Music Reviews: May 2005

Back In Black,"Back In Black" (Indie Release)
BACK IN BLACK is an AC/DC tribute band with balls! Why you ask? Well, to put six band originals alongside two AC/DC classics on a CD - you’ve gotta be pretty damn sure of yourself. But BACK IN BLACK pulls it off, creating an audio illusion of a POWERAGE-era AC/DC fronted by Brian Johnson. Although the musical style of the band is reminiscent of the whole album catalogue of AC/DC (HIGH VOLTAGE, POWERAGE, HIGHWAY TO HELL, BACK IN BLACK, FOR THOSE ABOUT TO ROCK, etc) in both songwriting and performance, the vocals are closer to Brian Johnson than Bon Scott. And that's fine with me - although I prefer the Bon Scott-era band, the songs are still effective (plus, not many can pull off Brian Johnson-like vocals). If someone had given me disc and told me it was AC/DC outtakes or unreleased songs I would have believed it - these guys are that good!

Although superfluous, the inclusion of "Money Honey" and "Back in Black" show that this band has the AC/DC sound down to an art.
www.backinblack.info
Rating:

Review by Ronnie

Project: Failing Flesh,"A Beautiful Sickness" (Candlelight)
Mechanically enhanced metal is what Project: Failing Flesh brings to the table, as the outfit’s 10-track release aptly showcases a group that knows its way around different genres of metal. From New England metalcore to industrial metal clangs and bangs to Bay Area thrash-a-thons, A BEAUTIFUL SICKNESS covers all of the bases with depth and conviction, although it’s safe to say that this trio mainly fall somewhere in between the progressiveness of Voivod and Strapping Young Lad with the technical leanings of Fear Factory seeping through. Heavy, pensive, but at times a bit too far out in left field for the average Joe, A BEAUTIFUL SICKNESS is an interesting listen for those that seek a bit of adventure.
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Slumber,"Fallout" (Candlelight)
Swedish doom metal troupe Slumber’s keyboard driven seven-track offering is a shimmering display of elaborate compositions and somber aggression. From the shifting atmospheres found on the title track, to the Gothic rock stomp of “A Wanders Star”, this sextet keep the mood heavy and the music churning, establishing a melancholic state that fans of Opeth and My Dying Bride should thoroughly enjoy.
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Korps,"Hello World!" (Gulcher Records)
Another Gulcher Records blast from the past that you might have missed the first time around. The Afrika Korps split up in 1978 just as the band was gearing up to record the follow-up to their critically acclaimed album “Music To Kill By”. Kenne Highland and Ken Kaiser, the remaining members, shortened their name to The Korps and went into the studio and recorded what was to become “Hello World!”. This album teeters back and forth between early punk and Zappa weirdness. Favorite Track: “Have A Lark”, a real sixties garage rawker.
www.gulcher.gemm.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Jukebox Zeros,"Welcome To Rutsville" (Do Not Use)
Good old sloppy rock n’ roll played with the same looseness as the Stones or the New York Dolls. This has all the right things going for it. You got distorted guitars, snotty pissed off vocals, 1-2-3-4 drums and Dee Dee Ramone meets Tom Hamilton style bass. Weather you dig Aerosmith or the Ramones or both you’ll dig these guys. There’s even an Iggy cover here. Favorite track: “(You’re So) Emotional”.
www.jukeboxzeros.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Severe Torture,"Bloodletting" (Candlelight)
Live death metal is the ultimate testament to the great lengths that these musicians go to play faster, growl deeper, and display the most brutality possible, and this Dutch group does not disappoint in that area, despite the overall crowd noise during songs like “Butchery of the Soul” and “Decomposing Bitch” reduced to a few call and response death metal growls and modest applause. Add in a slew of demo and B-side material, and you’ve got Severe Torture at its most stripped down and starkly savage, a beast of a band that is relentlessly pounding your skull with no remorse.
artist's web site
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Superchrist,"Heavy Metal Tonight" (Bestial Onslaught)
HEAVY METAL TONIGHT is a live album put out by the raucous Chicago band Superchrist, whose 13-track ode to metal’s lowest common denominator is laden with drunken fans, songs about murder, suicide, and Yoko Ono, and the attitude of Motorhead meeting WASP at a Dictators show. Chock full of aggressive riffs, speedy rhythms, and an overall sense of moral decay, this outfit embodies the spirit of unbridled rock ‘n’ roll to the hilt, and the live backdrop is the perfect companion for the beer-soaked carnage.
www.superchrist.net
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Churchill's Tractor,"Nine" (Mr. Meow)
John Churchill is probably the only man on the planet that could give George Elliott a run for his money. This DIY home taper is unstoppable, no matter how much you might try. I have to admit I enjoy listening to his endeavors as much as he enjoys making them and you know he enjoys it a lot. Just look at the body of work listed on his website. His Casio rock is addictive and annoying at the same time. That’s not a bad thing, that’s exactly what punk set out to do. Favorite track: “Ready To Rock”.
www.churchillstractor.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

