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12/30/09

SUICIDAL WINDS - Chaos Rising (2008)













SUICIDAL WINDS (sweden)
Chaos Rising (2008)
Pulverized Records

This album has been in my P990i music folder for the longest time.. I think for the last 5 months or so. I kind of heard it a couple of times but haven't written anything about this band till now.. Well, they're from Sweden and they play blackened thrash with death metal influences.. The guitars have thrash metal style of playing, blackened lyrics and death metal delivery.

At first, you may mistake the black and white cover artwork for a D.I.Y. cover but actually its just black and white styled to look like D.I.Y. Covers like that are quite a trend in the black underground.

The standard album has eleven thrash tracks but I got twelve including a bonus track that is actually just a bass doodle not really in the vein of the whole album.

Here are some of the thrash tracks:

Slowly We Frost/World's End
The intro is an entire song beautifully dark and evil with slight plucking from one of the guitarist while the other is laying the pavement by distorted guitar then after the whole melody is over it's the world's end with it's high voltage aggression. This song almost symbolizes the word "pulverizing" with its relentless fast lashing out. A relatively short song but done nicely with bass solo parts, a guitar solo and a strong fucking start that really pummels you down with pure harshness and force.

Annihilation And Chaos
This is another onslaught of thrash/death anti anthem. Gives you the picture that you're in the middle of a war zone of metal legions circling around and ready to bring the hurt. I actually like the short guitar solo here kinda reminds you of Kirk in his prime and without the wah-wah effect. Unlike the first song that lays you down gently.. This one is aggressive start to finish.

Chaos Rising
The title track in the middle of the album. This is the pinnacle and epicenter of the whole fucking maelstrom. Short but straight forward combining all their musical influences into a song with pure intensity. This will disintegrate souls.

Straight forward and no pretensions.. short and tight song without mood setting parts. This is pure pain delivered in a terrorizing style. One of the bands that you can practically hear everyone bring something into the sound scape. I love the subliminal bass tracks that spawns out every here and there through out this carnage. The songs may integrate and do sound much a like but if you listen closely these guys really create devastating riffs not found in thrash pretenders. This is truly one thrash album for our collections.



download:
mnrml/viralreviews/suicidalwinds/chaosrising

12/28/09

HELLISH CROSSFIRE - Slaves Of The Burning Pentagram (2007)













HELLISH CROSSFIRE (germany)
Slaves OF The Burning Pentagram (2006)
I Hate Records


Late night, bad cold, and a splitting headache. Same feeling as earlier doing the 'Sacrifice' review. I'm writing ths review in between cellphone replies and pGMs while this band plays in my Winamp. Great riffs and with raw sounding production.. This is not your average thrash metal band with their dark aura and sound with thrash metal and the extended guitar playing with break-neck speed.. This band is a favorite of the true underground community.

They are fierce and raw like the violent primitives that dwell in hellish places of our worst nightmares. Lurking with primal instinct to kill any foreign being that threatens their place. That place being the thrash throne of metal underground.

There are only seven tracks in this full length album but the tracks exemplifies real rawness of thrash and it's natural form with death and blackened influences to add to the visciousness of the venom they unleash.

Here are some of the tracks:

Claw The Reaper
A brutally fast track with tons of double kicks and staccato beats with he voice of a man maddened man by hellish torture. The riffs here are freakin heavy. From the intro into a mosh groove.. hm.. where have I heard this riff before. The third riff is somewhat in death metal fashion that bring this track further into the depths of hell. Stomping at your dying carcasses burying you deeper in soil.

Hallowed In Fire
This song picks up where the other song left off.. Fast and raw.. This has heavy punk influence.. They went a into a devilish groove of tempting melody in the middle of the song then comes back with an axe and in full speed right back at you with Slayerized guitar solo.. This time a bit shorter than the other guitar solos.. but effective as hell..

Demonic Sacrifice
The riffs here actually haunts me.. Its like a demonic laugh.. Its just me but the riffs here freakin scares me.. but I really don't like the first couple of bar in the guitar solo but they managed to still make it into something awesome by extending it and just blasts with shredding.. The song ends with the same scary riff.

This is an album that is not for everybody nor for those into melodic stuff. This is pure monotonous aggression in raw power. Picking up where the previous track lefts off but manage to add fuckin great riffs in the process. There's a not a whole lot of people that will freakin enjoy with this album because this album is for the criminally insane and that is what thrash metal is all about.


download:
mnrml/viralreviews/hellishcrossfire/slavesoftheburningpentagram

SACRIFICE - The Ones I Condemn (2009)













SACRIFICE (canada)
The Ones I Condemn (2009)
Marquee Records


Feeling freakin down because of this bad cold I'm having right now. Well, there's nothing to take away this feeling for the meantime so let's scan through thrash metal albums while I have no plans of leaving my room. Sacrifice is a Canadian thrash oldies from way back '85.. They're one of Metal Blade Record's gems before but when an unpredicted turn of knife into their career, they disbanded in 1994.. now with the resurgence of thrash, It breathe new life into this band teaching kids how thrash sounds like.

