METAL SIDE WEBZINE – www.deathmetalside.com, Reviews –
December 2005
Dia De Los Muertos
"Day of the Dead"
2005, Cinismo Records
The idea of this project was born when Andres
Jaramillo and Alfonso Pinzon started composing songs for US
release of their Colombian band Agony. However, they wrote material that was
different than Agony's style that's why they decided to form another band to
record them. Since they worked on the project in Los
Angeles, they had many good options to complete the
line-up. Their choice was Vincent Price from Body Count. They had also one more
good idea. They asked different vocalists to sing on their album. Their names
are well-known for Metal fans. Loana dP Valencia
is from Dreams of Damnation, Maltido X from Asesino, Andres Gimenez from the
Argentine band A.N.I.M.A.L, and Alex Okendo from Masacre (Colombia).
These vocalists have not only different style but also write lyrics in
different languages. First two songs are in English. Three songs are in
Spanish. Sometimes the vocals are more Death Metal-oriented, sometimes closer
to Thrash Metal, but always aggressive and strong. The music combines the
elements of both styles, and should appeal to fans Slayer, Grip Inc., Dreams of
Damnation, and other similar acts. Dia De Los Muertos is definitely a good
proposal for them.
www.cinismorecords.com, http://ddlm.net/
Fevered Dreams
"Fallen"
2004, FOD Music Group
Arizona's band
uses varied influences. Its music is a combination of Death Metal, Thrash
Metal, and melodic Metal-core. My favorite parts are based on brutal,
Death Metal vocals, heavy riffs, and fast drumming. In few songs
these elements are dominant. Softer parts are less interesting for me but they
aren't the essence of Fevered Dreams style. Melodic, clean vocals appear mainly
in choruses. That's a question if this material needs them. The answer will
always be subjective. I think that without clean vocals the material would be
more brutal what wouldn't be bad option in my opinion. On the other hand,
Metal-core fans who hear dual, brutal and clean vocals on so many albums, will
probably like such combination. Thrash Metal fans should dig it as well,
and only the most irreconcilable fans of growling will never accept melodic
singing. Fevered Dreams songwriting is solid. Some riffs are catchy
and I'm not speaking only about melodic choruses. The track structures are
compact. They remind of traditional Thrash Metal formulas and avoid the chaos
so typical for many Metal-core materials. Good production and solid
musicianship are other Fevered Dreams advantages. www.fervereddreams.com
Necrosanity
s/t
2005, self-released
Necrosanity is one man project, the creation
of sick composer and good musician, TJ Garcia aka Lord T6, who did all vocals
on this CD, played guitar and bass, and programmed the drum-machine. His
material is inspired by Horror Movies, Sci-fi Movies, and Zombies, what is a
good option when someone wants to play Death Metal. Lord T6's strong influence
is probably also Mortician. Undoubtedly, Necrosanity's style is
Mortician-oriented. That shouldn't be a surprise. Such fast, low-tuned Death
Metal with drum programming instead of human drummer will always be reminding
of Mortician. My favorite compositions from the album are "Zombies!"
and "The Dead Walk The Earth". "Zombies!" is very fast and
has simple structure: its brutality is its biggest advantage. "The Dead
Walk The Earth" has interesting tempo-changes, from very slow to very
fast. This song has sick and dark atmosphere. It would be a good soundtrack for
a horror movie if someone dared to have such brutal music as a soundtrack. www.lordt6.com
Out For Blood
"Love lies, Bleeding"
2005, self-released
Nine tracks from Colorado's
band is a good proposal for fans of technical Grind/Death Metal with strong
Metal-core influence. "Love lies, Bleeding" delivers intense material
with numerous tempo changes and dual vocals. One voice is high-pitched and
screaming. The second one is deep and brutal. That's good combination although
I prefer deeper vocals. The track-structures haven't one simple scheme. The
lack of scheme is a scheme here. Some parts seem a bit chaotic, and
sometimes I'd not complain if the material had less tempo
changes, but generally speaking, the songwriting is interesting. If you
like Into The Moat, Burnt By The Sun, Between Buried And Me, and other such
bands that blend Grindcore, Death Metal, and Hard-core, you will accept such
compositions very easily although do not think that on "Love lies,
Bleeding" you will hear music being a copy of those famous acts. www.outforbloodband.com
Revenant
"The Burning Ground"
2005, Xtreem Music
If I had to prepare the list of the best
ideas in the history of mankind, the idea to release this album would be one of
my first choices. Seriously, this CD is a must for all Death Metal fans. I've
been Revenant's huge fan since early 90's. New Jersey's
band became popular in the underground already few years earlier, when they
released good demo tapes and EP: in 1987 "Beyond the Winds of
Sorrow" demo tape, the next tape in 1988, and EP “Distant Eyes” for
Thrash Records in 1990. Revenant signed a deal with Nuclear Blast Records,
and great debut CD "Prophecies for a Dying World" was recorded.