The Graves Brothers Deluxe,"Light" (Good Forks)
Interesting and confusing lyrics with likewise music put together by some interesting and confusing guys. A rock n’ roll band at times, and at times not. This album is a fun and sometimes scary ride. Somewhere between Fugazi and Morphine is where I would file this one in my collection. “The White Devil’s Death Song” reminds me of the Violent Femmes for some reason but I have no idea why. “Drinking At The Sea Bar” makes me feel like I’m in some old black and white detective movie but again, I don’t know why.
www.goodforks.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

The Bloody Tears,"Downhanded" (Licorice Tree)
This is a big fat-ass Rawk n’ Soul album! It’s just what the doctor ordered. I’ve played the hell out of this disc ever since it came in the mail. The Bloody Tears mix sixties and seventies soul with the sweaty garage intensity of the Standells, Count Five and Chocolate Watchband then throw in a proper amount of punk bravado to boot. This is a party album, plain and simple. Even if you’re alone with a six-pack I guarantee you’ll be shakin’ your ass and singing along before the third song. Highly recommended!
www.thebloodytears.com
Rating:

Review by J.R. Oliver

Bantam,"Suicide Tourist" (Heavy Nose)
Wild ass, heavy, rock from a three piece band fronted by Lunachicks guitarist Gina Volpe. But Bantam has more in common with L7’s hard rocking heavy sound than the Lunachicks. This is catchy as hell and tons more interesting than most hard rock albums and Gina doesn’t use the “devil voice” as I call it, not once. You know what the hell I’m talking about. James Hetfield uses it. Yeah, now you know what I’m talking about. Favorite track: “The Black And Red”.
www.bantamnyc.com
Rating:
and 1/2
Review by J.R. Oliver