Their brand of thrash is melodic at the same progressive with prevalent influence of heavy metal than aggressive punk but there are really aggressive moments in the album.. Having influenced by Metallica and Slayer, They do not sound like them and that's a really good thing because they can't be labeled as clones of the two gigantic bands.

Here are some their thrash songs:

Give Me Justice
Fast and with high headbanging power.. One of the songs that I think will be a favorite in gigs of this band. Though it sounds a bit like a song from Lazarus AD but this has more intricate guitar lines.. This song is quite short with only 3 minutes plus but done with nice tastes.. the guitars compliment each other that further widens the sound scape of the band..

The Great Wall
This is a slower song with darker groove than the previous song and longer because this song has two parts, the dark groove song proper and the somewhat encore that totally thrashes your eardrums to an unusable state. This is a bit of the new influence they've been affected these times but their execution of groove remains in the thrash area.

Hiroshima
Probably one of the thrashiest songs in this triumphant return. Tight and aggressive, this song is a destruction to all those that oppose. There is a part when it slows down to a state where the tunes picture out death and destruction and there are even seconds of bass solo fills. This is pure Canadian thrash.

This is one of the bands that deserve wider audience and appreciation because they stuck to their roots even with the trend that's going on.. this guys rose from the dead and lashed out the world filled with fake aggression taking the thrash genre for themselves. This is carnage and with blades of steel that supports the extreme metal genre called thrash to remain alive and in its throne.




download:
mnrml/viralreviews/sacrifice/theonesicondemn

12/20/09

FORGERY - Harbouring Hate (2009)













FORGERY (nor)
Harbouring Hate (2009)
Candlelight Records

As I have read from other people that already followed this band from the beginning, this guys started way back 1990's but has went to a hiatus after releasing a few demos. They re-emerged in 2002 to release a full length album then went back to hibernating. And finally now in the present year they came back to release another full length album.

For a band that existed since the 90's they do sound modern. There are thrash components and hardcore aggression done in modern production. I'm a fan of old school thrash so this is not really impressive for me. But for the people that digs the modern aggression, this might work for them.

Here are some of the tracks:

Equilibrium
This reminds me of "Big Truck," the song from Dez Fafara's defunct Coal Chamber. Only this song is faster and has more thrash elements but as most of the newcomers today, the guitar solo only lasted 5 seconds and it was barely a guitar solo. The aggression in undeniable and gets you off your seat into a destroy mode and go circles rampaging. This is a great example of mindless aggression at the center of the mosh pit intoxicated by alcohol and high in meth.

Harbouring Hate
The title track of this very aggressive album. This picks up what the previous song left off. Harsh melodies, stomping and raging the speakers. A very hardcore song that never has time to shift the tempo too much. This is a very bitter song of rampage. A state of mind where you go over the top and just blasts out your angry tank till it's empty. Kind of reminds me of that Crank movie. This never stomps running.

Sever
The longest song of this album. Starts fast and vicious pauses a while then comes running back with claws and axes eager to murder again. There's a lot of chugging riffs here and big grooves that is what everybody is doing right now. There are even slow doomy parts here where you can catch your breath then come running back again. Perfect mosh pit songs to be you worked out to a bloody pulp with broken ribs and jaw.

This album is somewhere between Coal Chamber and Diesel Machine. Hardcorish repetitive riffs comprising of two or three chords and this method will go on for almost an hour. This will really test your endurance. Though I wouldn't listen to this three times a week. you should listen to this once a while then bury it for a year or so then put it on again next year.


download:
mnrml/viralreviews/forgery/harbouringhate

12/19/09

SAVAGE MESSIAH - Inresurrection Rising (2009)













SAVAGE MESSIAH (Eng)
Inresurrection Rising (2009)
Candlelight Records

The cover artwork alone can awe you to scoring this album by any means possible. An English thrash band that doesn't fail to impress with their musicality. They're not aimed to be the next underground brutal band, the have their influence focused on bands like Megadeth. The right mix of thrash aggression and heavy metal classic formulas. They don't force themselves to be heavier than necessary and strays away from the grasps of death metal. After going criminally insane with mindless headbanging from heavier-than-usual bands, Its a refreshing change to listen again to classic heavy metal with sense and melody but with the same integrity.

