The Suicide Machines are back with their fifth studio album, and SideOneDummy Records debut, `A Match and Some Gasoline'. And they're here to kick ass and take names. The names are of ignorant kids, politicians, and cops that is. Almost everyone gets attacked in their endeavor to spread their wisdom through raw, catchy punk/ska delights. …
At last, the ferocious Chimaira has returned. Their 2003 sophomore effort, “The Impossibility Of Reason” [Roadrunner Records], is a stunning masterpiece of uninhibited brutality. Chimaira takes it to the limit, and beyond. Welding together a jagged, volatile mixture of Aggro and Death Metal, Chimaira has created a style of massive, menacing beauty. Acidic, growled vocals …
From the darkened halls of the Palace of Oblivion's Dawn rises the pure, pristine Night…. Bathory returns with the epic follow-up opus to the incredible “Nordland” release. The aptly titled “Nordland II” [The End/Black Mark Records], continues in the previous work's evolutionary progression. Bathory has taken Black Metal to the beautiful extremes, adding elements of …
Even Pop Punk has its variants. The Exies are an excellent example, creating a fearless and addictive form of Techno Pop Punk. Their 2003 opus, “Inertia” [Virgin Records], is both catchy and powerful. Somewhere between American Hi-Fi and Filter is where The Exies call home. Subtle shades are mixed into the fray–acoustic guitars, Pop aesthetics, …
A friend bought me the Ramones tribute album. I had previously told her I wanted to check it out. I was interested to see how covers of punk classics 'I Wanna Be Sedated', 'Sheena Is A Punk Rocker' among others would turn out. The cover artwork has 4 eerie looking monsters dressed as the Ramones.. …
The mighty Black Label Society has returned. Their 2003 opus, “The Blessed Hellride” [Spitfire Records], is as solid as they come. (…Even if at times it feels a bit mellower than previous efforts.) Black Label Society is like Pantera's Psychedelic little brother–pissed, powerful, and primal as cold steel. Zakk Wylde's guitar playing is flawless, ranging …
This is How It Ends is–brutal Death/Sludgecore genius without a single weakness. Their debut, “So Shall It Be” [Thorp Records], makes Crowbar seem absolutely placid in comparison. How It Ends strikes the aggression vein, and bleeds it dry. Combining powerful grooves with a visceral intensity, How It Ends adds a new vitality to the Sludgecore …
From New York has risen a great new fury. That tumult is the BEST NEW BAND of 2001, and that act is Scar Culture. Their debut, called “Inscribe” [Century Media Records], carries on that great NYHC tradition of musical assault. Scar Culture fuses intense Hardcore aggression with powerful, groove-driven Death Metal into the fiercest, incendiary …
Somewhere between Hardcore, Aggro, and Death Metal is where Anchorage, Alaska's musical kill crew 36 Crazyfists makes its home. Their caustic debut, “Bitterness The Star” [Roadrunner Records], is a roughly hewn masterpiece of sonic aggression. It's a primal, raging slab of sublime, molten hostility. Brock Lindow's vocals are acidic–polarizing between a crackling, mournful clean howl …
Closer Than Kin is one of the most amazing Hardcore / Metalcore bands around. Their 2003 opus, “The Machineries Of Breath” [Punktuation/Arctic Music], is one of the best releases of the year. Combining elements of Gothic and Metalcore, Closer Than Kin has created a work that is both vibrant and dark–brutal and sublime. The Closer …