Cephalic Carnage,"Anomalies" (Relapse)
The musical acrobatics and vocal gymnastics of Colorado’s Cephalic Carnage have been well documented throughout the band’s 13-year history, but never have they been captured so succinctly than on ANOMALIES, the warped outfit’s latest 12-track endeavor. Still grinding at lightning speed, and able to turn the intensity knob way beyond the levels of safety on tracks like “Litany of Failure” and “Wraith”, this quintet have also found some solace in the art of the groove, as tracks like the death growling stoner stomp of “Piecemaker” sound like leftovers from Alabama Thunderpussy rather than a CC track. Nonetheless, the boys still pummel you with their blend of unique off-timed banter, as tracks like “Dying Will Be the Death of Me” and “Scientific Remote Viewing” feature all of the nuances that you’ve come to expect from this band, which translates into the listener expecting the unexpected and bracing themselves for a tumultuous ride with a band with no boundaries and no compromise in sight.
www.relapse.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Opus Draconis,"Satanic Truth About False Union" (Nemesis)
Opus Draconis is just your run of the mill made-up satanic metal band, right? You bet your upside cross they are, as this Portuguese quartet play with wrath and scorn as only the blackest of black metallers can muster. 13 tracks oozing with demonic keyboards, hellacious riffs, jackhammering drums, and blood curdling screams, SATANIC TRUTH ABOUT FALSE UNION is a by the book, take no prisoners assault on your spiritual beliefs.
www.nemesismusica.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Aborted,"The Archaic Abattoir" (Olympic)
Aborted is a technically crushing metal troupe hailing from Belgium that combine the wares of Swedish and death metal in a very refreshing fashion. On THE ARCHAIC ABATTOIR, tracks like “Threading on Vermillion Deception” showcase the quintet’s acumen to grind out tightly woven yet punishing death metal, while managing to throw some Carcass-era metal dexterity on tracks like “The Inertia” for some special seasoning. These guys display some kick-ass hooks, too, as songs like “A Cold Logistic Slaughter” and the manically paced “Hecatomb” dually blow your ears out while overcoming you with maddeningly powerful grooves. Armed with a mighty low end assault and the kind of contained insanity that bands like The Haunted, Entombed, and Cannibal Corpse wield, this 10-track metal extravaganza is a must have for every extreme metal fan.
www.olympicrecordings.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Wolverine,"The Window Purpose" (Earache)
Swedish prog-metal clan Wolverine’s reissue of its 2001 release THE WINDOW PURPOSE should garnish the sextet more of the praise which they greatly deserve, as this remastered 11-track tour de force is a complex metal fan’s delight. Meshing the styles of Fates Warning, Opeth, Dream Theater, and Rush, Wolverine provides a dizzying array of musicianship coupled with elaborately written songs to satisfy the forward thinking metal contingent. These songs are a tad long-winded for some, but if you can keep your ADD under control for about an hour, your ears will be in for quite the treat.
www.earache.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Summers End,"Summers End" (Hand of Hope)
Summers End is a quintet that employ the current West Coast Iron Maiden meets Swedish metal technique a la Atreyu, Bleeding Through, and Avenged Sevenfold. While the nine-track endeavor’s incessant screaming vocals are hard to understand, the music underneath the shrills and growls is complex, merging the Massachusetts metal sound with the twin guitar assault of NWOBHM and a sweet chunk of Swedish metalcore. Tracks like “Victim” follow the format of blistering lead guitar over searing rhythms so well that it almost becomes cliché at times. Unfortunately for Summers End, the style they emulate is super saturated at the moment, and despite the band hauling ass and the singer really pumping his pugnacious pipes, the overall feel of the self-titled affair is redundant.
www.handofhoperecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Winter Solstice,"The Fall of Rome" (Metal Blade)
Virginia’s Winter Solstice is a bruising quintet whose debut 10-track release THE FALL OF ROME can proudly stand right beside the current wave of churning metalcore. While songs like “Watcher” and “Following Caligula” contain the kind of crushing rhythms, relentless drumming, and blood curdling screaming vocals that illicit massive moshpit activities, there’s about 200 other bands out there playing with the same style, which makes it very hard for these guys to establish a unique identity, sans the band’s Christian beliefs. Sounding like Earth Crisis meets Darkest Hour with hints of Judas Priest and Iron Maiden inside the stellar guitar work (check out the stunning acoustic title track), Winter Solstice’s debut is as tight and pronounced as anything you’re going to get out there in the fiercely competitive metalcore genre today.
www.metalblade.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

One Master,"One Master" (Indie Release)
One Master is a trio hailing from Connecticut whose black metal leanings captured on an eight-track recorder will take you back to Sweden circa 1987. Laying down five tracks of dynamically charged, demonically invoked metal, One Master’s lack of production actually makes the whole self-titled shindig sound that much more convincing. Taking musical cues from some of the heavyweights of the scene like Satyricon and Darkthrone, One Master’s tumultuous din is as raw and uncompromising as a band without face paint can create.
www.cs.umb.edu/~mcalder/onemaster/
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Reggie and the Full Effect,"Songs Not To Get Married To" (Vagrant)
Reggie and the Full Effect is the creation of Get Up Kids keyboardist and Coalesce drummer James Dewees, who proves himself to be a man of many talents, if not a bit schizophrenic. On the latest RATFE release, the 13-track SONGS NOT TO GET MARRIED TO, Dewees, usually known for writing goofy, left of center synth rock, has let loose, as his recent divorce has spawned a great deal of musical aggression. Yes, there are still indications of his lighter side here, like the dance rock of “Love Reality” and “Take Me Home, Please” but there’s a discernible tone of anger a la Trent Reznor meets Rammstein on tracks like “The Trooth” and “The Fuck Stops Here” that suggests that he really needed to write this album to unleash some of his inner struggle. While many may dismiss this project on the whole as a joke, opting for his other more serious endeavors, this disc seems to be just what Dewees needed to brush himself off and start over, and it sounds like a good start.
www.vagrant.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Bleeding Kansas,"1859" (Abacus)
Produced by Kurt Ballou, Burbank, California’s Bleeding Kansas play the kind of frenetic, angular hardcore that God City is infamous for, so it’s to no one’s surprise that 1859 is a jaded, dissonant slab of artistically stretched hardcore. The seven-track affair is laden with jerky rhythms, passionate vocals, and an overall volatility that bands that try to sound this angry have a difficult time pulling off. With a name taken straight from Slavery-era U.S. History, Bleeding Kansas are a heavy band that deals with heavy topics and showcase their fearlessness through intriguing pieces of disjointed music. If you like hardcore and thinking, these guys are for you.
www.abacusrecordings.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Still Remains,"Of Love and Lunacy" (Roadrunner)
When you crack open OF LOVE AND LUNACY for the first time and listen to the opening sequence of “To Live And Die By Fire”, the sound pouring out your speakers may appear as if you’ve stumbled on yet another fine Swedish metal export, yet this versatile sextet hails from Grand Rapids, MI. The outfit’s debut 12-track offering is a scathing mixture of blistering guitars, belligerent vocals, tight breakdowns, and lush keyboards, as songs like “The Worst is Yet to Come” and “White Walls” create a scenario that intertwines the current American metal exposition with a discernibly European metal vibe. Not unlike bands such as Soilwork, In Flames, and Trivium, Still Remains pour on the melodic thrash metal hooks, yet weave these intricate guitar riffs with startling stop-start rhythms and memorable metalcore choruses that beg for group participation. Meshing the sounds of Killswitch Engage, Thrice, and Shadows Fall into a cohesive package, Still Remains has all of the faculties to be the breakout metal band of 2005.
www.roadrunnerrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