This is my first time to listen to a record from this band and I'm just lost for words listening to this band while writing this review. Reminds me of Megadeth with high-pitched background vocals similar to Pantera's only thrash album "Cowboys From Hell.." These fellows actually have talent.

Here are some of the tracks:

Inresurrection Rising
The head track. It has a sample at the beginning for a second then straight into a riff fest of heavy fuckin metal the way it should be. Proper pacing and mature songwriting not trying to be uber-heavy. The vocal melody here kind of reminds me of Sebastian Bach and Dave Mustaine with it's hard rock approach yet snarling but blends just right to the music. This song has a high headbanging groove that is irresistible not to get into a headbanging frenzy. The guitar solo is slick and a classic. Not the kind guitarist nowadays do. This is decently longer than the average 5 seconds modern guitar solos.

In Absence Of Liberty
Now this sounds almost like Megadeth in their focused state. Great melody and with the use of acoustic fillers, subliminal bass tracks that break away from the guitar. A cool mellow epic guitar solo that has enough confidence to really bend the notes and show off the skills and it really did great. This song can easily go up the classic metal records.


The Serpent Tongue Of Divinity
The longest title in the album of nine songs and this takes you back to the Cowboys From Hell and Countdown To Extinction era. Though the chorus only says "the serpent's kiss" the actual title is much longer. you can't really deny the similarities with Megadeth and you'll go on rambling over and over while the band unleashes it's fury.


This band will go a long way and they are by far one of the best bands that rose from the thrash metal revival these times. And not actually sounding like Slayer but still earns the thrash title. This goes to show that you don't need to scream all the time to be heavy or aggressive. You don't have to break every speed record known to man just to make a name for yourself. It's just the right influence and proper pacing. This album has it all and even great production of the recording.


download:
mnrml/viralreviews/savagemessiah/inresurrectionrising

CHAOS SYNOPSIS - Kvlt Ov Dementia (2009)













CHAOS SYNOPSIS (bra)
Kvlt Ov Dementia (2009)
Psycho Records


A silent night of boredom at home and I put on this band called Chaos Synopsis that hails from the same ground as metal legends Sepultura. Yes, this Brazilian thrash/death machine rampages your speakers like a pissed mammoth tank ready to go to war. Relentless and no pauses for air. And this debut album wages a full assault of battery to your ears as the fury of their songs rages without mercy from start to finish.

This three-piece band will take no prisoners with great production and instrumentation that takes thrash to more brutal grounds of mass deafening. This is the perfect destroyer of silence. The guitar rampages like a storm of broken glass while the bass produces a steel sound that adds more crunching madness to the overall sound of chaos.

Here are the tracks that hits the hardest:

Blinding Chains
The spread of chaos don't come any faster that this. The riffs while some barely resembles their Sepultura ancestral influence they made it so loud you wouldn't recognize it anyway and even you even notice it they already changed the riff. There is a technical part near the end of the song that shoves Krisiun out of the way with no respect whatsoever. Try and follow the bass lines here. There are a lot of subliminal bass tracks in this one.

Spiritual Cancer
Opens like a Slayer song. I really love the bass sound of the whole album. It's as metallic sounding as Overkill's bass sound. These guys never runs out of fuel. This song is relatively slower song the the rest but equally as powerful as the rest. Don't think I didn't catch the ala Kirk Hammett guitar solo riffs in this track but "Complain and die." Nobody has a problem with that.

2100 AD
A song with another great intro and main riff that even metal icons failed to play. A collision of thrash's insane speed and the chaos of death metal extremes. This song teaches you how to play thrash metal and death metal in its brutal form. Expect no mercy from one of the harshest thrash death bands from Brazil.

Relentless aggression, metal to the bones approach and a rage of a full blown maelstrom. This band shoves, pushes, claws, punches, and does everything to harm you. This band has enough firepower to obliterate an entire genre of pretenders and calls you back to how thrash/death sounds like.. Add blackened lyrics to the arsenal and you have a war machine roaring to annihilate anything that stands in it's way. This is a very very harsh band.


download:
mnrml/viralreviews/chaossynopsis/kvltovdementia

12/18/09

ABSTRACT RAPTURE - Democadencia (2008)













ABSTRACT RAPTURE (lux)
Democadencia (2008)
Maddening Media

I hear this Luxembourg band placed high in the 2007 Wacken Metal Battle. How could they not? They sound like Soulfly with the old Sepultura and a dash of melodic influence from In Flames. That combination kills..The aggression of the Brazilian thrashers plus the gothenburg melody of In Flames. That certainly added the screws to the bolts.

