The Black Dahlia Murder - Everblack

I remember well discovering The Black Dahlia Murder way back in 2003 when I was a lad, hearing 'Funeral Thirst' and having my face ripped off. Good times. Unhallowed may not be the strongest in the lineage of this band, but as a starting point it was a solid one and a very catchy, diverse and had that distinct sound that they are still blasting out today, and long may it continue. Fast forward a decade, with two core members being replaced (drummer Shannon Lucas & bass player Bart Williams), can Everblack live up to the expectations of the huge fanbase the band has accrued as well as the critics and reporters of the metal community? Read on...

Proceedings open with a take it or leave it intro, a little too long for a record aiming at impact rather than atmosphere. The first tune 'In Hell Is Where She Waits For Me' is dynamic, jumping out of the gates with pounding forward motion and catchy riffs. I was sold on the song 'Phantom Limb Masturbation' by the title alone. Turns out the song is a meaty churning organic vessel of heaviness, echoing the filthy 'Eaten' by Swedish all-star band Bloodbath both thematically and musically. 'Every Rope A Noose' is the heaviest, most malicious track on the album in terms of pure atmosphere rather than the crushing element of the rest of the record. It could easily be on a black metal release, and probably trump it – it's that good.

'Raped In Hatred By Vines Of Thorn' sounds like Be'lakor at the beginning, but soon feels like a vintage 'Dahlia Murder track. This is a similar vibe to the title track which is good indeed and in the vein of previous work, but lies a little flat compared to the explosions that some songs deliver. Another track which is a little bit of a dud is 'Goat of Departure'. Definitely a departure from the high standards of the rest of the album, c'mon guys – gang vocals on a melodic death metal track? Fail.

This is no game-changer so don't lose your shit, this is simply a solid album by a solid band, unperturbed by line-up change, the inevitable haters and other pitfalls. The mighty metal blade have got themselves a institution on their hands here. The Black Dahlia Murder are a mainstay of the metal scene - like it or not!

Off Balance - On Thin Ice Review

UK hardcore band Off Balance have a self-released EP out, and it has been my pleasure to give y'all the scoop. For an instant reference point how about a cross between Sick of it All and the vocals of Scott Vogel from Terror but a bit harsher. The opening track in fact instantly has that sound that could place it on Live By The Code. A little tinny yes, but perfectly acceptable for a band at their stage.

A very engaging little EP. 'Bricks' has huge amounts of anger, but portrayed through some interesting ideas. Probably the standout track, but shouting out 2013 at the beginning of 'Despite All Your Deepest Fears' doesn't have the same ring to it as the mention of 1994 in Machine Head's 'Old', but as soon as you hear "Kick It!" all is forgiven, and laying waste continues!

Got to love the lyrics, a bit more clever than the usual boneheaded honour, valour, family cliches that 'ardcore bands usually go with. "Tell me how you're big in the scene, nothing more than a pair of tight jeans". Another notable thing about this EP, the kick ass artwork. Cartoon renders of the band playing on stage just seems to click with the spirit of this recording, a serious message and some spiteful music, but with tongue firmly in cheek.

This may not break any new ground or revolutionise anything, but for an unsigned effort this reeks of quality. It has longevity in its simply memorable songs. Any fan of the genre would be a fool not to take a few minutes out of their lives to check this bad boy out. If you aren't sold with hardcore it still could be worth a listen. It could open the floodgates to a passionate and welcoming scene.

Listen and get in touch here: http://www.facebook.com/OBEHC

Darkest Hour Sign To Sumerian: Their Darkest Hour?

American hardcore/metal act Darkest Hour have been pumping out quality albums since the early noughties, with the 2003 pummeling beast Hidden Hands of A Sadist Nation bringing them to a larger audience. And as of June this year they have signed a deal with Sumerian Records. This

So what does this hold in store for the band? Sumerian Records have pushed bands like Born of Osiris (worth checking out) and Veil of Maya to the public attention. Will they start throwing djent jams all over the place and wimp out with triple-brutal-slam-metalcore-breakdowns?? Let's fucking hope not.

Consider Converge moving to Epitaph (admittedly a respectable and worthy label), not exactly surrounded by bands similar to their ferocious and emotionally punishing music, but they persevered and released an ass kicking album.