SUNN 0))),"The Grimm Robe Demos" (Southern Lord)
The sonic din that penetrates your soul on this four-track, over 60minute endeavor belongs to SUNN 0))), whose latest release is in fact a re-release of the first batch of aural awakenings the project unveiled way back in 1999. And yes, it contains all of the mesmerizing dissonance, hypnotic low-end mutterings and ploddingly painful sounds as only Stephen O’Malley and Greg Anderson can muster. If you’re a fan of the avant-garde end of the metal spectrum, this enchanting entry into your brain is a welcomed addition.
www.southernlord.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Soilwork,"Stabbing the Drama" (Nuclear Blast)
Soilwork’s’s latest effort STABBING THE DRAMA may have its longtime fans who seek the more extreme side feeling cheated, but the Swedish sextet’s 11-track album firmly plants this band as formidable successors in the long line for European metal domination. Perhaps the boys have added a bit too much melody when concocting these tunes, because there are some utterly friendly metal hooks on this disc that would give any current airwave darling that remotely resembles metal a run for their money. But don’t fret just yet and burn all of your Soilwork discs, folks, as the boys still show us that they know how to rip it up (after all, they hail from Sweden), aptly shown on the deathly growls and massive guitar runs unleashed on “Blind Eye Halo” and “Weapon of Vanity”. It’s just that, like In Flames, Soilwork has found the roundabout way to reach more people by singing cleaner longer and allowing a heavy hook dictate the pace rather than a mind-bending solo or intricate arrangement, while trimming some of their extreme excesses down, and depending on how strong you feel about this band, STABBING THE DRAMA may be the turning point for Soilwork.
www.nuclearblastusa.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Enemy Is Us,"We Have Seen the Enemy" (Crash)
Enemy is Us is:
a. a new campaign slogan from George W. Bush
b. a new book by Jello Biafra
c. a paranoid person’s viewpoint of the world
d. a new Swedish metal band that liberally borrows from At the Gates
If you chose anything but d., stop reading now. If you chose d., get ready to hear another band in the long line of Swedish metal bands trying hard to emulate the distinguished sound of the glory days of Gothenburg. Not to say that this quintet doesn’t deliver, but when you get pizza delivery service everyday, sometimes you want a little Chinese food, no? Belligerent yet predictably pummeling, WE HAVE SEEN THE ENEMY… is a decent, if not unmemorable homage to the Swedish death metal scene.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Kinison,"What Are You Listening To?" (La Salle)
The Kinison’s unbridled punk rock spirit has been vividly captured on WHAT ARE YOU LISTENING TO?, an 11-track release laden with intriguing twists and turns and convincing vitriolic virtue. Helmed by the same folks that brought us Refused and Poison the Well, it’s no surprise that the caustic vocals and jagged rhythms on tracks like “Oh Boy That Girl Can Move” and “You’ll Never Guess Who Died” are a bit reminiscent of Glassjaw’s or At the Drive In’s most melodically fractured moments, while the straight-ahead sharpness of “Lake Calmern is Full Now” will skillfully chip away at that gnawing pit of angst in your gut. Anguish hasn’t sounded this hip in a long time, and we’ve got The Kinison to thank.
www.thekinison.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

