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, …
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, …
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 …
L.A.’s Spineshank has returned with another concrete-solid opus in 2003, titled “Self-Destructive Pattern” [Roadrunner Records]. They continue to sharpen the edges of their aggressive style, while staying true to their core sound. And Spineshank does this skillfully. Industrial and Thrashcore elements permeate their Aggro Metal aesthetic-describing them as a vivid, violent mixture of Fear Factory …
Beneath a dark Northern sky, in the dead light of stars grown cold within the fathomless depths, an extreme thought strain was born. This brutal concept of Void was designed with the black perfection. Sublime and extreme, this band creates a unique style of Dark Industrial/Swedish Death Metal with Black Metal elements. Their brilliantly dark …
Rising from the ashes of the legendary Metalcore act Earth Crisis, Freya has similar feel with a few added, subtle twists of aggression. Their 2003 debut, “As The Last Light Drains” [Victory Records], is an intensely ferocious journey through stark landscapes of harsh, cataclysmic beauty. Freya burns down the palisades of mediocrity. The guitar work …
Once in a very great while, an amazing new band raises its ugly head and makes you take notice. Single Bullet Theory is just such an act. Their unique brand of Swedish Style Death Metal bleeds both enthralling hook and aggression, making them even more exemplary in this style. This Southwest American band has an …
The masked mayhem from Cleveland is back. The eight-man outfit known as Mushroomhead has released their sixth full-length album (five were independent, including 1997’s Remix release), titled XIII. For longtime fans of Mushroomhead, or even those that were introduced to the group by their last release XX, the new record will hold few surprises. Formed …