YES.

NO. FUCKING NO.

State of Decay Review - Community Shelter Manager?

State of Decay is fun. Let's just admit it. It has plenty of flaws yes, but fundamentally it gets things right. Finally! A Walking Dead style game that actually resembles the experience of a zombie infested world. Definitely not the first decent zombie game to come along, but it isn't about the flesh creeping horror of the early Resident Evil games, it isn't about the gore-obsessed Dead Rising games. As strange as it sounds it is the most realistic zombie survival game. It almost feels like it was developed by a hardcore think tank of the sort of dudes that write these semi-amusing, semi-serious Zombie Survival Guides.

Okay so what are the key points. Exploring - a large open world sandbox environment with many abandoned (or so you think!) buildings and settlements. Fighting - using your fists and feet, melee weapons or guns and explosives are all equally satisfying. Survival – increase your chances of making it by sticking together, finding resources, building bases and developing character skills.

My experience of playing this game was very enjoyable if not punishing. I began rather blasé, hacking away at zombies with a variety of melee weapons much to my approval. As the game pans out and your posse head to a larger settlement, my Rambo approach was not rewarded. The character realisation in this game must be good because when I first lost Maya, who was sadly torn apart, I genuinely cared.

For you Maya!

It also dawned on me how difficult the next few hours would be gathering supplies and exploring random abandoned buildings, cause they are EVERYWHERE! Sneaking is tough and its hard to keep your cover all the time. Any activity apart from breathing seems to attract these mindless undead.

One issue with the game is possibility of repetition. Another is the fact that all the male characters that you can switch between seem to sometimes have the voice of Marcus the guy you start off controlling. The graphics are a little crude as well, with some lag to be expected. This is nowhere near as ambitious graphics-wise and in terms of map size as say Skyrim.

An unfortunate time to be releasing this game as Fans of the zombie concept in general will enjoy this game as the way it plays is well paced and rewarding, so get stuck in and see if you can last in the remorseless world in State of Decay, or you might be waiting until the apocalypse for a better game in the genre. If the guys and girls down at Undead Labs jump on it right away and focus on the weak points but keep the essence of this game pure, then a potential sequel would be mind-blowing!

ASG - Blood Drive Review

Well, all the cool kids are talking about ASG eh? Especially now they have been picked up by the metal label of the 21^st century so far Relapse Records. The band's discography prior to Blood Drive has been stellar. The raw sounds from their first few releases were tuned up for 2007's Win Us Over, but they managed to keep all the songwriting inspiration flowing. The charm of this band is contagious indeed, so does the new album live up to all this media hype?

Baroness could take a leaf out of ASG's book, this is how you write a mature album, not the misfire that was Yellow & Green. Well maybe its the other way around here, when you hear 'Stargazin'' the first thing you think is how well it would slot in to the Blue Record. They have a haunting air of Alice In Chains at some points, but Blood Drive is much more metallic overall in terms of the riffage. Just listen to 'Hawkeye'. Kylesa anyone? This is one of the more punchy tracks on the album, but it still holds on to a fragile nostalgic sorrow.

So, to the highlights. Starting with my reaction of “Fucking Hell” when 'Castlestorm' comes blasting in - what a track! This excites my erogenous zones. Brooding, heavy but collected and rewarding, similar to 'Children's Music' - a great song with a soaring chorus. When 'Earthwalk' finally awakens it is like a moment of clarity. You hear the band saying, “Come with us and see what we can see”. Beautiful.

There is a bit of a tailing off at the end of the album, 'The Ladder' slows things down but doesn't reduce the listening quality. 'Good Enough To Eat', the final farewell is an even more sombre offering. Don't let this discourage you, this is still a top quality album. If the power of the riff compels you, grab this record, a couple of beers, take it outside and crank it. Just in time for summer, enjoy folks!

Metal Blade Streaming Entire New Black Dahlia Murder Album Everblack for 24 Hours Only

Until now the song 'Into The Everblack' was all we were allowed to hear and this snippet sounded very tempting. Not a full-blown guns blazing track, but still a stocky and powerful tune. I am not one to turn down a freebie so this will be  blowing my speakers for the next couple of hours. Full review will be posted right here in a matter of mere days people, get excited.