American Head Charge,"The Feeding" (DRT)
The wild and crazy lives of American Head Charge have once again surfaced on album, nearly four years since the tumultuous THE ART OF WAR hit the shelves. Drug addictions, record company red tape, and various band members leaving delayed this juggernaut, who has returned with a veritable vengeance on THE FEEDING. Containing 11-tracks of pounding yet discernibly leaner industrial strength metal, this Minneapolis-based clan’s musical output falls somewhere in between the left of centrism of Faith No More and the sultry stomp of Marilyn Manson. Tracks like the contagious “Loyalty”, as well as “Walk Away” and “Dirty” succeed in delivering sinewy verses with explosive choruses laden with enough musical contortions inside each tune to keep the listener on the edge of their seat. And if you’re looking for some rapid-fire aggression, look no further than “Cowards”, sounding like a cross between Ministry and DRI. THE FEEDING marks an impressive comeback for a band that many people wrote off as yet another casualty of the industry’s machinery.
www.headcharge.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Urgehal,"Through Thick Fog Til Death" (Southern Lord)
Urgehal is a Norwegian black metal band that sticks to the script on its 15-track ode to demonic bliss. It’s all included: the face paint, the coarse vocals, the manic percussion, and above all, the odiferous song titles, like “Satanic Deathlust” and the ever popular “Raise the Symbols of Satan”. An exercise in evil, THROUGH THICK FOG TIL DEATH is the kind of album that sadistic death metallers from across the globe can sacrifice woodland creatures to without any regret.
www.southernlord.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Transient Tractor,"Failure" (Indie Release)
Transient Tractor is the end result of one man’s obsession to become an accomplished musician, hence the title of the disc. Unfortunately, much of FAILURE is as its title claims, with atonal singing, an alarming lack of melody, and the musical acumen of a junior high school band. Chances are if you dig music with heavy doses of sarcasm and a complete disregard for melody, this CD is something you’d possibly enjoy.
www.transienttractor.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Generators,"Excess, Betrayal...And Our Dearly Departed" (Fiend)
This album’s North American release was delayed for nearly two years, but it’s definitely worth the wait, as EXCESS, BETRAYAL…AND OUR DEARLY DEPARTED triumphantly fills the gap between the zeal of Bad Religion and the sneer of Social Distortion. Nine tracks (plus five bonus cuts for making the stateside fans wait so long) chock full of fist-pumping punk rock like “30 Seconds” and “Roll Out the Red Carpet” make for an adrenaline-fueled experience that very few of today’s punk rock bands can pull off convincingly. And if all of the punk rock bravado doesn’t get you, then the best song written about the trials of being in a rock band since AC/DC’s “It's A Long Way To The Top (If You Wanna Rock 'n’ Roll)” is here, and it’s called “Dying in a Rock & Roll Band”, and it’s worth the price of the disc alone. If you like heartfelt punk rock full of insight with most of the venom still intact, this is the disc for you.
www.fiendmusic.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Gargantula,"Infinitasm" (Southern Lord)
This Californian quartet has got an interesting mix of influences showcased on its 11-track disc. First and foremost, Gargantula is scathingly heavy, and will most likely knock your on your ass as soon as the opening riff of “Pulvergeist” rips through your speakers. From there, hailing from California has given the band some dubious influences to emulate, such as the Bay Area thrash metal scene and the intricate and avant-garde attitude spearheaded by bands like Neurosis, and Gargantula doesn’t miss a step. This crew bestows equal praise to both, juxtaposing metal thrashing mad riffs with doomy, atmospheric passages like the ones found in “Flytard” and “Sinking Angels” which lapses right into “Infinite Dread”. Add in production courtesy of metal guru Billy Anderson, and you’ve got yourself a beast of epic proportions on your hands, my friends. Twisted enough to hold your attention, crushing enough to make your head explode yet experimental enough to expand your mind, Gargantula is a complex yet savage entity that fans of the aforementioned genres should take heed to.
www.gargantula.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

