There once was a fiery little monster of a band from Atlanta, Georgia (U.S.A.) called Stuck Mojo. They released a monumental album called “Snappin’ Necks” that combined Aggro Rapcore Metal with Hard Rock and even some small amounts of Death Metal. Years passed, and they released good albums that had softened a bit and emphasized …
Gothic Industrial Metal is a smaller scene than what it used to be. The most notable acts of this genre including Jack Off Jill, Sisters Of Mercy, Marilyn Manson, and Godhead. But SPF1000 is another band of excellent merit. Their 2003 opus, “Witch Hunt” [Dark Future Music], is not brutal but has a dark edge …
Black Metal is not a Scandinavian monopoly. One of the world’s best Black Metal bands is from Russia. That band is the vicious Rossomahaar. Their 2003 opus, “Quaerite Lux In Tenebris (Exploring The External Worlds)” [Xtreem Music], is Poetic/Epic Black Metal at its greatest. This is melodic, sublime darkness surpassed by none. Sharp, acidic shrieks …
Some things defy the laws of physics. One of those is the 2001 opus, titled “Firedemon” [Century Media Records], by Carnal Forge. Carnal Forge takes a relentless form of Swedish Death Metal and gives it a brutal sensibility. Blasting, breakneck guitars scrape against frenzied rhythms, catchy melodies with a crazed virulence, and shrill Death growl …
Italy is known for many things, but it is not renowned for its great Metal bands. But one act that should be widely known about is the wildly cool Grindcore band Cripple Bastards. Their 2004 opus, “Desperately Insensitive” [Necropolis Records], is a bruiser of Crust/Grind genius reminiscent of Rotten Sound and Dying Fetus. This one …
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, …