This band sounds great thanks to the input of their vocalist with an interesting name, Brittt. Even though I'm listening to this album through busted up speakers made in the worst possible way and multitasking through GOTB gms and new recruits, This band still stands out with their music and really don't content themselves by being just a background music kinda band. Their music still kicks the freaking speakers to it's demise.

Here are some of the tracks:

Democadencia
The lead track and album title track. Starts almost like marching the army of metal to the mosh pit. Undeniably the vocals sound like Max Cavalera with actual singing abilities. Kind of weak for me to be the lead and title track because the instruments are not firing at all cylinders. The first few bars in the beginning of the song lets the vocals and the drums do the job and the guitars are just chugging. Although if you're into the nu music this is a great song but to brand it thrash is quite a stretch for me.

Noxious Utopia
This song does better more vocal angst and effective venom from Drittt. The guitars fire more in this song and the mixture of aggressive vocals with melodic delivery. Still sounding like new music but these guys do it with authority and brings a hell of a punch with this song. The lyrics are highly repetitive but done in good taste so I can't complain with this song. They did great.

The Void
This is a jumpy fucked up song designed for the mosh pit. More double guitar melodies and the chorus melody kinda reminds me of our very own modern Slapshock sound. They just sound a little harsher and more guitar effects used in this song but if you don't know this guys, and you're a Filipino, it's hard not to notice the resemblance with Slapshock because of their melodic and catchy choruses.

Now with all of the things put together that you may have an idea that these guys do great, their actually missing some of the things that would make them really superb. With they're melody, maybe they should try a few ballads to prevent the album from being just a screaming mad album but that's just a little detail. I just hope they grow more roots than concentrate in having leaves for now. a talented band that we don't want to see wasted on the second album.


download:
mnrml/viralreviews/abstractrapture/democadencia

12/17/09

A PERFECT MURDER - War Of Aggression (2007)













A PERFECT MURDER (can)
War Of Aggression (2007)
Victory Records


As usual, I'm multi-tasking while doing this review like it did last night with this band's 3rd album. Now I'm listening to their 4th and final album. Seems they have called it quits when Victory Records decided to pull the plug on their tour support. That's such a sad news but anyway, let's hear out the final aggression from this band, A Perfect Murder.

This album finds this band going to a more melodic approach but increases other characteristics as well, there are more input of their hardcore roots here and more melodic experiments being introduced to the record. I think this record is an good attempt to break away from the shadows of their predecessors in this genre of music. The songs are shorter and tighter and more influences were introduced to the mix.

Same angry band with more mature approach this time with more melodic but simpler approach than the previous album. Here are some of the tracks:

In Hell
This is a jumpy hardcore tune that have enough decibels to leave a ringing in your ears for a long time. Hardcore is the main component here with open chord groove that will make the masses jump the fuck up and just be consumed by the hardcore rage of this song. This is as hard as the concrete streets and it's violent community and primal survival instincts. Less southern influence and more urban approach. The tune gives you an idea how hard life can be and this song punches harder.

Rapture
a decent intro of timing slowly building intensity then blows. another song with real cool groove lines with a splash of dark imagery to the sound. One of the coolest guitar solos if it were a little longer. Melodic guitar solo amidst the hard rhythm onslaught. The "whoaa!" says it all.. that's how you can enjoy such hard music with impulses of inner violent grooves. Very nice song.

Disconnect
a stomping song with a little dose of classic guitar influences. This sounds like Pantera again from the trendkill era. Decent but short guitar solos that almost like just guitar fills. This maybe the sound of Pantera if they stayed with their hardcore influence. Short, hard but effective, while not the song that stands out from the rest this still packs a lot of punch and earns its dent with the rest of the songs.

While going the more metalcore/hardcore influences in this album, this album has better guitar solos if they were not so short. Not to align them with the classic metal tunes, we have to agree that these guys have tons of headbanging grooves that screaming so loud that is undeniable even with other genres of metal. But even with their hard outer shell, there is also a gasp of air in this collection of hard tunes. "Fortunate Son" is the track I'm talking about. After listening to two albums of hard as concrete impact groove-core the stoner like mellow song is much appreciated. I just hope that they reform another band that will carry this sound to the next possible level of their musical venture.

download:
mnrml/viralreviews/aperfectmurder/warofaggression

12/16/09

A PERFECT MURDER - Strength Through Vengeance (2009)













A PERFECT MURDER (can)
Strength Through Vengeance (2005)
Victory Records


This is a hard review because I'm multi-tasking right now and A Perfect Murder's Strength Through Vengeance, their 2005 album is blasting through the speakers. Another busy night but the strength, I'm getting from this band's infectious groove sounding like no other than the great Texan quartet, Pantera.

