Some bands are just killer. One such act is Closer Than Kin. Their new independently released opus, “Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover,” is a vicious slab of Dark Metalcore. And `vicious' is the right word for it… Combining the D.I.Y. Hardcore ethos, the dark brutality of Metal, and sheer, unbridled aggression is a fueled-charged, …
Burner is one of the best new bands of 2002. Their debut, “One For The Road” [Arctic Music/Crash, Inc. Records], is a supernova of shining brilliance. Burner has a unique, powerful style–Southern Deathrock Metal with intense, crushing grooves. Forming from the ashen remains of the killer act Paingod (formerly known as Raped Ape), Burner took …
It's no surprise that Sweden produces many of the world's best Death Metal bands. The scene spawned a subgenre style called Swedish Death (a more melodic style featuring shrill growled vocals), which was exemplified by such acts as Sentenced (early), Afflicted, and Desultory. But from a more chaotic strain was forged a far more jagged …
Ever have an Acid Rock flashback? The new opus by the Swedish band Acid Ape, titled “Fleshspa” [Lunasound Records], is a full-on assault on the Retro Rock mind-trip. The Acid Ape vibe is heavy, dense, and primal…. The guitar work is noisy and massive–imagine Blue Cheer crossed with bruising elements of Hardcore and Psychedelic Metal. …
Darkness has an abysmal beauty that few bands can truly capture. One band that succeeds at this daunting task is the fearsome Aborym. Combining Melodic Black Metal with Black Thrash is the key to Aborym's harsh radiance on their second opus, “Kali-Yuga Bizarre” [World War III Records]. Interlocking Industrial/Gothic, Black Thrash, and Melodic aggression creates …
In a world of lightweight, corporate sanitized Punk pseudo-aggression there still are some shining examples of harsh, evolutionary brutality. One such act is Ramallah–whose latest release, “…But A Whimper” [Bridge Nine Records], is a fierce masterpiece. Ramallah's sound roars, locking together jagged elements of Powercore, Armageddon Thrash, and Metalcore. Imagine a critical mass of rage …
Are you sick of the same old crap compilations? Do you long daily for a cd you can actually listen to all the way through without wanting to kill yourself? Well then, we have just what you are looking for! It's the new Atticus compilation Dragging the Lake II. Los Angeles based record company, SideOneDummy, …
CHEVA – In Real Life… – CD Review Highly anticipated “In Real Life…” the 3rd cd from Orange County based Metal band CHEVA has something for all metal genres to rock out to. “We've recorded this CD 4 times in the past two years and it's good to finally have something we know is going …
From the sandy, peaceful shores of San Diego comes a sound so aggressive and hard, it can only be labeled as heavy metal. The band I am writing about is Dr. Chunk. This hardcore quartet features singer Tighe Werntz, guitarist Eric Beard, bassist Jeff Simpson, and drummer Mikey Neil. Together, they create a powerful and …
While the music revolution of the early '90s that took place in Seattle will most likely not be seen again, Long Island appears to be the scene of the newest musical evolution. Bands are popping up day in and day out that have taken rock and added a healthy dose of human emotion. That union …