track experimental jam rock freakout is led by a massive display of both drums and non-traditional percussive devices, giving songs like “An Exhortation” a mechanical glaze over the artsy punk rock underneath. Odd instrumentation such as accordion, oboe, and tuba are all prominently used on tracks like “Eyeteeth”, emitting the kind of left of center radiance of a Mike Patton project. If you’re up for a challenging listen, this CD beckons you.
www.mylozenge.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Trigger Point,"A Silent Protest" (Corporal Punishment)
Nu metal mavens Trigger Point come off as an angst-ridden yet versatile lot on A SILENT PROTEST, the outfit’s debut 13-track endeavor. Embracing the nuances of bands like Staind, Mudvayne, and Nonpoint with hints of bands like Glassjaw, VOD, and The Used, this Los Angeles-based quartet is at its peak on tracks like “Picking Up the Pieces”, as a jarringly heavy yet melodic guitar and drum attack permits the vocals to soar, scream, and wail with clarity and a slew of emotion. Pounding out sledgehammer rhythms a la Disturbed on “The Color of Real” and furnishing industrial strength riffs on “Cycle”, the group’s dexterity and ability to convincingly blend genres stand out the most, making this disc enjoyable to the fan of modern day metal’s sound.
www.corporalpunishmentrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Final Breath,"Let Me Be Your Tank" (Magick)
German death thrashers Final Breath relentlessly roll you over on the 11-track LET ME BE YOUR TANK. Dropping a vicious mixture of galloping guitar riffs, headbanging bass and drum displays, and a stream of snarling, kick you in the gut vocals, this disc is bursting with raging heavy metal akin to Destruction, Kreator, and Arch Enemy. Get your battle gear and brace yourself for the barrage of bombastic metal found on choice cuts like “Greed for Revenge” and “Exposed to Hatred”, evoking the spirit of The Haunted, Children of Bodom, and Entombed rolled into a destructive entity capable of turning a mild mannered dance floor into complete chaos.
www.magickrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Cerberus,"The Cage of Existence" (Hell and death)
From the opening scream of THE CAGE OF EXISTENCE, Cerberus establishes its place as an unwaveringly volatile entity, as this ferocious 10-track disc explodes with shards of death metal proficiency and thrash metal technicality. And then, the gargled glass vocals that seal the deal, thrusting tracks like the nasty “Fractured Extraction” into death metal’s upper echelon. Fortified with crushing death metal grooves, “Brutal Remains” lashes out with bold aggression, while the acoustic intro on “The Path…” foreshadows yet another battering courtesy of “The Gates of Mercy”. Meshing classic metal’s crunch with a heavy-handed death metal aura, this California-based quintet delivers a metal album whose unbridled fury and thrash metal prowess are top notch.
www.cerberusmusic.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Lifted,"A Reason to Live" (Rudy)
The Lifted is a Massachusetts quintet whose hard rock leanings lumps them somewhere in between Chevelle, Staind, and Trapt. The outfit’s 12-track outpouring of emotion is strewn with arena rock hooks, bludgeoning guitar riffs, and absorbent nu-metal choruses, as tracks like “This is My Will” and “5 ½ Hours Later” would sound just as much at home during a sports event as it would pumping out of a tailgater’s speakers outside a rock concert parking lot. Peeking through a metallic sheet, yet holding back enough to emit the kind of heart on your sleeve devices used by merchants of mopey modern rock like Three Days Grace and Cold, A REASON TO LIVE is solid but falls a bit flat, never reaching the heights of the bands they emulate.
www.thelifted.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Rikets,"Anything for the Devil" (Corporate Punishment)
Hello, Cleveland! Ohio’s latest industrial metal clan Rikets try on the wares of Marilyn Manson, Static X, and neighbors Chimaira on for size on the band’s five-track episode, creating a tumultuous exhibit of rabid, rapid fire metal. From the grinding groove of “Bitter Words” to the machine-like rumblings on “Useless”, ANYTHING FOR THE DEVIL is a boisterous ride through electronically manipulated metal that has traces of loathing a la Korn built in for an extra dose of aggression. If you like angry music with a techno edge, Rikets holds its own amongst the pack of low-end chugging acts.