It's nice to relive the old Texas thrash music that has been missing and gaps the hard music lately. Die hard Pantera fans should check this band out because even if they sound a lot like Pantera, they're a cool band that is worthy enough to walk the path of the cowboys from hell.

I'm catching their songs randomly because of my job transferring files the old stupid way because I haven't put up the network in this computers. But here are some of the tracks:

Strength Through Vengeance
The first track and the title track of the album. Even if they sound a lot like Pantera, hurting the ears with menacing Phil Anselmo growls, the instruments sounds like a thrash Metallica song. listen closely to the guitars both rhythm and lead guitar style and delivery. Going full blast with full strength and a very effective aggressive approach that shows their promise and claim to the throne left vacant for them. It's like Damage Inc. all over again with Phil doing the vocals. Nice idea combining two titanic forces in metal.

Black Hate Machine
This is what I'm talking about. A newer music surge with hardcore balls and metal ammunition to conquer by force. Great groove elements and effective drum pattern. The guitar patterns here comes close to the great Darrell's signature sound. Bouncy and has tons of bending steel. This is a demanding song. This demands not just attention but respect through a violent way. growling and menacing with tight instrumentation.

Wake Up And Die
Filled with attitude and the ever present breakdowns but as the usual sound of their heroes, there's a lot of bending strings. This song takes the strongest points of groove and hardcore. Energetic and never seems to get their tanks empty with high voltage energy to creative superb songs that is never too boring to listen to. Pure relentless attitude from start to end. The ending of this song just jerks the music out leaving you gasping for air.

As some might stray away because of the apparent similarities of A Perfect Murder with Pantera and there is nothing worst than a copycat in music. You might give these fellows a chance because their music has great tunes that would really make the cowboys bang their heads. Living and the rested.

download:
mnrml/viralreviews/aperfectmurder/strengththroughvengeance

11/30/09

ABSOLUTION - The Revelation Diaries (2008)













ABSOLUTION (us)

The Revelation Diaries (2008)
Independent

So this is the first full length album from this Californian thrash group, I think they did a great work in this album. Long thrash instrumentation and the old school approach that adds fuel to the resurgence of thrash metal in this metalcore dominated scene. You could head bang to it with its great thrash riffs. But one thing that bugs me and really makes my stomach boil in disgust is when Dave Deroscher, the band's front man sings on a clean note. He totally lose all of the venom of his voice and sounds like a punky kid. When he screams that really completes the viciousness of the band playing thrash in all its glory.

It's not that they stand out playing thrash metal but they do good because you can hear the real thrash influence and they don't sound like Metallica, Megadeth or Slayer. Maybe It's just me hating his voice only when he is doing a clean tone and trying all he can to pretend that he can sing. Sometimes it does some a little hardcorish that really sticks out from the rest of the instrumentation. He should stick to screaming the whole album of the band should fire him..

Here are some of the tracks:

Mask Of Liberty
An old school haunting intro then nicely builds up to the main tune of the song. The guitar solo in this intro part is a good composition but not delivered perfectly but still worth the listen. Almost three minutes of intro before the horrid front man comes in. More screams in this song than the previous songs so I'm still tolerating it. Then, for some strange reason the band didn't maintain the good melody of the song near the end of it. there's even a horrible outro at the end but them again maybe it's just me and my self-righteous preferences in music.

Erase
Another song with a cool intro till the vocals comes in again. Will somebody shoot this guy? He is destroying the song. A good thrash song with a pretty amateur sounding vocalist. There's a part in this song that he is singing his lungs out trying to reach high notes and miserably failing. The title really fits this song. This should be an instrumental song. Erase the vocal track. Where did they get this guy? Do they owe him money or something? He is a disaster.

Blind Reality
Alright I skipped a track. An interesting upbeat intro. Just the intro. I think they're trying to fuse a slick glam rock influence here. One vocalist is a enough to give you headaches but the chorus line here is a duet. It took me to a point where I was questioning myself if I should even publish this review and let you guys download the album. Reality is indeed blind and for their case it's also deaf and dumb. There's a good bass line in this song but the whole song went down in flames.

It's just sad how good thrash riffs and melody are ruined by talentless vocalists. But to save grace, he should stick to screaming. He should never ever even try to sing. Most old school thrash vocalist in the glam era can definitely bust a high note with authority, this guy can't even maintain a note. I just feel sad because I am digging the instrumental part till he comes in and destroys the whole freakin song.


http://www.mediafire.com/?w5vzztzfbmo

11/26/09

EVILE - Infected Nations (2009)













EVILE (uk)

Infected Nations (2009)

Earache

Straight to the point this band from United Kingdom captures the sound of every childhood metal hero of my generation. From Slayer to Sepultura and the ever present Metallica sound and vocal tone and delivery of Main Metalli-man, James Hetfield. This album takes you to circa '86. Puppets to Justice era of the Metallica hay-days. Without the influence of new music. This band captures the 80's thrash sound even in their early days of Evile's existence. And 'Infected Nations' is just their second album.

