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 Sodom |  Control Denied |
Agathodaimon | Ancient | Angel Dust | Bal Sagoth | Broken Hope | Brutal Truth | Cannibal Corpse | Crucifer | dead horse | Defender | Gooseflesh | Kreator | Lockup | Moonspell | Mortiis | Necrophagia | Pegazus | Prophecy | Sleazy Scum Dog | Tiamat
Rating: 10/10
Tracks: Intro, Code Red, What Hell Can Create, Tombstone, Liquidation, Spiritual Demise, Warlike Conspiracy, Cowardice, The Voice Of Killing, Visual Buggery, Book Burning, The Wolf & The Lamb, Addicted To Abstinence
Like Manowar, Sodom will never change with the times, they will never bow down to popular opinion, and they will NEVER change! What we have here is everything you would expect from Sodom and nothing you wouldn't. These guys are not going to shock you with a power ballad, or try to get melodic on your ass. Not a fucking chance in hell. What you will get is your nuts ripped off and handed to you. Now I'm not saying that these guys are stagnant, no way. These guys sound as fresh and raw as ever. Sodom have not gone stale.
After a intro of weird sounds, the album starts out with the terrifying song "Code Red", and at this point you know what you are in for. Super-fast metal played angry and with passion. With Sodom you either love them and totally "get them", or you hate them and "totally missed the bus". For the ones among us that aren't on board, I weep; for those that are, I pray. Sodom will never apologize for their style of music, and they will never have to if every album they put out is this good.
For the long-time metal fan I don't have to explain Sodom's appeal, but for those of you that are just getting on board I will tell you. Sodom play extreme power and aggressive metal and below all the noise and speed, lay a very interesting fabric of depth and catchiness. I'd love to catch theses guys live one day, I know they will be awesome.
To sum up, if you like Sodom, you probably already own this album, and if you don't... GET IT! - Piston Rod
Rating: 9.5/10
Tracks: Consumed, Breaking The Broken, Expect The Unexpected, What If...?, When The Link Becomes Missing, Believe, Cut Down, The Fragile Art Of Existence
I worried about this album. Although my faith in the pure metal heart of Chuck Schuldiner is unwavering, it was the vocalist that had me a bit concerned. The music? Bah... I knew it would, to quote Chuck as he is so fond of saying, "crush," and I was right. This could very well be the next death album and fans/fanatics such as me know what that means: top knotch musicianship, phenomenal riffing, an incredible drum performance and inventive bass playing (welcome back, Steve DiGiorgio!).
Vocalist Tim Aymar was the potential thorn in my side. So many would-be great metal bands are killed by sub-par vocalists these days. I think that is the primary downfall of the metal resurgence - 9 times out of 10, the bands can play as well as their predecessors, most often even better, but vocally they fall flat. The power vocalist of the classic era is largely a thing of the past. Sure, there are exceptions... Alan Tecchio is perhaps sounding even better than he did in his glory days with Hades and Watchtower, but for the most part the "new blood" sounds wet behind the ears.
I am happy to say that Aymar has laid my worries to rest. Not only can he sing with purity and power, he can scream like a fucking banshee, at times bringing the heyday of Bruce Dickinson to mind. I deserve a swift kick in the ass for thinking that Schuldiner would settle for any less.
Each of the 8 songs that comprise The Fragile Art of Existence is testament to the fact that metal is alive and well in the hearts of those of us that never thought it went away. Chuck Schuldiner is among them, as am I. Anyone out there that also never stopped hearing the call should pick up this album NOW to bask in what Homer Simpson might refer to as metal's "warm glowing glowness," and those looking to convert would be hard pressed to find more concrete proof of divinity to forge their faith. Metal forever!! - Al Kikuras
Agathodaimon - Higher Art Of Rebellion (Nuclear Blast, '99)
Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Ne Cheama Pamintul, Tongue Of Thorns, A Death In Its Plentitude, When She's Mute, Glasul Artei Vittoare, Novus Ordo Seclorum, Body Of Clay, Back Into The Shadows, Les Posedes, Neovampirism, Heaven's Coffin
I am sure the black metal purists are going to scoff at Agathodaimon's vampirish posings, but let 'em laugh. Higher Art Of Rebellion is a solid release, sounding somewhat like Crade of Filth on queludes. If the legions of fanged black metal fanatics decided to march on the Vatican, the opening track "Ne Cheama Pamintul" could well serve as their anthem.