www.corporatepunishmentrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Various Artists,"Roadrunner United" (Roadrunner)
56 artists strong, the commemorative recording sessions celebrating Roadrunner Records 25th anniversary proudly showcase the label’s groundbreaking metal advances. A virtual all-star assortment of players from bands plucked from the vast Roadrunner catalog adorn ROADRUNNER UNITED, an 18-track compilation whose lineup reads as a who’s who in the metal world. Encompassing the heaviest (Deicide) to the most ambient (Junkie XL), to the new school (Trivium), to the classic (King Diamond), if you enjoyed Dave Grohl’s PROBOT or Tony Iommi’s first solo offering, you’ll have no problem getting into this special session album laden with metallic glory and solidified with one-time collaborations and special guest galore.
www.roadrunnerrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Shenoah,"Bleeding in the Red" (Corporate Punishment)
Shenoah blend metal with post hardcore pretty effortlessly on the Cleveland-based outfit’s latest five-track outing. At times emulating 36 Crazyfists, Life of Agony, and Lostprophets, this band shows that they can dually crank out some heavy rhythms and driving riffs, but still leave room for a melodic passage or interesting musical interlude. Featuring stellar songwriting with exemplary movements (especially on the bridges of “Age of the White Dove” and “Ashes to Ashes”), Shenoah succeeds by sounding like a lot of bands without blatantly ripping any of them off. Instead, this five piece use a metallic backdrop and some modern day metal wares to illuminate catchy hooks, anthemic choruses, and a strong overall sense of dynamics.
www.corporatepunishmentrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Early Man,"Closing In" (Matador)
No, you haven’t stepped inside of a time warp. Instead, the dynamic Ohio duo Early Man brings 1982 to you, leaving no stone unturned. CLOSING IN is a raucous, raw, relentless heavy metal assault from start to finish, brandishing the monolithic riffs of heavies like Diamondhead and Iron Maiden with the sneer of Megadeth and the majesty of Ozzy pre-Sharon dictatorship. Retro to the bone, galloping guitar riffs are king on this 11-track fist pounder, as tracks like “Brain Sick” and “Thrill of the Kill” follow the keep it simple philosophy to a science without sounding dated or retarded. Raise your chalice and show your devil horns, metal children, the bastard spawn of Dio and Judas Priest has arrived.
www.matadorrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Unearth,"Our Days of Eulogy" (Eulogy)
Unearth clean out their closet on this 13-track odds and ends collection featuring out of print material as well as a few choice live cuts taken from 2004. If nothing else, this disc showcases why this Massachusetts metal machine has exploded from the Northeast to worldwide accolades, as their potent blend of blistering metal, brutal hardcore, and love of classic metal is on full steam ahead on tracks like “The Charm” and “Endless”. Whether you’ve been getting crushed by these guys in the pit or just want to learn more about one of the bands that has put American metal back in the limelight, this collection allows both.
www.eulogyrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Wet Animal,"Wet Animal" (Escapi)
Despite having one of the lamest names you’ve ever heard, this Chicago-based outfit, featuring Rick Wartell from Trouble, kicks ass in the same way that Alice in Chains used to before their demise. On the nine-track debut (which took a decade to be released), hypnotically driven guitars lead the charge on the powerful “Outside a Hole”, while a stripped-down “Left Behind” blows the dust off the Seattle sound for another go-round with some bluesy, Badlands-esque seeds planted. Anyone that enjoyed Trouble through the years will dig on the ballsy “Don’t Put Me Down”, as the trademark guitar sound is all over this one, but with a less doom rock feel. While some will cry rip off, Wet Animal’s disc updates gloom and doom rock by taking elements of harder grunge rock of the ‘90s while baring stunning likenesses to Alice in Chains’ best works and range of motion.
