Equally catchy and caustic, A18 is a Metalcore band of furious glory. Their 2004 opus, “Dear Furious” [Victory Records], is a burning, gnashing assault of relentless aggression. It is both artful and intense…. Shrill, growled vocals burst through explosive, dense rhythms. Guitars are raw, but bleed massive amounts of groove. A18 is sheer, gut-wrenching power.
One of the greatest Metalcore/Aggro Metal bands in the world, Killswitch Engage, has returned with their masterpiece. The 2004 opus, “The End Of Heartache” [Roadrunner Records], is a Hardcore sharpened display of Dark Aggro Metal perfection. It is no wonder this act has such a revered following. The Killswitch Engage sound is a powerful fusion …
The brutal resplendence of the killer Metalcore band A Perfect Murder is beyond powerful, it is obliterating. Their 2004 debut, “Unbroken” [Victory Records], has a caustic glory that devastates. A Perfect Murder is, well, perfect…. Their unique, crushing brand of Metalcore is dark, with abyss deep grooves that are completely, crushingly massive. Sublime yet visceral, …
In the new barrage of Power Metal acts, few could hold a candle to Code Black. Strain as they will, most fall far short of greatness. Code Black‘s 2004 opus, “Penetration” [Arctic Music], is the surly exception. With tight, crushing rhythms and massive grooves, Code Black makes a thunderous assault. The vocals are a rough-hewn, …
Evemaster is a great new Melodic Death Metal band with more than enough power and edge to put them leagues ahead of the established paragons of the genre. Their 2004 debut, “Wither” [Crash Music, Inc.], has an addictive darkness that is ferocious. Evemaster is surreal, sublime, and severe. Shrill, raspy growls are interlaced with clean, …
Decapitated are one of the premiere acts in Melodic Death Metal, along with Vader. This Polish act’s 2004 opus, “Negation” [Wicked World/Earache Records], is as tight and blistering as they come. Intricate and fierce, Decapitated is a testimony to the fine art of brutality. Decapitated is harsh and dynamic, fusing dense vocal growls with ornate …
The greatest Industrial Metal band ever, Helmet, has returned to the scene after a much-too-long hiatus. Their 2004 opus of start-stop excellence, “Size Matters” [Interscope Records], is an instant classic. Familiar yet a little different, longtime fans may need a few listens to warm-up to it. But after that, it’s all amazing. Continuing that chunky, …
In the world of Ambient/Darkwave/Industrial Black Metal, Peccatum is the apex model. Their 2004 opus, “Lost In Reverie” [The End Records], is both desolate and beautiful. It is eclectic, eerie, and vast in its scope. The Peccatum aesthetic fuses clean vocals with low intensity shrieks. Keyboards, female vocals (with an angelic, ghostlike radiance), and symphonic …
After the death of Dave Williams, many wondered if Drowning Pool could survive the loss. But they gathered greatly, and returned in 2004 with the epic “Desensitized” [Wind-Up Music]. And their sound is sharper than ever. Drowning Pool takes a raw intensity and welds it into pure aggression. The effect is a Powercore/Aggro Metal hybrid …
In a stark combination of contrasts, Hawthorne Heights fuses Emo and Metalcore into a very melodic and intense offering. Their 2004 opus, “The Silence In Black And White” [Victory Records], is solidly fierce. Hawthorne Heights is Hardcore and melodious. Using clean, emotive yells and shrill growls, Hawthorne Heights hits a dynamic range. While being heavy, …