Unfortunately, although this album delivered absolutely crushing material, it
became one of the most underrated releases in Death Metal history. First of
all, many fans do not know it. That's a shame. When I think now of the best
releases of the 90's, Revenant's album is always near the top. I regretted that
"Prophecies for a Dying World" didn't have a full-length follow-up. I
read that Revenant had recorded some new material but I couldn't find it for
many years. Luckily, some songs recorded in the mid-90's, were presented by Hank
Veggian on "Overman" MCD that I had a pleasure to review few months
ago. Now we have a great occasion to hear other Revenant's song from
post-Prophecies era. On "The Burning Ground" one can find three
tracks recorded in the summer of 1992, and two tracks recorded in the winter of
1993. And all of them are great. Material from "Prophecies for a Dying
World" was very original, complex, and technical. The materials from the
next recording sessions had the same features although band's style was
evolving towards more and more intricate songs. I can only regret that this
great musical journey ended in the mid-90's. If
these tracks hadn't been re-released, it would have been a real
crime against Death Metal Heritage. "The Burning Ground" gives you
also a chance to hear Revenant's materials from the 80's. They are different,
more straightforward, but listening to them, you won't be surprised that their
composers became such brilliant band in the 90's. http://www.geocities.com/revenant076/
The Tenth
Circle
“Of War And Reflection”
2005, Bled Out Records
Formerly known as Cirrhosis, The Tenth
Circle is currently one of the best Pennsylvania's
Death Metal band. “Of War And Reflection” will please the fans of fast and technical
US Death Metal. That's material for those who can't stop listening to Hate
Eternal, Internecine, or Malevolent Creation. It's based on precise drumming
(the work of Tim Yeung who is well known from Hate Eternal, and Agiel),
shredding riffs, and brutal vocals. The tracks haven't any boring parts. The
tempo is always good and the intensity is absolutely not for the weak. That's a
very good way to express brutality in music. I'm very glad that The Tenth
Circle decided to play US DM in the pure form. There are many bands that
chose similar style, essential for US
scene, but most of them can't compete with The Tenth Circle's members taking
into consideration the quality of their songwriting and technical skills.
Authors of “Of War And Reflection” deserve your highest attention. www.thetenthcircle.com
Try Redemption
"Prey For Us Sinners"
2005, self-released
I reviewed previous Try Redemption's album
"Confessions of a Tortured Soul", and I liked it. However, the
quality of the new material is a surprise for me. Colorado's
band improved the style or rather I should say: they changed it
significantly. New compositions are more intense, faster and more technical. As
you can see, the progression is obvious but these features aren't the only
reasons to praise Try Redemption's new work. Another good reason to compliment
the band is better songwriting. New songs have better tempo changes and simply
better riffs. Each composition has its highlights, the moments that justify the
opinion that Try Redemption is original and good band. That's US Death Metal
band so influences are mainly domestic but I can't say simply that it is Florida's
DM school or NY's DM school. Try Redemption tries to deliver original ideas and
does it with good result. A very big difference between "Confessions of a
Tortured Soul" and "Prey For Us Sinners" is production. On the
new album the sound is much better: heavier but also clearer. To complete the
list of improved elements of Try Redemption's musical vision, I have to tell
you something about the vocals. They are deeper this time, and - as the whole
album - much more brutal. Such evolution is always a good direction in my eyes.
www.tryredemption.com
December 18, 2005
Apoplexy
“M.N.O.P.P.A.C.C.”