www.escapimusic.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

System of a Down,"Hypnotize" (Columbia)
Easily one of the most visionary rock groups to receive worldwide recognition and sell platinum in America, the latest 12 tracks released by spastically metallic juggernaut System of a Down both dazzles and confounds. The second installment from the twin disc from this left of center Armenian outfit employs a plethora of devices found on the first installment MESMERIZE, only with seemingly sharper focus, a tad heavier all around, and emblazoned with a more prominent vocal role by Daron Malakian. HYPNOTIZE starts off with “Attack”, a bombastic old school metal riff where Malakian’s love of black metal’s driving guitars becomes clearer than ever. “Kill Rock ‘N Roll” juxtaposes punk rock pretense and System’s unique viewpoint about the vacuous wasteland better known as Hollywood, almost mocking other bands for buying into the plan. The title track displays the shimmering guitar lines and Eastern influences that usually raise the ire of metal enthusiasts who disqualify System’s brand of heavy as pertinent, but the very next song “Stealing Society”, decked out with adeptly precise speed metal riffs and a headbangingly jarring rhythm, rivals any metal on today’s front in terms of sonic riffaging and powerhouse percussion. Always presenting contradiction and never short on controversy, “U-Fig” questions blind patriotism with a tongue in cheek cheerleader-esque refrain that many will undoubtedly misinterpret the same way they did Cobain’s inner turmoil before his untimely demise. “Holy Mountains”, a track about the Armenian genocide that delves into System’s ancestry more overtly than ever, is laden with System’s infamous politically charged fervor, and is epic in every sense of the word. Despite its redundancy and odd length for a SOAD tune (clocking over 5 minutes), it manages to retain an aura of elegance unlike anything else on the disc. Then there’s “Victims of Obscenity”, a track with the band’s most nonsensical lyrics to date, backed by a vicious thrash metal assault yielding to a funky wah-wah chorus that sound like it belongs from a ‘80s television show theme song. System of A Down raises awareness levels as much as heightens musical expectations like never before on HYPNOTIZE, so while the somber “Lonely Day” may fail some listeners on both fronts, it serves as a simplistic yet impassioned reminiscence of the paranoia filled world which enabled the band to create this mammoth endeavor in the first place. Where other bands pander and cater, System bucks and pushes, striving to incite both riots and righteousness in a realm struggling to contain and repress. HYPNOTIZE is another intense offering by one of the most enthralling bands in heavy music in the last three decades, emitting both raw power and ambitious musicianship unlike anything in 2005.
www.systemofadown.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Darediablo,"Twenty Paces" (Southern)
NYC instrumental trio Darediablo sound as if they were reared in a southern portion of the United States, as their pristine cowboy boogie coupled with a shimmering key and guitar tag team emit all of the spirit of the bastardized concoction of NOLA stoner and Texas-style BBQ rock. TWENTY PACES exhibits an act whose flawless execution, master musicianship, and stellar grooves don’t need no stinkin’ vocals, and warrant an immediate listen if you dig jam rock without unnecessary noodling or extraneous space cadet sojourns. 11 tracks of vocal-less gems await you, so get in the right frame of mind and bask in the musical glory of TWENTY PACES.
www.southern.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Lord Belial,"The Seal of Belial" (Candlelight)
The Swedish death/ black metal troupe Lord Belial return with another Andy LaRoque (King Diamond) produced affair on the eight-track THE SEAL OF BELIAL. Crushing mid-tempo tracks such as “Sons of Belial” harkens back to the chaos of the early years of black metal, while the majestic yet sinister “Abysmal Hate” provides all of the essential bile that a band as ominous as Lord Belial can muster. Brooding and ceremoniously foreboding, tracks like “Mark of the Beast” pay homage to the black/death metal forefathers by crafting their brand of blasphemy within the same demonic templates without shamelessly ripping off their legacies.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Gravity Propulsion System,"Get Destroy" (Ascetic)
The three Oklahoma natives that comprise Gravity Propulsion System have a firm handle on the kind of noisy punk that strikes hard and fast. On GET DESTROY, there’s a sense of uncontrollable entropy funneling through tracks like “Mouth” that are part Nirvana, part Sonic Youth, and part Black Flag, as volume knobs are ripped off and caution is far gone on the acidic bass-driven “Do Damage”. Spastic, but never sloppy, GPS knows how to build tension and utilize feedback to its full advantage, almost wielding guitar shrieks as secret weapons throughout. If you’re clamoring for the days of ‘90s alternative rock with bark and bite, GET DESTROY is an album you need to dig into.
www.asceticrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Parabellum,"Stainless" (New South Metal)
Parabellum embodies the sounds of the swamp on the quintet’s 12-track sludgefest STAINLESS. Bulldozing guitar riffs like “The Wound That Never Heals” are commonplace here, but the vocal approach shifts often from a barb wired growl to a doomy drawl, allowing songs like “Locust Dreams In Potter’s Field” the flexibility to burn out to before getting throttled again by the Crowbar-esque “Sheep So Blind”. Heavy all around yet sometimes too weighty (the disc runs near 70 minutes), Parabellum’s blend of stoner doom metal grooves and moves with familiar airs yet holds its own thanks to off-kilter slow-burners like “Opiated Fuck Machine”, raw ferocity exemplified on “Pacifier”, and the dark atmosphere which runs throughout STAINLESS.
