Nu metal, the latest victim of industry overexcitement, is a genre that was good in principle. Once the labels got done (and apparently, hopefully, they are), the genre was filled with generic groups that seemed to all play the same songs, with the same lyrics. The few bands that made a name for themselves either …

Off-timing, Death, Grindcore, Jazz, Metalcore, and Dark Alternative barely scratches the surface of the Postman Syndrome's diverse sound. Their second opus, “Terraforming” [Now Or Never Records], is quite an amazing work. It's brutal, soft, and intricate-an eclectic horror show of wonders and ferocities. Growls, melancholic howls, and gentle clean vocals are used throughout. Brutal electric …

At last, the masters of true, melancholic Dark Metal have returned. Sentenced has unleashed the BEST release of 2002. This epic opus of sublime sorrow is titled “The Cold White Light” [Century Media Records], and it is simply astounding. These Finnish greats began as a Swedish Style Death Metal band, but then slowly evolved. And …

Hey look, ma! Hard music that isn't composed of senseless screaming and banal power chords! The music I refer to would be by the band Stolen Babies, from their self-titled album, a la No Comment Records. I'm quite fond of criticizing the efforts of most modern musicians, and I'll be the first to say that …

Australian master of Industrial Death Metal The Berzerker has returned with yet another blazing slab of stark, harshly brilliant aggression. Titled “Dissimulate” [Earache Records], it razes everything in its path. The Berzerker sets the standard for mechanized brutality. Everything else seems tame in comparison. Blasting guitars pound through machine-precision rhythm assaults. Many samples, mostly spoken-word …

Parise – Demo Normally when I get random e-mails to check out bands I push them off to the back burner. More times then not, there is a long winded p.r. speach followed by a 'come download our music' plea. I don't care for that. I have a lousy computer, with a lousy connection. A …

So this summer I was in the middle of nowhere Pennsylvania when I came upon the Lycoming Mall. A lone beacon of capitalism (and civilization from the looks of things), the mall had a Hot Topic. After being among the equivalent of Puritan middle-American people for several weeks, it was a breath of fresh air …

Kansas City's DownTheSun has cut a brutal reputation for itself in the Aggro Metal scene. Their self-titled debut [Roadrunner Records] is fiery display of Midwestern aggression. Fusing Sludge and Aggro, the result is total, brilliant mayhem. Somewhere between Mudvayne and Slipknot is where DownTheSun makes their sound. Heavy, sludgy guitar blasts pour like molten iron …

Washington based Pop Punk stalwarts MxPx (their name being a modified form of their previous moniker, Magnified Plaid) have been stompin' and rompin' around the scene now for a decade…long before it was cool or trendy to do so. Their latest, “Ten Years And Running” [Tooth & Nail Records], is a compilation of historical cuts. …

How many people out there can find Topeka, Kansas on a map? Soon enough, there may be people pulling out atlases to look. The reason for the sudden yearning for knowledge? A band called Fever Pitch. A modern rock quintet, these midwesterners followed the path taken by many bands – tired with local tours and …