High On Fire,"Blessed Black Wings" (Relapse)
Ever wondered what the Apocalypse would sound like? Wonder know more, thanks to High on Fire and the trio’s demonically charged nine-track offering BLESSED BLACK WINGS, a metal deity of epic proportions. Jarring, explosive, and above all, expansively loud, tracks like the title cut and “Devilution” radiate the kind of devious power that Satan himself could only conjure. Featuring generous helpings of percussive might, commanding exhibitions of pummeling bass grooves, and topping it all off, a twin guitar/vocal assault by Matt Pike that is both engrossing and downright frightening, BLESSED BLACK WINGS marks not only the perfect amalgamation of Black Sabbath and Slayer, but may just be the most evil rock album you’ll hear all year.
www.relapse.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Mars Volta,"Frances the Mute" (Universal)
The Mars Volta have outdone themselves on FRANCES THE MUTE, a tripped out, multi-faceted journey of space rock via salsa music and lush ambiance. Yeah, it’s way crazier than the last one, and that’s saying a lot. Be ready for Spanglish lyrics, an unabashed flurry of adventurous fretwork, Flea on the trumpet, and endless waves of droning noise sounding as if it came from a sci-fi movie soundtrack. As well as the most challenging 76 minutes you’ll spend with a CD. Guaranteed.
www.universalrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Dopermien,"Bedbugs and Bankruptcy" (Indie Release)
Undercooked and oversaturated, the rap-rock phase has thankfully passed its last lap towards the finish line, yet there’s a band hailing from Queens, NY looking to inject some much needed credibility and musicianship to the fading flame. Dopermien is the name of the quartet, whose seven-track release boldly displays cohesive and inventive rhymes, complimented with organically charged, hard edged rock ‘n’ roll. Tracks like the Rage meets Quicksand delivery of “100 Styles” and the monstrous hardcore stomp that starts up “A New Beginning” give off the NYC vibe with conviction, while the outfit’s funky, sped–up cover of Black Sheep’s “The Choice is Yours” gives the rap classic a unique spin. Seasoned and knowledgeable musicians fronted by a fork tongued MC spitting out stream of consciousness rants and raves, BEDBUGS AND BANKRUPTCY is a bright flame of life in a genre overrun by mediocrity and mired in pop culture’s murky waters.
www.dopermien.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The N.Y. Rel-X,"Sold Out of Love" (TKO)
The N.Y. Rel-X play a kind of grizzled yet poppy version of punk rock that only inhabitants of the Big Apple can stake claim to. On the quartet’s latest 11-track release, these veritable punk rock vets pound out some high-octane, straightforward female fronted punk rock with all of the sneer and attitude of the ghosts of CBGB’s past. “No More Tears” contains the bouncy bass line no punk band should be without, while the title track’s catchy chorus will swirl around your head for days on end. SOLD OUT OF LOVE allows this outfit an avenue to let off some of that big city pressure without the rap sheet, and makes for a fine addition to the NYC punk rock family tree.
www.tkorecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Mennen,"Freakazoid" (Escapi)
Mennen is a hard rock outfit from the Netherlands who sound a lot like those big haired rock bands that get the VH-1 treatment as of late. This quartet’s 14-track album melds the kind of hooky chorus meets guitar virtuoso stamp that bands like Europe and Dokken made infamous. While there’s not a whole lot of thought provocation going down lyrically here, the basic rhyme schemes and contents are explored and aren’t as forced as you’d expect. The one thing that FREAKAZOID excels at is that it is a very well composed album, sounding like a classic Scorpions or Def Leppard release, thanks to the production work of Erwin Musper, who worked with both bands before. But, like most of the genre’s offerings, Mennen play loud at times and heartfelt when it’s time to flick the Bic, but don’t convey much in the way of substance. But, if you’re looking for a hard rock tour de force where you can leave your deep thoughts at the door, Mennen is the band to go to.
www.escapimusic.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

The Occasion,"The Occasion" (Say Hey)
Lo-fi and low key, The Occasion is a quintet aiming to leave you in a peaceful place with their transient loops, organic melodies, and all around sound manipulations. On the NYC clan’s eight-track sojourn, ambience and luxury reign, as tracks like the hypnotic “I Can’t Stop Falling” rely on repetitive riffing, while the melancholy organ in “Ease Away” sets a dream-like tone that rivals anything by today’s indie rock mopesters. The Occasion allows their grooves the hearty irony to speak volumes by not cranking to 11: instead, songs like “Smoke and Mirrors” sweep you inside an alluring, meticulously created musical landscape with strokes of intensity rather than a turn of the volume knob.
www.sayheyrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Death From Above 1979,"You're a Woman, I'm a Machine" (Atlantic)
Drum and bass music is usually exclusive to the dance scene, but there’s a twisted Canadian duo trying to change that perception. The band’s name is Death From Above 1979, and the 11-track release YOU’RE A WOMAN, I’M A MACHINE is a hard hitting, primal slab of rock ‘n’ roll stripped down to the bone. As experimental as a teenager at his first time in Chemistry Lab 101, this dynamic duo take rock music to new heights by subtracting all that extraneous guitar chatter and focusing in on the groove that makes your booty move, and damn if they don’t keep those hips shaking. Tracks like “Little Girl” drip with raucous sex appeal, while the crash and burn dramatics of “Cold War” and “Going Steady” both displays the devilish stomp that scares the religious right. Hard rocking yet oh so simplistic, these guys are the embodiment of the old adage that sometimes less really is more.
www.deathfromabove1979.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

