Grotesqueuphoria, a new Death Metal band featuring former members of Butchery and Exuviate, has released their debut on Spinebuster Records. Titled “Euphoric Discordance,” it is Brutal Death Metal with flashes of Grindcore ferocity. And it obliterates…. The Grotesqueuphoria sound is basic and brutal–rhythms are tight, the guitars are precise with a Florida Style Death Metal …

Aggression has no limits. It is the precision workings of extremity. Such is the nature of the band Demon Hunter. Their self-titled opus, out on Solid State Records, is a slithering journey through the abysmally beautiful aspects of modern Death Metal. Twisted melodic elements, such as cellos and samples, are incorporated into the mix. Clean …

Melodic Hardcore is one of the breakthrough scenes currently in Metal, and one of the standout acts from this genre is TRUSTcompany (a.k.a. Trust Co.). Their Geffen Records debut, “The Lonely Position Of Neutral,” is as powerful as it is beautiful. TRUSTcompany is a sublime engine of poetic destruction. Clean, melodic vocals are interlaced with …

From irresistible melodies to Pop-soaked, Hard Rock wallop, the band Lifehouse burns-it-up. Their latest slab, “Stanley Climbfall” [Dreamworks Records], solidifies their sound even further, making for a tighter and more focused experience. Lifehouse's brand of Pop/Alternative Hard Rock uses a dynamic of Pop vocal ensembles mixed with a melodic Grunge instrumental that is at times …

From the Old School with a very modern aggression, Denata makes Death Thrash with a masterful edge. Their latest opus of hostile intent, aptly called “Deathtrain” [Arctic/Crash Inc. Records], is as furious as they come. And it is as kinetic as a tornado full of razors. The guitars are precise and fast-like a laser guided …

When it comes down to it, straight-ahead Rock is good. ADZ takes that straight-on, Bluesy sound ala Kenny Wayne Shepard and gives it a Punk attitude. Their new album, “American Steel” [Steel Cage Records], is a Hardcore Punk stomp 'n' roll with a sense of humor. Fast, Blues drenched leads explode within rapid, Punk/Thrash rhythms. …

This is one incredible band. Dead To Fall has a ferocious sound that fuses blunt force elements of Metalcore, Swedish Style Death Metal, and Brutal Deathrock Metal. The Chicago group's 2002 opus, “Everything I Touch Falls To Pieces” [Victory Records], is one of the best of the year. Centered around a bombastic core of Metalcore …

Richly brutal, and bleeding sludgy darkness, the band Hate Theory has unleashed a truly sublime monstrosity. Their self-titled debut, released by World War III Records, is a pure, nihilistic slab of brilliant Sludge/Death Metal ferocity. The vocal barrages are clustered bursts-coming in a mixture of shrieks, yells, shrill growls, and guttural growls. The instrumentals range …

Texas produces some excellent bands. Their finest example of greatness is the Tribal/Industrial Death Metal act Pissing Razors. This band's latest opus, “Live In The Devil's Triangle” [Spitfire Records], is a fiery display of this act's live prowess. Combining the mechanized forcefulness of Industrial with the savage aggression of Tribal Death Metal, Pissing Razors has …

Twisted and brutal, the Death Metal band Hate Eternal knows no mercy. Their second opus, “King Of All Kings” [Earache Records], is a relentless display of Old School/Deathrash Metal. This band goes right for the throat. The Hate Eternal sound is a berserk, monstrous thing–lightning fast guitar blast, guttural vocal growls, and frenzied rhythms melt …