Agathodaimon may be one of the first bands to branch into the "black n' roll" genre. It was inevitable... bands like Entombed, Grave and Gorefest morphed into the tongue-in-cheek termed "death n' roll" when death metal reached its logical limits for the era (with bands like Gorguts later forging ahead despite years of relative stagnance). For the most part, "black n' roll" works fairly well for Agathodaimon. There are outright weak moments, such as track 4: "When She's Mute." The clean vocals have just got to go! Over an hour in total, the mid-paced temp tends to drag on quite a bit at times and I find myself wishing they would just let go and blast to break up the monotony, but on tracks such as the aforementioned opener, Agathodaimon tear things up pretty thoroughly without delving into the hyper-speed. Perhaps with a bit more refinement and variety on the next release, Agathodaimon may manage to keep things interesting enough through strong songwriting to make listening to the whole album a complete pleasure rather than somewhat of a chore. - Al Kikuras
Ancient - The Halls Of Eternity (Metal Blade, '99)
Rating: 6/10
Tracks: Cast Into The Unfathomed Deeps, Born In Flames, The Battle Of The Ancient Warriors, A Woeful Summoning, Cosmic Exile, Spiritual Supremacy, The Heritage, I Madman, From Behind Comes The Sword, The Halls Of Eternity, Arrival
In a time where just about everything in black metal has been done, bands must strive to do something inspiring or fall by the wayside. Innovation is not necessarily the only token to passing through the gates of mediocrity into more exciting fields. Conviction, unbridled aggression, pure extremity... each of these things and more can alone make a band noteworthy. I do realize that Ancient have been at this game for ages, but on The Halls of Eternity, the music is a bit too Wonderbread to really excite me. It has been done, and done better. Not brutal enough to have the appeal of, say, Sarcophagus, or grandiose enough to draw the listener in as Cradle of Filth manage to do. Ancient are currently treading the grey-bricked road inbetween, and rather than commanding as their veteran status would bring one to expect them to do, they wallow in the land of skim milk. To their credit, the music is not bad by a long shot, but then Saltines don't taste bad at all either, but if you make a meal out of them you are going to be one disappointed motherfucker.
- Al Kikuras
Angel Dust - Bleed (Century Media, '99)
Rating: 8.5/10
Tracks: Bleed, Black Rain, Never, Follow Me I, Follow I, Addicted To Serenity, Surrender, Sanity, Liquid Angel, Memories, Temple Of The King, Nightmare
True blue heavy metal. These guys are oldschoolers and they show it. Their sound is heavy and catchy and everything that was great about metal in the 80's. A very Jag Panzer-meets-Blind Guardian feel to it. If you are into that type of heavy metal, then you will really enjoy Angel Dust.
The songs are all very guitar oriented, with pounding drums marching behind the music. The singer, Dirk Thurisch, has that "German Metal" sound. That is to say he isn't a pretty singer, and it takes a little while to develop an ear for him. At times though he definitely slips into a very Bruce Dickinson sound. I find his voice a little annoying at times, but not very often.
It's good to hear a band like Angel Dust. With the onslaught of boring power metal bands coming out of the woodwork, it's good to hear a true metal band that has balls and shows it. Angel Dust brings back my faith that there are metal bands out there playing the true metal/power metal style still knows how to rock. After all that's what metal is all about: Rocking out harder and heavier than anyone else! Long live metal, you wimpy Korn-loving faggots!! - Piston Rod
Bal Sagoth - The Power Cosmic (Nuclear Blast, '99)
Rating: 5.5/10
Tracks: The Awakening Of The Stars, The Voyagers Beneath The Mare Imbrium, The Empyreal Lexicon, Of Carnage And A Gathering Of The Wolves, Callisto Rising, The Scourge Of The Fourth Celestial Host, Behold The Armies Of War Descending Screaming From The Heavens!, The Thirteen Cryptical Prophecies Of Mu
With titles like "Behold, The Armies Of War Descending Screaming From The Heavens!" chances are you are in for something downright pretentious. That, or a new Judas Iscariot album. In this case, it is pretentiousness that reigns supreme. Bal Sagoth, to their credit, are very adept musicians, but the collision of Helloween-ish power metal and black metal comes off as a bit to happy-go-lucky to sound convincing. In my opinion, the essence of black metal is darkness and hatred, and while there are some violent moments on The Power Cosmic, on the whole the music is just too tame to excite. Sorry, folks. If you want war metal, listen to Marduk or Bolt Thrower. If you're nervous about black metal and are looking for an easy way in, you might want to check out The Power Cosmic, as it will soften the blow when you first hear the real shit. - Al Kikuras
Broken Hope - Grotesque Blessings (Martyr Music Group, '99)
Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Wolf Among Sheep, Chemically Castrated, Necro-Fellatio, Christ Consumed, War-Maggot, Earth Burner, Internal Inferno, Razor #%$&, Hate Machine
I've heard a lot of shit talked about Broken Hope over the last few months. Personal jabs, slags at the new album, talk about how they sucked live.