There's a lot of similarities between the two band, now with the death of Evile's bassist, the buzz grew stronger that this band could be the next Metallica and hopefully regain the lost thrash throne of heavy metal and not stray their direction unlike their predecessor.

This is my first time to listen to Evile and I felt nostalgic because they sound pretty much like the bands I grew up listening to. They're a living proof that their sound is the sound of what could have been.

So without further a due, here are some of the tracks:


Infected Nations
The lead track and the album's title track that starts with acoustic string arrangements then shredding it's way to the furious song proper. the sound of this song is interesting. Try imagining Metallica trademark sound from the Justice album and add Slayer's aggression. Sounds like a really killer combination then at near the end of the song add up Sepultura sound from their Arise album. Now that is fuckin insane.

Now Demolition
This is a song with hard grooves. Angry and taking it's time to ensure it's venom takes it's vice grip to the listener. The Hetfield-like vocal delivery here is most prevalent. definitely this is Metallica without Kirk Hammett and his blistering fast guitar solo's but the Hetfield sound runs rampant here. What do you expect? Evile was once a Metallica cover band. And I bet they were as pissed as us when Metallica went Mellowica.

Nosophoros
Creeping Death-like structure in the intro then blasts it's way to a hard metal groove. a rampaging thrash song that is a classic metal riff that would take and make a stand to the genre's true sound. Slayer/Megadeth like guitar solos. not as fast but do captures it's disharmonic style and aggression. You can't even say that this song is a rip off from the original ones because it has it's own identity.

I liked this band and their music to the point that even if this is the first time I heard them I'm downloading their discography already. The songs are integrated together in terms of likeness so it's hard to single out a song and even harder to throw away a song from the entire album. This is one of the albums that you're going to play from start to end and head your head to nostalgia. The only flaw I noticed is their lack of tempo diversity. All the songs have almost the same tempo but rest assured that this is only hell of an album that makes a book from the pages of most of our childhood heavy metal heroes.


http://www.mediafire.com/?d4kdmyzzzyn

11/25/09

AGGRESSOR - Rape The Willing (2008)













AGGRESSOR (can)

Rape The Willing (2008)

Independent

This is one of the bands that I had a lot of trouble writing a review. Countless heartbreaking hassles that occurred preventing me from posting this review. Not only that there's a some sort of mysterious dark aura about this band and it's sound. They're not trying to be scary but the circumstances that I encountered while writing this review.

But anyhow, I'm still persistent to have this review published for those who takes time to read my work. And I won't allow circumstances to get in my way so let's get on with it, shall we?

Aggressor in a Canadian thrash quartet that sounds like Megadeth and Pantera all mashed together. Imagine Dimebag and Vinnie got the slot opened before in Megadeth in 1990. well, The vocals sometimes sound like a melody written by Mustaine but with a touch of Anselmo style. Both growling and snarling. The guitar line and melody meanwhile sounds like the missing link between "Cowboys From Hell' and "Rust In Peace.'

So let's not get the people waiting, here are some of the tracks:

Chopper
This is the head track, the live favorite and the featured song that Aggressor feels that they are in full effect. This sees the band in a whiplash. Lashing through the speakers like a mad tyrant that enjoys every scar and wound they make with their sonic assault. Mean and boundless the pain is here and happening right now. This is Chopper and this song has a menacing fury that wounds the throat of those who will attempt to cover this song.

Million Dollar Slaughter
A song that enjoys the chaos and unbounded freedom of anarchy with its opening statement: "fuck your beliefs and fuck your god.." This song is about freedom and anarchy and I just don't get the title. It kinda seems like it was just blurted out. Maybe I'll dig into that further in the future but for now let's just rejoice that the song rocks and fuckin rocks hard. To describe the riff, it's a full speed then jerking it off it a sudden tempo shift and dis-harmonizing notes that worst of all, they let it ring.

Burn On My Skin
A dark and haunting song that really exemplifies the Pantera/Megadeth influence.. The guitar line actually sounds like something done by the late Texan Super band but at the same time with the notorious melody of Megadeth's main man Dave Mustaine. A slow thumping and haunting song with a really dark aura surrounding it. Stoned tempo but bittersweet melody. There's is never a happy moment in this almost-stalking sound of the deathly kind. Like a nightmare and a bad hangover, you'll find yourself running away from this song.