Listen here.

New Chimaira album on the way on July 30th, Crown of Phantoms. Check out a six minute track-by-track preview here.

Also check out the video for 'Year of the Snake' here.

It sounds tasty if not a little djent-ified if you ask me, maybe influence of new band members?

Insect Warfare - World Extermination Review

Another old one today folks, Insect Warfare's insane album World Extermination, originally posted @Blistering.com 2009.

Board your windows up people, if you haven't heard Insect Warfare's World Extermination yet: 1) why the hell not!? And 2) its a fucking barnstormer. Originally released back in 2007, I first heard the 'Warfare on a Burnt Alive compilation supplied by Razorback Records in 2008 sometime, and of all the awesome gore and grind at my fingertips, all I could focus on was the relentless brutality of the band.

The one minute and 20 seconds of a demo version of “Human Trafficking” was too much for me. I wasn't going to sit there and twiddle my thumbs while Insect Warfare were ripping faces clean off skulls, and I'm damn glad I did something about it. The aforementioned tune and stunners like “Necessary Death” and “Self Termination” were what awaited me when I plunged head first into the album. What I was hearing was essentially by the book, but somehow so refreshing and vital.

As the textbook has been written, so shall the disciples of the mighty grind follow: the album comprises of 20 top notch stop and go extreme metal diatribes. Build it up tear it down, all in a matter of seconds, you know the drill by now.

Any chump with a head for speed can make a grind album, but one that seems to make perfect sense, with everything in the right place is a totally different matter. Each outburst is fast, groovy and fuckin’ evil and gives you just enough time to wrap your mind around it before the next blast begins.

Lyrics hang towards the political and shine a flash light on the evils and squalor of human nature a la Napalm Death, Terrorizer, Nasum and Brutal Truth rather than the guts, blood and faeces of some comrades. Even the cover owns the majority of the CGI or art pretentious wankery that adorns many a sleeve out there. Old school, hand drawn, an army of cockroaches infest a decaying cityscape with the ominous figure of death lurking behind. Fantastic.

Emulating your idols old and new but with a kick of originality, Insect Warfare have already forged a underground fave with World Extermination, which through proper media channels is set to be a grindcore classic.

Related links:

www.myspace.com/insectwarfare

Cryostorm - Version Review

Here comes the hard part – trying to contain excitement when trying to describe this album to you guys. I could always go for the lame approach that some damp squibs still use and break the album down track by track (yawn). I'll keep it simple, I know how rushed everyone is these days...

1. Cryostorm - awesome

2. Vitality - awesome

3. Solacing - awesome

4. I Am Anomaly - awesome

5. Vivify - awesome

6. This Vivid Night - awesome 

7. Septentrion - awesome

8. Fate & Evolution - awesome

9. Taciturn - awesome

10. Vorticity Spiral - awesome

11. Apocrypha - awesome

Are these these same songs we heard back along on Destroyer of Ardor? This band have upped their game considerably. The production is amazing, everything has been tightened to the level of a witch's cleft! At their heaviest, the songs blaze with the intensity of a thousand suns. The vocals are relentless in their ferocity and their schizophrenic mutation from growl to scream is seamless and impressive.

Do you remember Trigger The Bloodshed? Meh. Ignominious Incarceration? Barely. They were future of UK Death Metal apparently - gracing the cover of Terrorizer magazine, pandering reviews, plenty of interviews (one by yours truly) but nothing became of them. They didn't have the song writing chops to back up all the hype. Version is different. Cryostorm have not been surrounded by lots of media buzz – until now no doubt. Everything here takes its influences admittedly, but it is fresh and invigorating to listen to, these songs are instantly memorable. They have carved out something satisfying from their collective knowledge of metal.

There is a well balanced blend of Bloodshot Dawn, Darkest Hour (circa The Eternal Return), Dark Tranquility, In Flames and Scar Symmetry on show here. While all the aforementioned have their faults there doesn't seem to be a weak point on Version. It's all adrenaline all the time, despite all the songs not being full tempo all the time. The little twists and turns, the tasty little transitions are all brilliant, like the Pantera stomping groove on 'Solacing' and the sweet moment at the end of the solo on 'I Am Anomaly'.