www.swampmetal.com
Rating:

Revi P ew by Mike SOS

Rob Rock,"Holy Hell" (Candlelight)
Heavy metal personified would best describe the latest serving issued by Florida’s Rob Rock, as this nine-track disc lets a potent metal assault on the loose. Produced by Roy Z., a guy with his share of experience in working with powerful metal vocalists, everything is high-octane and pushing the levels on HOLY HELL, from the scorching guitar solos to the watertight kick in the gut rhythms on tracks like the fierce title track. Righteously unabashed and guiltlessly beguiling, Rob Rock’s metal assault is laden with classic metal’s splendor and power metal’s wallop, a hearty combination that metal fans will indulge feverishly on.
www.candlelightrecordsusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Inertia,"Inertia" (Indie Release)
Inertia’s love of intricate rock is apparent from the dueling bass and drums on the opener “Common Ground”, but they can also churn out a catchy STP via Green Day-like tune in “Insomniac”. The songwriting on this six-track offering is top notch, and the interplay between instruments is stunning to listen to, as the percussion work is exceptional and fits the song like a glove every time. Blending a plethora of rock styles into a tasteful mixture of left of center rock with a virtuoso flare, Inertia’s ingenuity and musical prowess are well-documented and enjoyable to experience.
www.inertia.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Atomic Number 76,"Cursed Forever" (Indie Release)
Bringing the power trio back to hard rock prominence is the NYC-based Atomic Number 76, a dastardly lot whose four-song endeavor lays the groove down like the drinks were cheap and the love was still free. Bursting with sustenance and supercharged with substance, tracks like the blazing “Humanzee” exemplarily exhibit the way the cosmic blues were meant to be played, while “Alien Agent” draws out that unbeatable Cream meets Sabbath vibe. Take a trip with Atomic Number 76 and it’ll be a ride you’ll always remember.
www.atomicnumber76.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Drag Citizen,"You Should Have Listened to Drag Citizen, Baby!" (Indie Release)
Read the title of this NYC rawk trio’s record out loud before deciding what kind of band they are. If you’re thinking glam rock goodness wrapped around a punk rock sneer straight from the garage, rock on, man. Tracks like the hip shaking shuffle of “Seesaw” display some badass wah-pedal abuse and a jarring bridge that showcases Drag Citizen’s razor-sharp songwriting, while the undeniable undercurrent of trash rock found on “Beat Beat Beat” exhumes the NYC rock scene circa 1978. Drag Citizen’s brand of rock playfully gnashes its teeth a la The Darkness, but underneath the pomp lies the undeniable sound of rock ‘n roll from the Big Apple.
www.dragcitizen.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Skullfuzz,"Skullfuzz" (Hawthorne Street)
The four guys of NYC’s Skullfuzz describes themselves pretty accurately when they state that they are a stoned out mega rock supergroup. Having spent time in bands such as Institute, New End Original, and Rival Schools without sounding like any of the three, Skullfuzz takes smidgens of Fu Manchu, Nebula and Will Haven and throws the afterburners full on. Dripping with gooey distortion a la early Soundgarden on “Shine” and channeling Unida via Hermano on “Let’s Go”, this quartet’s angular post-hardcore approach to the grooves of stoner rock keep the 11-track offering from cloning the usual suspects while injecting an intriguing cloud of smoke into the genre’s blackened lungs.
www.hawthornestreetrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Calico System,"They Live" (Eulogy)
Calico System’s latest release is held strong by a massive twin guitar assault that triumphantly propels the 10-tracks on THEY LIVE onto another level. Masterfully melding the sing/scream style by equally doling out the gut wrenching yowls and lighter-waving choral sing-alongs while interchanging guitars from the ominous chug found in “The Apparition” to the bouncy screamo punk on “In Our Way”, this quintet’s versatility and ability is impressive. Capable of plugging in numerous styles without forcing circles into squares, Poison the Well’s ire and Thrice’s uncanny melodic side turn up on “A Heap of Broken Images”, while the title track’s burly vocals, bruising guitars, and breakneck rhythm stand up next to any tough guy breakdown hardcore tune. A solid offering from top to bottom, this St. Louis act put together a release whose shocking tenderness and torrential tumultuousness should turn a lot of heads.