No Warning,"Suffer Survive" (Machine Shop)
OK, so Canada’s No Warning has shed its tough guy shell and sounds a lot like a cross between fellow countrymen Sum 41 and Linkin Park than the ultraviolent and angry band everyone used to love. Are the boys cashing in or exploring new ground? Hard to tell, but they still hit a million times harder than any of the nu metal waste sucking up radio airplay. While the good old NYHC stomp is less apparent than previous offerings, tracks like “Modern Eyes” could still incite a riot, while “Live Through Me” sounds a lot like Hazen Street. Longtime fans will be sickened by the vocals and most likely will dispose of SUFFER SURVIVE instantaneously, but the ones that stick around, as well as this year’s crop of new ears, may be able to find some solace in a band that hits harder than 90% of the bands in the scene today and still employs a strong vocal melody.
www.machineshoprecordings.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Gizmachi,"The Imbuing" (Sanctuary)
Frantic and utterly chaotic, Gizmachi’s debut disc is an eight-track journey into the depths of depravity via the sounds of today’s metal. Part Slipknot (after all, Clown produced this disc), part Strapping Young Lad, and part upstate NY hardcore outfit (think One King Down, Snapcase, and All Out War), this quintet’s scolding release is a relentless ride laden with dissonant guitars, odd signatured rhythms, and the kind of screams that can only come from a mentally deranged individual. If you are seeking another band in the vein of Meshuggah, Dry Kill Logic, and Candiria, Gizmachi triumphantly answers the request.
www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Death Before Dishonor,"Friends Family Forever" (Bridge Nine)
Boston tough guys Death Before Dishonor dish out some bruising beatdown hardcore on FRIENDS FAMILY FOREVER, a seven-track freight train aimed to steamroll your sorry ass right on over. Chugga-chugga riffs galore are part of the well-oiled machine this quartet have built, as tracks like the surging “Endless Suffering” and “Never Again” sound like the perfect mix of Hatebreed’s metallic crunch and Propain’s anthemic approach. If you are familiar with the East Coast hardcore sound and enjoy a good moshpit, then FAMILY FRIENDS FOREVER should be right on top of your CD wishlist.
www.bridge9.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Vicious Art,"Fire Falls and the Waiting Waters" (Candlelight)
Vicious Art is quite the appropriate name for this Swedish metal troupe that boasts former members of Dark Funeral and Entombed in its fold, as the punishing 10-track release stomps with the fervor you’d find from Cannibal Corpse and Hypocrisy. Blast beated madness is the most prominent weapon used here, as the mighty double bass pedal is used ad nausea, almost to the point of becoming redundant. The guitars are crisp and fleeting, and the vocals are the perfect union of growl and scream, and when doubled on tracks like “A Whistler and His Gun”, sound like Hell has risen to Earth. Vicious Art isn’t the most unique band on the map, but this quintet packs an undeniable wallop that can floor you.
www.candlelightrecords.co.uk
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Divide By Zero,"Answer to No One" (Jump Start)
Divide By Zero is a Chicago-based quartet whose sanitized punk rock swagger goes 11 tracks on ANSWER TO NO ONE. Juxtaposing the dramatics of Thursday with the no nonsense aesthetic of Hot Water Music and Avail, tracks like “Bleeds and Bleeds” and “Timber” provide both sensitive musical excursions and passionate sing along parts. There’s a distinctly mid-90’s punk rock vibe to this band that is reminiscent of bands like Samiam and Ignite, and there’s also a very emo-ish side to this band a la fellow statesmen Spitalfield, which should satisfy the teenage girl quotient. Nevertheless, just when you may start to give up on this band for being the next Fall Out Boy, they pull out crunchy, angst-ridden tracks like “Northern Lights” that reaffirms the fact that Divide By Zero has a lot more tricks up its sleeve than many of their peers.
www.jumpstartrecords.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Impiety,"Paramount Evil" (Paragon)
Death metal outfit Impiety knows their way around the genre, as this quartet bend notes, gallops guitars and unleashes growls with the acumen of seasoned pros. On PARAMOUNT EVIL, the latest eight-track offering from this Southeast Asian band, tracks like “Reign the Vulture” intertwine the classic sounds of Bathory with the sonic insanity of Morbid Angel, yielding a beastly entity capable of ripping heads off bodies and stirring up total devastation. Not a whole lot of originality from these guys is exhibited, but when cranked to 11, songs such as the march-like death stomp into moshpit maddening pace of “Indomitable Fist of Decius” is a surefire method to piss off everyone around you.
www.paragonrecords.net
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Searing Meadow,"Corroding From the Inside" (Crash)
Searing Meadow claim to have picked up where Amorphis left off, and that statement is on the mark, as this Finnish quartet churn out some powerful and progressive death metal with that European melodic edge on CORRODING FROM THE INSIDE. Featuring 12 tracks with throat-grabbing lead guitar work that doesn’t let up an inch from “Wasted Heroes” to “Fading To Silhouette (Part II)” and a hearty display of Gothic-esque mood rock, tracks like “Fading To Silhouette” and “Three Names for Denial” whisk you away from your environment and into a land where skillfully brooding and intensely atmospheric metal reigns supreme. If you dig Goth, progressive, folk, or even power metal, these guys will appeal to you.
www.crashmusicinc.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Corrosion of Conformity,"In the Arms of God" (Sanctuary)
A five-year hiatus has yielded an angry beast, as the latest release from North Carolina’s favorite sons Corrosion of Conformity has returned in a huge way with IN THE ARMS OF GOD, a triumphant 12-track album brimming with the Southern fried stoner metal these pioneers of pummeling helped put on the map. Pepper Keenan, Mike Dean, Woody Weatherman, and new skin basher Stanton Moore have clamped down on their collective anger, and in turn, have made the most riff-tastic, lyrically scathing, rhythmically challenging, ass-kicking album of this veteran outfit’s acclaimed career. Equally dispersing the Sabbath-esque sludge and Skynyrd-like snarl, tracks like the tumultuously composed “Paranoid Opioid”, the vocally scolding “Dirty Hands Empty Pockets/ Already Gone” and the thick, groove laden “Backslider” exhibit why COC is at the top of the stoner rock mountain, while the album’s title cut is a metal epic bursting with splashes of sonic brilliance. IN THE ARMS OF GOD has solidified COC’s lofty stature in the upper echelon of the metal realm, and is a top candidate for the best album of 2005.
www.sanctuaryrecordsgroup.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