But what is more impressive is the real hooks in these songs. Its all to easy today to make heavy music that is flaccid and uninteresting, but this album has a creative spark that can be seen from space, and will propel this band to a big label and big things no doubt. The only advice I would offer is maybe deepen the atmosphere a tad, maybe add some more longer or more progressive songs (like 'Apocrypha'). Get of your apathetic arses people, this one is well worth your time!

Hear it here: http://www.metalunderground.com/news/details.cfm?newsid=92145

Band Page: www.facebook.com/cryostormband

Altar of Plagues - Sol Review

Another blast from the past! It's interesting to find out what I wrote 5 years ago has come true...

Originally posted 2008 @ Blistering.com

Irish newcomers Altar of Plagues bring a very compelling and thought provoking platter to the table. A mix of post hardcore dreamscapes, bile infected sludge and cold black metal. Like Wolves In The Throne Room; a trance like experience hazed out whilst finding new directions whilst clinging loosely to the bones of by-the-numbers black metal.

Despite the appetising appeal of Altar Of Plagues on paper, Sol is trying to achieve great scope, but sometimes doesn't reach the apex over the distance covered (geometry finally has a use…in metal!?). The problem is too much variety.

Inevitably, the peripheral passages surrounding the black melee are mixed in style and quality, for example the final track ‘With Fire In Our Veins We Drown In The Light’ captures the loneliness and trauma of Thorr’s Hammer or Burning Witch, but also starts off sounding like the Deftones on auto-pilot.

The variety of vocal delivery is good and each style of larynx release slots in well with the music at each given point. We mustn't delude ourselves that this variety in musical styles is a bad thing, on the contrary. Altar of Plagues have demonstrated an ability to keep a strong vibe consistent throughout their EP, a lurking evil and imminent malevolence.

Certainly an individual amongst an ever increasing crowd of mediocrity, Altar of Plagues will definitely be filed under high potential. The material on Sol would effortlessly translate to a live setting and would make for a transfixing viewing. An EP to prove strong capability and unsullied ideas, now what we want from this band is a mind-boggling full length, please.

www.altarofplagues.com

www.pofoundlorerecords.com

NOFX - Self Entitled Review

Fat Mike and his Jew-punk wrecking crew are back.

The advertising for this album hasn't been overwhelming by any means. It was available to order only a matter of days after I even realised it was on its way. Some may blame NOFX for being lazy and resting on their laurels, but if you have such a solid fan base and such a lengthy and prosperous career as these guys, I think we can can forgive them.

The output has been mixed since the glory days, but admittedly there has been a lot of it and they have been slaving away at it for longer than most. Come on, Coaster without the opening track may as well be a fucking coaster (I think that was intended!), even though it would remind me of the bitter disappointment every time I have my morning brew, not a good start to the day.

One thing missing on this record – a dub/reggae song. Some of the established live classics have been 'Kill All The White Man' and 'Eat The Meek', so where's our mellow tune eh? These songs are so much better than the cheesy acoustic song that so many bands feel they must include on an album to show depth or maturity. These guys do it because its fun!

The clever and inspired song writing is still there, as well as the comedy tunes. The last song which was previously released 'Xmas Has Been X'ed' always makes me chuckle. A song about the cancellation of Christmas and celebrating Hanukkah instead coming from these chaps has got to be good. '72 Hookers' is funny, like all good songs about selling your body for money are, but the message pleading for peace prevails and makes it a success. 'Ronnie & Mags' – with the flip it on its head chorus and political nostalgia never fails to entertain.

OK OK, some of it is punk-by-numbers (see 'Secret Society'). You can't deny Self-Entitled has the pubescent whine which made us fall in love with this quirky band way back in the early 90's. The perky polished punk, with the subtle melancholy that was established on Punk In Drublic remains gloriously accessible. However without the dire song writing on some of the other more recent efforts (*cough* Coaster) it might not seem so amazing as we first thought. 

Converge - All We Love We Leave Behind Review

Words sometimes falter to capture the music of Converge. The fact they have been on top of their game and massively in the public eye since the painfully emotional but beautifully heavy Jane Doe means that most writers in our little niche of the journalistic world have already exhausted all angles and opinions. However the task lies with us writers to dissect and probe the latest effort from the band.