www.eulogurecordings.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Loki the Grump,"The Brink" (Jafzi)
NYC’s Loki the Grump play a lo-fi, innocuously catchy version of punk rock judging by the quartet’s five-track sampling THE BRINK. Boasting a female singer who mixes the wares of a pre-tabloid Courtney Love, Shirley Manson, and Joan Jett, the rest of the band ventures off to The Damned by way of No Doubt realm, as songs like “Here I Am” is dark yet retains a pop punk edge throughout. But it’s on the last track “Your War”, taken from a live performance from Acme Underground, that captures the band at its grumpiest, complete with swirling guitars and a stiff shot of vocal angst.
www.lokithegrump.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Wojczech,"Sedimente" (Selfmadegod)
German grind metallers Wojczech’s latest endeavor SEDIMENTE is a rapid fire, endurance-testing slab of extreme metal. The 11 tracks gracing this collection are laden with viscous rhythms and vicious vocals throughout, as songs like “Superparadigma” flawlessly fluctuate between grind and groove while “Holzklasse” simulates a blunt as a stab to the chest with hair-raising alacrity. If you dig Nasum, Napalm Death, and the like, then these grindcore gurus will send your neck into whiplashed spasms as well.
www.selfmadegod.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Sepultura,"Live in Sao Paul" (SPV)
Every self respecting metal fan knows that Sepultura hasn’t been the same since Max Cavalera left the band to form Soulfly, yet the resilient Brazilian metal troupe soldiered on with a new singer (Derek Green) and is now issuing a twin-disc live set from their most recent hometown gig. LIVE IN SAO PAUL contains a good mix of both pre and post-Max material, and the band sounds as blazing as ever, amassing over two decades of metal supremacy and influencing countless bands worldwide. While the older stuff does garnish a greater reaction (check the smoking version of “Troops of Doom” as evidence), the new stuff, while not as incendiary, does draw a good reaction and displays Green’s tenacious delivery. But, Max’s unique growls and ferocious delivery are sorely missed (most noticeable on “Territory”), and many would agree that LIVE IN SAO PAUL would sound a lot better with an all-original lineup at the helm. But, while we wait for dreams to come true, this 21-track disc has anything you could want from a band that has laid some of the most groundbreaking and finest thrash metal ever heard.
www.spvusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Black Label Society,"Kings of Damnation" (Spitfire)
Does Zakk Wylde ever rest? KINGS OF DAMNATION is testament that the lauded axeman doesn’t waste time, as this definitive 19-track collection traces back to Wylde’s first solo jaunt, the underrated Pride and Glory, and goes right up to today with two new face peeling tracks brazen with the raucous rock sound we’ve come to expect from BLS. From the fist-pumping to the mind numbing, it’s all present and accounted for here, highlighted by tracks such as “Demise of Sanity” and the beautifully acoustic “Takillya”. Grab a fifth of Jack, a six-pack of beer, and a comfortable chair, and marvel at the stomping rock, virtuoso guitar work, and tender balladeering of one of today’s premiere heroes of the six-strings. And be on the lookout for another blazing BLS album in six months time, because this guy’s output is endless.
www.zakkwylde.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Rosencrantz,"Rosencrantz" (Indie Release)
Queens, NY upstarts Rosencrantz show a great deal of poise and presence on their self-titled debut. Falling somewhere in the modern rock realm, you could easily draw connections between this quartet and Pearl Jam and Incubus, as the band utilizes many of the same dynamic features of the aforementioned. Well-textured songwriting accentuates the group’s propensity to extend the groove, noted on the shimmering guitars and outstanding percussion that highlights “I, Iscariot”. While the band is still in their infant stages and needs to ease up on the vocal whine and tighten up a bit in general, there’s a plethora of shockingly good ideas, impressively substantial lyrics, and solid musical camaraderie within Rosencrantz to work out those kinks in no time and keep the machine at full steam ahead.
www.myspace.com/rosencrantzny
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Ark,"State of the Ark" (Virgin)
The Ark is a flamboyant lot, taking elements of Bowie, T-Rex, Queen, KISS, ABBA, and The Darkness to create their stirring rock concoction. This 11-track ode to the days of glam rock excess shakes and shimmies with conviction, as if this Swedish quintet were transported straight from a time capsule. Electronically enhanced with the sounds of the ‘80s wrapped around a rock ‘n roll soul, “Clamour for Glamour” has all of the makings of a bonafide anthem, while enticing titles such as “One of Us is Gonna Die Young” and “Girl, You’re Gonna Get ‘Em (Real Soon)” are laced with the bubblegum synth-pop and contagious hooks that all the hipsters are craving today. There’s even a sappy pseudo ballad “No End” that could be the tearjerker of the year. Mixing meaty riffs and big beats with a heaping side order of kitsch, these guys take not taking themselves seriously very serious, giving off a fun, larger than life retro party rock vibe that is hard to deny.