Like the recluse I am, I stuffed my head up my ass like a turtle might crawl into his shell and ignored it all. "The music will speak for itself," I said.
To quote James R. Hoffa, "You're fuckin'-a well told!" Screw all the bullshit! Grotesque Blessings is a solid, heavy, technically proficient slab of well-crafted death metal that should lay all the rumors to rest. Broken Hope still have it, in my opinion. Granted, there are those out there that think they NEVER had it and Grotesque Blessings probably won't change their minds. Anyone with even the slightest affinity for any of their older material should be vomiting with joy after spinning this disc a few times. For the intiated: picture Loathing taken to the next illogial extreme of technicality and brutality, somehow coupled with catchy songwriting and you have Grotesque Blessings. To the uninitiated: picture a whirlwind of insanely fast and intricate riffs, frantic drumwork, meaty bass and the animalistic deathbelchings so guttural as to sound inhuman. To the unconvinced? Clean the shit out of your ears and listen. This is death metal approaching its highest form! - Al Kikuras
Brutal Truth - Goodbye Cruel World (Relapse, '99)
Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Disc 1- intro, Dementia, K.A.P, Choice of a New Generation, Birth of Ignorance, Stench of Profit, Walking Corpse, Sympathy Kiss, Pork Farm, Jemenez Cricket, Repeat at Length, Media Blitz, Fucktoy, Ill-Neglect, Kill Trend Suicide, Cornucopia, Godplayer, I Killed My Family, Time, Denial of Existence, Hippie Cult, Callous, Zodiac
Disc 2- No Sleep, Hippie Cult, Cybergod, Cornucopia, Born to Die, Spare Change, Machine Parts, Collateral Damage x5, Fucktoy, Kill Trend Suicide, Bubblebop Shop, Boredoms Cover #2, Telly (with Bucky), Blind Leading the Blind, Pass Some Down, Vision, Fisting, Die Laughing, Let's Go to War, Zombie, Homesick, Everflow, Dead Smart, Soft Mind, Dethroned Emperor, It's After the End of the World, Callous, Average People, Black Door Mine, Promise, Foolish Bastard, Bite the Hand, Collateral Damage
A cruel world it is indeed when you consider all the trials and tribulations responsible for putting the last nail in the coffin of this once uncompromisingly brutal band. Originally formed out of the confines of NYC's meanstreets back in '92, Brutal Truth evidently lived up to it's title by way of some of the most technically complex rhythms, grinding blast beats, and guttural vocal lacerations ever inflicted upon human ears. Influenced by the likes of early Napalm Death (Scum era), Black Sabbath, John Zorn, and Japanese noisefreaks the Boredoms, Brutal Truth successfully combined elements of all 4 and unleashed a sound which ultimately redefined the term grindcore.