I'm surprised that this band haven't landed on a major label contract yet because this debut album is one hell of a classic thrash metal sound in deliverance and spirit. They may have the used for better engineering of the decibel level and a more skillful graphic artist for the front cover artwork because the artwork as opposed to the music really sucked. But if they had the budget for some fancy recording studio, this album can make Lazarus AD run for the money because Aggressor has meaner riffs and more wicked melody lines with more vicious vocals. A few adjustments and more lightning guitar solos would really do the trick.


http://www.mediafire.com/?nmmdnuyzm5t

OVERKILL - Ironbound (2010)













OVERKILL (usa)

Ironbound (2010)

E1 Music

I never liked Overkill. I listened to their W.F.O. album and I didn't like it but Overkill left their mark as one of the pillars of thrash metal. Now their about to release their 16th album and I decided to listen to them again after 15 years now my ears are used to the heavier metal sounds. Im blown away with their sound. Old school thrash metal with modern production. I say this levels with Testament's "Formation Of Damnation" with its great production. It's just that I don't dig too much the high pitch vocal styles but but is a superb album. There are even thrash tracks here that sounds like in the vein of some of the songs in Megadeth's "Endgame" album.

This band popularize the use of warlock guitars and uses a slap-bass sounding effects on their 4 stringer. those are the thing you'll remember from this band.. Now after a decade and a half I'm quite anxious to know how they sound like..

Here's how Ironbound sounds:

The Green And Black
Surprisingly sounds like late-starters toned down and stoned out but don't let it get to you. This track springs back like a bitch. Sounding like the latest Testament release with state-of-the-art production even though I don't dig the vocal style with their high-pitch delivery and occasional sissy-girl-being-raped like screaming, the riffs and overall instrumentation makes up for it. This is a huge 8:12 minute opening track.

Ironbound
Reminds me of a Slayer approach with a with extra notes. Aggressive and spontaneous. This song tests your endurance through their thrash assault popping the question "How far can you take it as you go? Ironbound" The energy and fresh sound don't stop with cadencing tempos that reminds you of the architect of the holocaust. But there's a part here when they mellow down and pours heart into a soulful guitar solo. This guitar solo will take you through emotions from depression to pride.


Bring Me The Night
This song is a thrash version of a something done by Joe Lynn Turner. It's not a cover but it really resembles the era that rock and roll and thrash was mashed up together. A full speed energy demon fueled by the life of the night. Nocturnal adrenaline junkie rampaging to it's heart's content.. this song really jumps up and cranks you hard.

Ironbound is an energetic album to listen to. It cuts down what's left with their dark image and focuses with adrenaline filled ideas of a great time through their great sounds. This album sounds less negative and lighter than the previous ones but heavier in sense. Maturity got to them but still true to metal genre not losing their roots in the process of maturing. The riffs done here are classic ones that would play on through the years.. Now I like Overkill.


http://www.mediafire.com/?nhyomtbmzyj

11/24/09

DEATH ANGEL - Killing Season (2008)













DEATH ANGEL (usa)
Killing Season (2008)
Nuclear Blast Records


The triumphant return of Bay Area Pinoy Thrashers, Death Angel, after the numerous line up changes and music evolution, this band is 101% still loyal to their underground roots. They reunited at a benefit show for co-bay area thrasher Chuck Billy. Originally just for a one-time performance but the band was widely and positively received by the metal community that prompt the band to do some more shows and eventually lead to the recording of the new album.

'Killing Season' is my second time to listen to Death Angel.. First was 'Frolic In The Park.' I didn't like the album artwork, and I didn't appreciate the raw sound so I stocked my CD of Death Angel since then.

After hours of staring at a Pulp mag with Death Angel as their main feature, I decided to give it another try to listen to their stuff and 'Killing Season,' their latest album was great.

I can say that this is Death Angel's 'Black Album.' From mixing the sound and the musical style they were going, it pretty much went the same way with Metallica's multi platinum, self-titled 5th album. The bass is a little prevalent this time, and the song structures are slower, and it has more groove in them.

While core fans of their music disapprove the changes, the band has said in interviews that they recorded the album with what they feel like it should sound and not being pressured by anything.

And the end result:

Buried Alive
The intro is a bass driven build up that gives the listener a "the hunt is on" feeling, then gets to a heavy headbanging groove. Simplistic guitar patterns but very effective though Mark Osegueda lacks volume in this mix. If they put a tad bit of volume on the mic, the impact would be more effective.
The second part of the song is the old school metal speed trips and guitar solos.. The vocals is more intense this time with Mark screaming out the song.. Just lacks the aggression but the musicality is awesome, capturing the original thrash sound.