www.thearkworld.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Irate,"NY Metal" (Indie Release)
Long-running Bronx, NY metal troupe Irate (not the crappy acronym California wannabe group who they address on “Vendetta”) return after a hiatus with NY METAL, a blistering 11-track release poised to put the Boogie Down kings of beatdown metal back on top of the heap. Brutal rhythms, jaw dropping guitar work (just check the solos on “Robert Johnson”), and vocal venom growled from the depths of Hell have always been staples of the Irate sound, and they’ve all been retained and cranked up to 11 on this one. Placing themselves in the middle of the death, metalcore, and hardcore moshpit, heavily armed with songs like chugging gems “NYC March 11, 2002” and “Fallen” and the vindictive mid-tempo crusher “Coward”, Irate is back, bigger, better, and more brutal than ever. Prepare for the onslaught of the only Irate that matters.
www.irateny.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Atomic Violet,"Rock Widow" (Indie Release)
Jersey City, NJ’s Atomic Violet plays middle of the road alt rock with a touch of darkness based by the quartet’s 11-track ROCK WIDOW disc. “My Revolution” has an ‘80s rock vibe to it, thanks in part to the bass-driven delivery and glistening guitar line, while “Rock Widow” and “Clockwatcher” both go for the throat with simple power chorded attacks that throw the mood into overdrive. Exhibiting singer-songwriter prowess on the acoustically led tracks “Carry On” and “Until September”, this act has the knack to mix it up both plugged and otherwise, while the foreboding “America” features a tribal beat and a well-placed wall of distortion. Atomic Violet’s minimalist musical approach isn’t overly flashy or exaggerated, but it conveys the rock ‘n roll message and gets the job done.
www.atomicviolet.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Ill Paisanos,"Ill Paisanos" (Indie Release)
The bilingual trio known as Ill Paisanos drop their tropically driven grooves and jam band persona across an eight track offering whose calming effect can put the most stressful day behind you. Island melodies such as “Lifesaver” come complete with an undeniably head bobbing Jamaican guitar reverb twang, while the Spanish-sung “Viva La Rambla” is laden with fancy stickwork and a cha-cha beat that makes you tap your toes as you almost feel the ocean breeze. If you like some reggae, ska, and Sublime and would like to delve a bit deeper in , the latest one from Ill Paisanos opens the door to a whole new listening experience.
www.myspace.com/illpaisanos
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Fire Still Burns,"Keeping Hope Alive" (Blackout!)
Sporting an impressive pedigree, The Fire Still Burns unleash a durable melodic hardcore six-song release with KEEPING HOPE ALIVE. Taking equally from West Coast acts like The Descendents and All as much as they do from former member’s band’s like Ensign and Lifetime, tracks like the contagiously quick “Good As New” has that longtime favorite feel packed into a three-minute burst of energy, while “November Days” finds the seasoned quintet shedding light on their moodier, more atmospheric side. It shows in the music when a band has a lot of experience underneath its belt, and TFSB’s vast time spent in the trenches has spawned an album rich in melody, power, and hardcore punk from the head, the heart, and the gut. If you’re disgusted with what gets passed off as hardcore today, allow this act to reaffirm your faith.
www.blackoutrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Stride,"Imagine" (Sensory)
Houston, TX based prog rockers Stride juxtapose the chops of Dream Theater with the vocal gymnastics of ‘80s bands like Styx and Journey on the nine-track IMAGINE. With a steady stream of keyboard and guitar virtuosity rabidly displayed throughout, this quintet’s musical prowess is undeniable, while the powerful melodic vocals found on “Alive” and “The Waiting” are reminiscent of a combination of Geoff Tate and Steve Perry. For the progressive metal fan with a soft spot for arena-shaking melodies, Stride delivers in spades.