Though they were sadly underrated (not to mention misunderstood by a lot of the DM/BM purists), the band still amassed quite a sizeable cult following in places like Japan, Australia, and various parts of Europe. So to bid us all a farewell, the band has released a 2 disc compilation set containing all the rare 7" singles, cover songs, and live performances spanning their 7 year existence. Nicely packaged with an impressive photo collage and detailed liner notes, this is definitely a MUST have for the true Brutal Truth grindaholic. Disc #1 contains an actual live performance which took place in Australia back in August of '98. With a set consisting of literally 22 songs in under 48 minutes, BT proves just why they are the fastest, if not scariest entity ever to exist. Of course, for all of you die hard followers you can certainly expect all the old favorites as well as some of the newer gems like the crustpunk infused "Choice of a New Generation," the frenetically paced deathgrind inspired, "Walking Corpse," and the deeply groove oriented new school hardecore-isms of "Sympathy Kiss." No matter what you fancy, it's all here in pure BT fashion. As one would expect, the sound quality of the recording and production is even crystal clear, as an added bonus. Usually with dubbed recordings such as these, I usually find myself zoning out due to the muddy sounding drums and vocals which are often drowned out by the overwhelming amount of distorted feedback in the guitars. However, in this case the extra time and care put into the remastering certainly adds to the charm of this final send off. For those of you who've had such a difficult time in finding all of the band's rare demos & 7 inches, might want to take a listen to disc #2 which contains 33 tracks of the band's unreleased best. Along with the usual chug and spew, there's also a handful of nifty covers like "Hippie Cult" (by Belgium's Agothocles), "Cornucopia" (Black Sabbath), "Dethroned Emperor" (Celtic Frost), and "Cybergod" (NY's legendary crustpunker's Nausea), which are all performed surprisingly well in BT's signature fashion. While the quality in production varies from track to track (usually raw and unpolished for that dirty effect to just downright inaudible in that amateur 4 track sort of way), you'll no doubt be pleased by the diverse assortment. Secondly, what I find to be most interesting is that it showcases the growth and maturity of a band which started out as an awkward three piece and slowly transformed into the full blown powerhouse unit it is (or rather was) now. Yes, the end came a little too early for them indeed my friends and while it brings many a tear to these weary eyes of mine, I will never forget all of the earshattering experiences I ever had witnessing them live. Grind will never be the same without them. - Envenomed
Cannibal Corpse - Bloodthirst (Metal Blade, '99)
Rating: 10/10 (if you appreciate the brutality factor alone) -
5/10 (if you're like me and would rather listen to something a little more 3 dimensional)
Tracks: Pounded Into Dust, Dead Human Collection, Unleashing the Bloodthirsty, The Spine Splitter, Ecstacy in Decay, Raped by the Beast, Coffin Feeder, Hacksaw Decapitation, Blowtorch Slaughter, Sickening Metamorphosis, Condemned to Agony
Proving once again that dead things will not just stay dead (no matter how many times you slice and dice or bludgeon and hack), Floridian pioneering deathmongers Cannibal Corpse have released their 7th full length studio effort which sadly enough, doesn't even come close to becoming the much needed comeback album we've all been waiting for. True, the music remains heavy and brutal in the typical goresoaked CC fashion but the problem is, that's ALL there really is to say about it. In fact, just to give you a picture perfect image, I could perhaps compare this disc overall to a piping hot dish of white rice and gravy; edible but certainly not tantilizing. The problem I feel, first of all, lies mainly with drummer Paul Mazurkiewicz who by far, happens to be possibly one of the sloppiest, if not most boring musicians in Death Metal today. Listening to all 11 tracks on this one CD, there isn't anything worth commenting on other than the fact that he lays down the same pattern of straightforward blast beats throughout creating one big blur that just whips right past you before you're even out of the starting gate. Secondly, he doesn't seem to acknowledge the fact that there are four other members in this band other than himself, something which is evidenced on the first two songs alone ("Pounded Into Dust" & "Dead Human Collection") where the monotonous pounding tends to suffocate both the guitars and bass. Drowning in a sea of mechanical blast beats, the songs should have been given enough room to breathe in order to fill in some of the catchy hooks needed to maintain progression, as well as depth. As for the guitars, they're pretty fast and technical as one would normally expect from such competent musicians as Pat O' Brien and Jack Owen who both seem to perfect the art of quick picking rhythms, but where is the violent emotion? the gutteral growl that inflicts fear? Sure, they could play super fast and impress the hell out of people with their frenetic finger work but sad
