Revolution is the catalyst of creativity. Dez, the former lead vocalist for Coal Chamber, has returned with a new band and a new direction. His new project, Devildriver, creates a visceral brand of Deathrash Metal that absolutely destroys. Their 2003 self-titled debut, out on Roadrunner Records, takes no prisoners. It’s full-on and ferocious. Devildriver hammers …
Even the greats must mellow a little bit at times…. So goes the tale of the 2003 opus, “Shadow Zone” [Warner Bros. Records], by Static-X. There is definitely a much more radio-friendly feel—with a greater emphasis on the Industrial influences, and a less aggressive (less brutal, less Death Metal) quality. It’s still cool, but it …
They’ve done it again. Morbid Angel‘s 2003 opus, “Heretic” [Earache Records], is their best release since “Covenant.” It regains that cold, relentless intensity of their previous cataclysmic efforts. And it is excellent. The urgent fury of the Morbid Angel sound has remained intact over the years, as they combine many extreme styles. Morbid Angel fuses …
Sometimes I get surprised. One such case, when a large chunk of the meandering masses caught-on to the great band Finch. (After all, eMpTV [MTV] is as mindless as they come. Natural selection, anyone?) Finch‘s 2003 opus of crushing beauty, “What It Is To Burn” [Drive-Thru Records], takes Melodic Hardcore to the extremes of perfection. …
Dare I say it? Yes, I dare. Hedfirst is one of the finest Deathrash Metal bands ever. Their self-titled 2003 opus, released by Crash Music Inc., is the paragon archetype of Melodic Deathrash. Brutal yet sublime, intricate yet primal—it burns with a dazzling ferocity. The guitar is a flawless barrage of melodic, highly-skilled aggression. Slow, …
Deviation is beautiful. The 2002 opus by Mudvayne, titled “The End Of All Things To Come” [No Name/Epic Records], has a few added subtle twists. New to the Mudvayne Aggro Metal machinations are some extra, clean emotive vocals with a chaotic, surreal edginess, and some odd-timing psychosis. Guitar licks wash across bizarre, off-center rhythms at …
From the ever-expanding Melodic Hardcore scene comes the talented band Glasseater. Their 2003 opus, “Everything Is Beautiful When You Don’t Look Down” [Victory Records], is a subtle mix of modern Melodic Hardcore dynamics and intense flashes of Metalcore aggression. It’s melodious, ferocious, and sublimely moody all at the same time. Catchy, clean-vocal Hardcore is impaled …
It could be said that the band Sleep is keeping the Sabbath dream alive. Pure Psychedelic Doom Metal is what Sleep is all about—trippy, heavy, and groove-bleeding power that smashes bones in a slow, swirling stomp. Their 2003 opus, titled “Dopesmoker” [Teepee Records], is massively cool. Strange as this may sound, this release has only …
A darkened glory shines in the abysmal Aeturnus, whose power is epic, pristine, and brutal. Their 2003 opus of hellish brilliance, “A Darker Monument” [Lumber Jack/Candlelight/Nocturnal Art Productions], is as bleak as it is beautiful. Aeturnus masterfully creates Epic/Dark Death Metal that is flawless and ferocious. Combining elements of Black Metal, Melodic Death Metal, and …
Spawned from the unique NYHC scene, Life Of Agony was a beast all to its own. The live 2003 opus, “River Runs Again” [Steamhammer Records], is a double-disc collection of classic Doomcore Metal. Life Of Agony was as massive as a black hole. Their style was totally individualistic—fusing the immense power of Doom with the …