Dethroned
Haunting clean guitar intro that keeps you wandering into the musical trap of the band that, in an instance, turns the acoustic sound into sonic punches that weigh heavily into you then blasts with a superb blues oriented lead fill and hard rock song mainline. Mark did a great job here. His vocal style and hard rock guitar melody goes together like screws and bolts.. A dynamic song that really feels naturally done by Death Angel and for me is one of the highs of this whole record. A rebellious song of overthrowing power and authority..

Sonic Beatdown
One of the thrashy moments of the album, and if I remember right, the first single off this 5th album. Loud and insane, the guitar solo revives a lot of techniques and sounds that most guitarists today wished that they have thought of that.. Rob Cavestany did justice executing the solos in this song.. I love the dive guitar and the de-tuned guitar wailing.. Rob does better utilization of de-tuned scaling than Kirk Hammett..

Compared to 'Frolic In The Park,' this latest release from a band coming from a 14-year slumber is a huge improvement.. I like their new style and fresh sound better than before.. fusing old school thrash and a few hard rock influences here and there is very effective considering that these guys were around since the early 80's and they still made this album heavier than the previous ones..
Their music is better than ever and it doesn't sound 'forced' like Metallica trying to be heavy again.
"Killing Season" sounds natural, new, and still have the old school beat down..


http://www.mediafire.com/?iyiznoznn0n

DREAMING DEAD - Within One (2009)













DREAMING DEAD (usa)
Within One (2009)
Ibex Moon Records


I really think they should have kept their old name, Manslaughter, it sounds tougher. They go by the name Dreaming Dead now since their changed the line up. Elizabeth Schall Elliot, formerly of The Iron Maidens band (a tribute band to Iron Maiden) leads the group doing the vocals and most of the guitar parts from riffs to solos.. and yeah, she even did the bass tracks for the whole album while the album was in the recording phase.. Juan Ramirez now handles the bass duties.

Within One is their debut full length album under Ibex Moon Records..Eight songs of melodic death-thrash toppled with blackened screams. An awesome starter that propels them to non-stop touring, Arch Enemy comparisons, good reviews, and the infamous title of being the heirs of Chuck Schudiner.
Eight tracks is not enough for our starving consciousness for their music and craves more of their sound.. A bittersweet storm of dark and alluring melody of metallic aggressiveness in a perfect mix. Technical, fast, and impressive song writing both musical and lyrical.

here are some of the tracks:

Manslaughter
Though the song was around since the time when they were known as the same name as this track, it's included here in this full length album and gives a solid idea of how the band can fluidly shift forms and genres without using breakdowns. A defining song of the album.. This track will take you down to the old Metallica lane with its clean guitar string arrangements in the intro, reminiscent of One. Builds up to a melodic death thrash song filled with spiky guitar harmonics despite the speed and technicality of the song's structure with subliminal creeping bass lines and a catchy tempo that adds new coals to metal's fire and refreshing its flames.
Liz discusses inequality, injustice, and murder in this tune. And lastly, the song's guitar solo wouldn't be left out.. Though not my favorite guitar solo in the album. This is a high energy song with a fresh youthful idea that keeps the listener interested..

War Machine
Sirens wail like the ones you would probably hear in Arch Enemy songs.. Strumming, clean guitar intro again to a blistering waltz-like lullaby. Combining the apocalypse and fairytale in the lyrics. This has old-school death metal elements but still radiates its femininity.. fast shredding and blast beats with a dark lullaby.. This is the closest song comparable to Arch enemy's brand of death metal..

Stairs Into The Vortex
This song opens the album and can also be heard in the making of Within One video in Youtube.. This song packs a punch as this one leaves an impression of what Dreaming Dead is all about.. Nice choice of song to start their global conquest.. The fastest song in the album with high headbanging groove..
The picking in this song is amazing and drops a jaw.. Despite the speed, it's precise and clean.. Elizabeth rocks freaking hard and her skills effortlessly tops even male guitarists.. From solos to mainline riffs, the technical song structure is amazing not to mention she does the vocals at the same time..

Dreaming Dead will go a long way with this very strong debut album further distancing the obsolete chug-chug sounding bands creating a sound comparable to Angela Gossow's death growl style of vocals with a raspy Dani Filth tone.. The guitar song structure on the other hand is similar to Dave Mustaine's precision and speed and Mike Ammott's aggressive song writing style..

A must-have for any enthusiast of melodic death and thrash.. Arch Enemy better run for it because Dreaming Dead is coming in fast and strong with this one helluva wicked album..


http://www.mediafire.com/?ezz1aznokzy