With Passion,"In the Midst of Bloodied Soil" (Earache)
Sacramento, CA is mainly known for nu metal, but that’s about to change, thanks to a relentless new outfit. With Passion’s metal assault is blended with ethereal orchestra interludes and dreamy acoustic guitar passages like “The Prophecies of Hellfire”, making the heavier aspects of IN THE MIDST OF BLOODIED SOIL much more ominous and effective than other bands who choose to continuously stab the jugular. It’s this kind of mixture that allows the brutality of cuts like “Darkness Doth Bring Morality” and “A Theory of an Evening Sky” to ring in your head that much longer, and this sextet to prolong its shelf life infinitely over most of its peers. Oh, and their blistering kind of technical death metal kicks your head in, too. If you’re bored with those hard to read band logos and endless stream of blood and gore metal bands, allow With Passion to accost your ears.
www.earache.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

Faultlines,"Travelogue" (Action Heights)
Faultlines is an Iowa-based quartet whose aggressive punk rock meets starry-eyed shoegazing stance is not unlike a blend of bands such as Open Hand, Hot Water Music, or fellow statesmen (and band people will undoubtedly compare them to the most), Braid. The 11-track release, broken up into numbered days for continuity, takes jagged guitars and staccato rhythms and weaves them inside of catchy melodies. Tracks like the uplifting instrumental opener “Modern Traveler” and the Foo Fighters-esque “Line Breaks” have got both the balls and brains displayed to make the jocks and geeks equally happy, while the general post-hardcore feel of tracks like “Grand Holiday” sound like Avail, while “Televise Your Holidays” and “Sirens and Sailors” wouldn’t sound out of place on a Far record, sans the somewhat subdued vocals. TRAVELOGUE brings the rock in an angular way, making this release something fans of punk-hardcore hybrid bands would latch on to.
www.actionheights.com
Rating:

Review by Mike SOS

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