2005, Half-Life Records
When the band chooses such title for the
album like “Medical Malpractioners of Pathological Perversion and Clinical
Cannibalism”, it’s absolutely obvious that we don’t speak about grunge, rap,
pop or hard-core. That must be brutal Death Metal, not melodic and commercial
crap. The album’s title may suggest as well that Carcass was one of the
strongest influences for those who recorded it. And listening to
“M.N.O.P.P.A.C.C.” it’d be difficult not to hear some Carcass-oriented sounds.
However, they don’t dominate. Apoplexy is one of those US Death Metal bands
that use Carcass ideas creatively. That’s why one can compare Apoplexy with
Impaled. Stylistic similarity is obvious although less known of these California’s
bands is a bit less melodic. Another element audible in Apoplexy’s music is
Mortician’s style. Mortician’s cover, “Zombie Apocalypse”, is well played, less
heavy but more dynamic than the original version. In Apoplexy’s own compositions
Mortician-oriented component has expression in many brutal riffs but since the
drumming is real (this is not drum-machine like on Mortician’s albums), the
similarity isn’t striking. Apoplexy has very well defined mission: to play
brutal, simple but effective music. The mission is successful. My small
complaints are connected with the production: the sound could have been
heavier.
http://www.myspace.com/apoplexy
Bolt Thrower
„Those Once Loyal”
2005,
Century Media
Well...
Will they ever change the style? I don't think so... Should they ever change
the style? Maybe... Bolt Thrower's consequence becomes a problem. They keep
recording albums that are exactly in the same vein. OK, I liked that style.
Bolt Thrower's massive riffs are so characteristic and influential that it's
difficult to deny that they are very important chapter of Death Metal History.
Karl Willets vocals are always impressive so it's good to see him back in the
line-up. However, although I like that style, I can't listen to the same riffs
on each new album. Except for first three albums, when Bolt Thrower played much
faster ("Realm of Chaos" is my favorite album in their entire
discography!), all next albums are based on the same ideas. When this story
began, on "IVth Crusade" and then on great "For Victory' CD, I
didn't complain, but when next releases were almost like a copy of the previous
ones, I almost lost my interest at Bolt Thrower's work. I appreciate good
production, and I appreciate technical skills, and I still admire Willets
vocals. And I appreciate that they are still together without drastic line-up
changes. But for me Bolt Thrower isn't this great band that amazed me in
the late 80's any more. One of my friends, who shows no mercy reviewing
the bands, says that Bolt Thrower became the band that
plays covers of own songs only changing the titles. Maybe that's unfair
opinion. If you don't know "For Victory", if you haven't heard
"IVth Crusade", you will probably like „Those Once Loyal”. But I'm
very skeptical. My loyalty ended many years ago.
Covenance
“Ravaging the Pristine”
2005, demo CD
Just look at the names of these musicians,
Matt Byers, Vince Matthews, Bruce Greig, and look at the list of their previous
bands, Dying Fetus, Misery Index, Mucus Membrane, Severed Head, Sadistic
Torment… Impressive past, isn’t it? Such connections can be a chance for brand
new band but they can be also a curse. When musicians well-known from other
bands form a new project, many fans are automatically interested to hear their
new material, and definitely it helps to build solid fan-base very quickly. But
many of those fans expect only a bit modified version of old style, and no
matter what the new band will compose, it’ll always be compared with old
achievements. Frankly, I don’t think that it’s a big problem but it can be
annoying for many musicians. We’ll see how it will be in Covenance’s case. One
thing is certain: debut demo CD “Ravaging the Pristine” is worth praising no matter
where its authors came from. Although some similarities between Covenance and
Dying Fetus are audible, that’s not Dying Fetus copy. That’s original band that
has new ideas to offer, and all attempts to classify it as Dying Fetus II,
would be senseless. Covenance plays fast American Death Metal with strong
technical component and some elements of Grind-core. Three tracks from demo,
“Ravaging the Pristine”, “Narcotic”, and “Assimilate” will please fans of Dying
Fetus, Misery Index, and other bands that are sometimes classify in one Death
Metal sub-genre being in the eyes of some reviewers and fans a kind of big
Dying Fetus-family. But it would be much better to say that these three
compositions will please first of all those who like good Death Metal without
unnecessary labeling the music. That’s the most essential fact about Covenance.