The opener 'Aimless Arrow' simmers and bubbles and shows massive restraint as it builds up for the orgasmic release that is 'Tresspass'. An absolute behemoth of a tune, this is the 'Dark Horse', 'Locust Reign' and 'Bitter and Then Some' of this album. Its a song addicted to forward motion and one of the simplest yet heaviest riffs you'll hear this side of 2012.

There seems to be an almost evil atmosphere to this album at times. Previous efforts before have dipped with pain and sadness, but this if anything is an angrier Converge and more a more vengeful one – tracks such as 'Sadness Comes Home', 'Sparrow's Fall' and 'At Glacial Pace' are the stuff of nightmares. Then it is ruined by the pomp of 'Vicious Muse', which sounds like a fucking Cancer Bats song, no bad thing but a little lazy! Then the Mastodon like opening introduces 'Coral Blue', which holds its own despite the trendy nod, but again remains a little uninspired.

No matter how supreme the quality, the ever-evolving art of such a mega band like Converge will always attract detractors just because they are pigeon holed as not metal. Well boo-hoo I say. Fuck 'em. Don't know what they are missing. Less assholes at Converge shows! Still this is a must-listen as it always has been with Converge, but not up there if you look back down the timeline.

Related Links:

www.convergecult.com

Converge and Friends Cover 'Wolverine Blues'

Exciting news from the Converge camp today people: They have recorded five interpretations of 'Wolverine Blues' by the mighty death metal beast that is Entombed. Exciting is an understatement when you learn who does the vocals for said tracks:
1. Aaron Turner (Isis, Old Man Gloom)
2. Jacob Bannon
3. Kevin Baker (The Hope Conspiracy etc.)
4. Nate Newton
and..
5. Kurt Ballou & Tomas fucking Lindberg! (At The Gates, Disfear, Lock Up etc)

That's correct. Tompa himself, Mr Midas in the world of metal and hardcore, Swedish master covers Swedish classic! The tracks are all available to stream at the official Converge website.

http://www.convergecult.com/news/55/

Clutch - Earth Rocker gets the THR treatment

Why will people review the new Clutch album telling you it is awesome?

Why? I'll tell you why. The last track on the album, is the BEST TRACK on the album. Coincidentally it is the longest, but this beauty will more than likely be the last that a reviewer or blogger will hear and give them a skewed perspective. I too have been guilty of this in the past, I may have gone haywire when I heard the last track 'Centric Flow' by Obscura on Cosmogenesis. The walls were painted with figurative spaff. The album turned out to be a belter anyway, but the mind-game was there. Beware!

So to the rest of Earth Rocker. What it lacks in catchy songs, it makes up for with a raw rocking energy. Free range rock-n-roll unlike the battery farmed shite that pollutes the airwaves like Biffy Clyro, 30 Seconds To Mars and other such ball ache. Your average Clutch fan will turn the inside of their undies white at the sound of such amazing songs as 'Crucial Velocity'.

There is an inevitable slow and melancholy song on the album a la 'Regulator', but 'Gone Cold' isn't there as a filler. It is a heart felt, stripped down and intimate moment with the band and definitely one to cherish.  It absorbs you so much you almost forget the rocking antics of the first half.

The finale 'The Wolf Man Kindly Requests...', apart from having that effortlessly cool title, is a testament to the new ideas that come into the fray here on Earth Rocker. From the cheek wobbling antics of the title track at the beginning to the sudden change of tempo and pulsing heaviness in the aforementioned last song, its shows Clutch are not phased by the challenge of creating something fresh.

I have been soul-searching, racking my brain, trying to figure out why this record just comes short of top dollar, 10/10. Which according the cheese-merchants in Hollywood, involves staring across beautiful sunset lake scenes or introspectively looking out a window into pouring rain. It may be due to songs like 'Oh, Isabella' which is a fleeting moment of weakness. Clutch do have the gritty edge, but the beards, the hooks and the attitude may attract assholes, getting in on this slice of accessible underground while its still fresh is the key boys and girls.

Related Links:

www.pro-rock.com