www.lasercd.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Tenth Circle,"Of War and Reflection" (Bled Out)
Pennsylvania based quintet The Tenth Circle’s acerbic brand of metal is showcased on the band’s 11-track disc. Featuring blistering percussion, gravel-throated screams, and guitars that combine the wares of Lamb of God, Morbid Angel, and Testament, tracks like the relentless title cut and the gripping “Last Will and Testament” provide intriguing time signature changes underneath razor-sharp guitars, while the mind-numbing double bass drum quickness on “Salvation” yields a death metal assault that stands up along side some of the genres most reveled groups. OF WAR AND REFLECTION leaves the listener no room to breathe, as each song ups the ante in terms of sonic shredding and pure destructiveness. Dutifully bridging the gap between death and thrash metal, The Tenth Circle have created an unwavering exhibit of extreme metal that will appease the heavy music monger.
www.bledoutrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Ruiner,"What Could Possibly Go Right" (1917)
Ruiner’s no-frills hardcore contains no pretense and echoes the ghosts of hardcore greats. This Baltimore, MD quintet’s eight-track offering showcases a band that knows how to write jabbing riffs that stick in your craw like the ones found on “Once Loved” and “Out Go the Candles” to “A Bridge Too Many”, a track that starts off with a frenetic pace only to end with a dramatically-charged breakdown. Armed with a bevy of hooks, tons of sweet dynamic swings, and a convincing hardcore approach, WHAT COULD POSSIBLY GO RIGHT is an impressive release on every level and should appeal to fans of The Bronx, Give Up The Ghost, and Comeback Kid.
www.1917records.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Baxter House,"Please Baxter Don't Hurt 'Em" (Indie Release)
Baxter House’s playful album title is unindicative of the fury that the trio’s six tracks give off, as tracks like “Fat Gross Cowboy” contains enough anger to make Courtney Love blush. This female fronted band twist the punk rock ethic with toy piano interludes, infectious choruses like the one found on “Black Skies”, and Candyland-esque trippy ditties gone punk like “Gumdrop Heaven”. Sweet on one side and very bitter on the other, Baxter House’s stripped down angst and tongue in cheek abruptness smashingly radiate the perils of punk rock.
www.baxter-house.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Sourvein,"Emerald Vulture" (This Dark Reign)
The tale woven by the viscous Sourvein has been mired with severed deals, broke hearts, disaster and calamity, yet this unbreakable unit trudges on for the worshippers of sludge to adore. On the outfit’s latest endeavor, the four-track EMERALD VULTURE, this long-running act continues its quest to dish out the despair by presenting the most punishing low end rumbles heard, as the title cut maintains a hypnotically heavy slow groove, while the opening feedback that yields to “Witch Rides Out…” crawls itself into your subconscious like a worm let loose in your brain. Sourvein unfortunately is yet another misplaced band due to the catastrophe of Katrina, yet this troupe remains true to its roots and sends out its sludge-ridden statements with the spirit of the Bayou very much intact.
www.devildollrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Texas is on Fire,"Shine. Set. Repeat" (Crash)
Metalcore quintet Texas is on Fire’s 10-track release produces a plethora of moshpit moments with SHINE. SET. REPEAT. Chaotic cookie monster vocals collide with a rollicking rhythm section and a dual guitar assault that keeps the riffs lightning fast and swelteringly heavy. Tracks like “Looks Like a Natural Disaster” whip up momentum much like a tornado before breaking down into a pummeling beatdown , while “Greeting from the Sunshine State” unleashes a flurry of chugging guitars, distressed vocals and an explosive breakdown that should render kids all kinds of crazy on the dance floor, clocks in at a little over two minutes. Compact yet highly combustible, Texas is on Fire’s latest is short, sweet, and savage all in one package.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Martha Berner,"This Side Of Yesterday" (Machine)
A wandering minstrel, Martha Berner has lived a nomadic life that most people three times her age will never experience. Living in Chicago, San Francisco, Alaska and Wisconsin as well as more exotic locations like the Virgin Islands and Thailand. Her indie folk-rock style is very infectious and uplifting. Something you don't normally expect from the genre. This is a very impressive debut that should get the attention it deserves.
www.marthaberner.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Model One,"Model One EP" (Indie Release)
Four catchy alternative pop songs about homecoming queens and models and the such. Definitely aimed at the teenage crowd which is appropriate since they look about that age. According to their press package they plan to record and release 4 separate EPs over the next 12 months. This self-titled EP being the first of the four. Pretty smart if you think about it. Four chances to catch some labels ear and if they do the label can use the four EPs to make up the first album with a few bonus tracks thrown in of course. I'd say they've got a pretty good handle on the business of music.
www.modelonemusic.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

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