From the darkened abysm where all Doom lies is born an abyssal dream of utter apocalyptic melancholy. The band is Warhorse, and the CD is “As Heaven Turns To Ash” [Southern Lord Records]. The Warhorse sound is an obliterating form of Psychedelic Doomdeath Metal with a massive, sludgy quality as heavy as the Hand Of …
“Gonna leave my mark, like a brand new scar,” states the opening cut, “New Scar (Won't Be Like You),” from Reach 454’s killer debut. And that it surely does—like a finely tuned pile-driver. This self-titled 2003 opus, out on Lava/Atlantic Records, is as addictive as it is aggressive. Taking a polished Powercore Metal style, they …
Humungus is big, loud, and raw Punk Rock the way it was meant to be—harsh. The classic 2-on-1 disc reissue of “I Hate Mother Fucking Cops/A Reason To Care” [Beer City Records] is an old school treat. Featuring members of legendary acts Verbal Abuse and the Dead Boys, Humungus cuts a raw-edged vein that bleeds …
Darkest Hour is one of tightest bands around—fusing the pure brutality of Metalcore to the fiery aggression of Swedish Style Death Metal. Their 2003 opus, “Hidden Hands Of A Sadist Nation” [Victory Records], is their very best yet. This is pure aggression at its finest. Shrill, growled vocals explode across a blistering cascade of roaring …
Boysetsfire is an amazing dynamic in contrasts. Juxtaposing beautiful Melodic Hardcore against brilliant Metalcore ferocity, they have created an enthralling style. Their 2003 opus, “Tomorrow Comes Today” [Wind-Up Records], is easily one of the best of the year. Moving from Melodic Hardcore to stark Metalcore aggression, Boysetsfire executes both aspects of their style flawlessly. Smooth, …
Some bands manifest highly skilled forms of aggression. Zao is one such band. Their 2003 opus, “All Else Failed” [Solidstate Records], is a fierce hybrid of Hardcore, Swedish Style Death Metal, and Deathrock Metal. And it is amazing…. Loose, intense, and groove-bludgeoned guitars pulsate through the beautiful cacophony. Shrill, growled vocals charge the primal, musical …
Marduk has achieved a legendary, epic status amongst the Black Metal hordes. And after hearing their 2003 masterpiece, “World Funeral” [Regain/The End Records], it’s no wonder. This is the best Black Metal I’ve heard in aeons. Marduk incorporates many elements into their style—Epic Black Metal, Death Metal, Swedish Style Death, and War Metal. Using killer …
Somewhere between Oi Punk, Powercore, Thrash Metal, and Hardcore is where Awkward Thought stands its ground. Their 2003 opus, “Ruin A Good Time” [Thorp Records], is one solid, kick-in-the-face piece of musical aggression. Awkward Thought is anything but awkward…more like powerful and frenzied. Fierce, blistering rhythms form the skeleton of the sound. Dense guitars, paired …
…As the abyss shines. Just when you thought the Aggro Metal scene was dead and gone, the genre gets a revitalizing shot of skilled aggression from the beast that is Motograter. Their self-titled 2003 debut, out on No Name Records, is as melodic as it is caustic. And it is good. Sometimes relying too heavily …
Gut-wrenching, soulful, and as heavy as 13 tons of cement–these are the things that makes Boris great. Their 2003 reissue of “Amplifier Worship” [Southern Lord Records] is like one huge, cosmic nausea fit. You can literally feel the reverberation in your guts. This Japanese band creates gargantuan slabs of Droning Doom Metal, mixing soft and …