In the exploding Metalcore scene, a few exemplary names standout amongst the hellish maelstrom for extreme excellence. One of those hallowed names is Stretch Arm Strong. Their 2003 opus, “Engage” [Solid State Records], is their finest effort yet. It’s a shrapnel burst of pure, violent intensity. Stretch Arm Strong creates a visceral brand of Metalcore …
The best new Melodic Hardcore band to come around in ages has to be Element Eighty. Their 2003 self-titled opus, out on Universal Records, is an incredible fusion of smashing Moodcore massiveness and Hardcore dynamics. Element Eighty holds nothing back—they’re full-on and ferocious. This Texas outfit mixes stomp-and-kick blast-beat power with melodious caterwaul. Clean, melodic …
Rising from the abyss, one of the finest, fiercest new bands I have ever heard is The Agony Scene. Their self-titled 2003 debut, released on Solid State Records, is sheer, perfect aggression. There are many elements at work in The Agony Scene sound, and they execute them all brilliantly. This Oklahoma band shows no vulnerability. …
Even greatness evolves. The 2003 opus by 40 Below Summer, entitled “The Mourning After” [Universal/Razor & Tie Records], is their next level of progression. 40 Below Summer masterfully plays a unique, powerful brand of Melodic Aggro Metal that is both aggressive and beautiful. Dark, melodic passages are juxtaposed against fiery intensity. Clean, woeful vocals combine …
The virtue of darkness is endlessness. The band Misteltein has an endless, tenebrous fury. Their 2002 release, “Divine.Desecrate.Complete” [World War III Records], is Black Metal at its most harsh and unforgiving glory. The Misteltein technique is a very raw, primal form of Black Thrash Metal with a slight, melodic underbelly. The psychotic, shrieking vocals drill …
In the modern Retro Punk movement, there is one band that stands leagues ahead of the rest. That band is The White Stripes. Their 2003 opus, “Elephant” [V2 Records], is the archetype for great Retro Punk. It infuses a vibrant, heavy-gauge Blues inflection into their already highly skilled style. Brother-and-sister duo, Jack & Meg White, …
One of the most overlooked releases of 2001 had to be the haunting debut EP by Southern Isolation. Their self-titled, 4 song opus [Relapse/Baphomet Records] is a beautifully dark freefall of atmospheric sorrows. It is not about brutality, it’s about sublime darkness. Both amazingly stark and ethereal, Southern Isolation has a captivating sound. Opal‘s clean, …
From the Halls of Montezuma to some Punks that really Thrashed…. The reissue of D.R.I.‘s “Dirty Rotten” CD [Beer City Records] is a must for any fan of classic 1980’s Thrash Metal mayhem. It’s a torrential display of biting guitar frenzy, and rabid socio-political commentary. D.R.I. leaned much more strongly on the Punk Rock dynamic …
Melodic Hardcore is an ever-growing style, featuring great acts such as OneSideZero, Pressure 4-5, and Alien Ant Farm. One of the new bands garnering much attention is V Shape Mind. Their 2003 opus, “Cul-De-Sac” [Universal Records], is a more mainstream yet very good brand of Alternative / Melodic Hardcore. It’s polished and primal, melodic and …
When it comes to sheer brutality, few styles are as powerful or as fierce as Metalcore is. One killer band from this genre is A18. Their 2003 opus, “Foreverafternothing” [Victory Records], is as primal as inhumanly possible. Ferocious, blasting guitar sludge roars across blistering rhythms and deep, jagged grooves. Shrill growled vocals burn through the …