www.covenance.com
Dark Disciple
“Kill Everything, Worship Nothing”
2005, promo
Dark Disciple’s debut album “Unholy Hate
Gore” had good reviews in the underground webzines and magazines. At the time
of its release, the band worked with German Morbid Records what definitely
helped in European promotion of this CD. Also in the United States Maryland’s
quintet gathered many fans who admired their brutal style. That was very
promising sign for band’s future. Currently Dark Disciple is unsigned again but
I don’t think that such situation can last long, especially that they’ve
already recorded a new material, in some important aspects better than “Unholy
Hate Gore”. “Kill Everything, Worship Nothing” is a good example of American
Death Metal located between traditional Florida’s
technical Death Metal style and a bit later trends defined by Dying Fetus
although Dark Disciple’s connections with Dying Fetus style aren’t strong.
Since Dark Disciple plays also Cannibal Corpse’s song from “Eaten Back To Life”
you have one more possible comparison to imagine band’s style. When all such
influences are mixed intelligently, you can’t say anything about copying.
That’s creative songwriting and analyzing it, one can say that there’s a
progression when we compare “Unholy Hate Gore” and “Kill Everything, Worship
Nothing”. The compositions have good structures with intelligent balance of
different ideas that diversify the band’s style. I’m a bit surprised that Dark
Disciple plays so many mid-paced parts because I expected more straightforward
and faster material. However, they deliver enough fast drumming to keep a high
level of intensity and brutality. The riffs are always total in their
absolutely pure Death Metal expression. That’s a feature of the best US DM
bands that whatever they play, it sounds very brutally. www.darkdisciple.com
Extinction Agenda
“Demo 2005”
This demo CD introduces one of the most
talented bands that emerged from Massachusetts
in last years. They aren’t newcomers since two Extinction Agenda’s members
played in December Wolves so truly successful band that had many fans in North
America and Europe. While December Wolves
had very experimental and progressive style, Extinction Agenda presents much
more traditional approach in the songwriting. Three tracks from demo remind of
the best Death/Thrash traditions from the late 80’s. This great heritage of
early years of brutal music is still alive and year by year I hear many new
bands that follow that way. But it’s difficult to find better bands than
Extinction Agenda who continue these traditions such successfully. Of course,
that’s only a demo at this moment. We’ll see how good will be Extinction
Agenda’s debut full-length album. But you asked me now what I think of their
future, I’d answer that I expect that they will record one of the most
important albums of the year. And I hope that this debut CD will be released
very soon. It’s always fantastic when using very conservative songwriting
method, without any experiments, simply having good ideas rooted in the best
patterns from the past, the band creates such impressive material. www.exagenda.cjb.net
Vile
"The New Age of Chaos"
2005,
Unique Leader Records
The release of new Vile's album is always
good news for fans of US Death Metal. This band is a guarantee of high quality.
Vile's style doesn't change significantly comparing their three
albums. Since 1999, when the band released debut CD "Stench of
the Deceased", it has been classically brutal, technical, and fast
Death Metal, one of the best California's
scene has to offer. However, although the style is rather the same,
each new material is better than previous one. Simply, Vile keeps improving the
songwriting. Their compositions become more and more technical, and more and
more polished never losing the strength and extremity. Such progression was
well-audible on the second album, "Depopulate" (2002). The newest
material, "The New Age of Chaos", is the next step on this way. Great
guitar harmonies, solos, intense and precise drumming make Vile's album one of
the most competent releases of the year. www.uniqueleader.com