to say, I was expecting something a little more ominous in feel and approach. However, things do tend to get a little interesting with song #3, "Unleashing the Bloodthirsty" where the midpaced chugging rhythms slowly build up enough momentum until they explode into a cacophonous mess of dissonant chords and solos. I also happen to like some of the slower bottom heavy passages which bring to mind some of the finest moments from The Bleeding (CC's 4th and classic release to date). Hey, I'll even give credit to frontman, George "Corpsegrinder" Fisher who certainly has a knack for making the transition from low end guttural growls to piercing shrieks of animalistic fury which, I will add do nicely in accenting some of the more dramatically tense moments within the song, as well as on the whole album. Secondly, I appreciate the fact that he makes the effort in annunciating his words for the listener to have a better understanding, unlike his predecessor Barnes who would often sound like he was coughing and spitting up phlegm. Sadly, his vocals are just about the only thing that kept my interest throughout this mess (You should even see him live; perhaps one of the most animated frontmen you'll come across by far). While it's safe to say that I wasn't all too pleased with this affair, I had definitely heard worse (Mortician, anyone?). However, I'm beginning to wonder just whether or not this once glorious band has finally begun to run out of ideas. Brutality is fine (if that's what you consider the icing on the cake so to speak) but without progression, I think it's pretty pointless in my opinion. - Envenomed
Crucifer - The World Dies 1989-1999 (The Label Formerly Known As Wild Rags Records, '99)
Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Soul Within, Left Hand Path, Green With Envy, Sickly Divine, No Color, Grace, Dissatisfied, The World Dies, Separation, Sister Crematorium, Dawn Of Time, False Sense of Hope, Pieces, Festival of Death
This collection of Crucifer tunes from the past 10 years runs hot and cold. Some of the tracks rage, others (like "Green With Envy" and "Sickly Divine") fall flat. For those not familiar with Crucifer, they play what is essentially straight up metal with strong death metal overtones. I think it is because they waver somewhere in between traditional metal and all-out brutality that they are so touch-and-go with me. I really dig their Beyond The Realms demo, as it is some of the more in-your-face Crucifer material I have heard to date, but when the death metal influences are minimal is when I start to lose interest, as without the brutality things get a bit, well... boring. The melodic clean vocals that are occasionally employed are just terrible, while the lead "gruff" voice sounds like a less-monstrous Tim King (Oppressor). All said and done, Crucifer, at essence, are a bit more "user-friendly" death metal than say, Cannibal Corpse or Deranged. This is something Johnny "thinks-he's-a-death-metal-fan" might get into, but to seasoned listeners it isn't over the top enough to really send the boat home. - Al Kikuras
dead horse - peaceful death and pretty flowers (Relapse, '99)
Rating: 9.5/10
Tracks: cod pie face, turn, la la song, like asrielle, the latent stage, peaceful death, eulogy, snowdogs, the lark nest, medulla oblongata, aplo, rock lobster, sawbone*, every god for himself*, turn*, medulla oblongata*, waiting for the sun* (* denotes bonus tracks not on original release)
Let's flash back 9 or so years ago, shall we? Your "not even a little humble host," Al Kikuras, then a wee 16 years old, was working on the second issue of the print version of Unchain the Underground (featuring over 90 reviews, 8 interviews, and lots more...) when a cassette release of dead horse's peaceful death and pretty flowers shows up in the mailbox, courtesy of Big Chief Records. Remember when labels used to send cassettes and not CDs?? No cover art, just a black inlay card with the name of the band, album and songs on it. Was the young Kikuras pleased when he popped it into the radio? Yes, he was. In fact, little Al was so happy he continued to play that same cassette up through the tender year of 24 when it was finally warped to hell and completely unlistenable. "FUCK!!" the handsome young man lamented! A classic album, lost in the annals of metal, perhaps never to be released again, gone to the realm of the warped...
Relapse to the rescue!! Re-releasing this masterpiece on CD (with bonus tracks, no less) is the greatest thing they've done since labelhead Matthew F. Jacobson grabbed a shovel and helped dig out that young boy who fell down that well so many years ago.
Anyway, seeing how I already reviewed this one, I am going to save myself the trouble and just reproduce the original review here, word for word, as it appeared in Vol. 1, Issue 2 of Unchain the Underground, released Jan. 1992:
Having read article after article about dead horse, my appetite was already aroused, so I was quite happy to receive this tape. How would I describe dead horse? Different? Diverse? Naah...! Fucking WEIRD!! From grind to thrash to metal to country, it's in here! And the amazing thing is, it's cohesive! Believe it or not! Check out "aplo," "the lark nest," "la la song," "cod pie face" and so on and see what I mean. Any band that covers the B-50's2 can't be average! I don't know what it is about Texas, maybe it's the water, but shit just keeps getting weirder. But who's complaining? dead horse are a band to move ahead in the 90's. Jump on the saddle, pick up peaceful death and pretty flowers and get ready for a hell of a ride. - Al Kikuras
Defender - They Came Over The High Pass (Necropolis, '99)
Rating: 7/10
Tracks: They Came Over The High Pass, The Siege Of Armengar, High Himalayan Valley, Summit Day, Dragon, City In The Clouds, Maze of the Minotaur, Nomads of the Stars
It's appropriate that this album is reviewed in the same column as the Control Denied debut. This is precisely what I was referring to when I wrote "So many would-be great metal bands are killed by sub-par vocalists these days. I think that is the primary downfall of the metal resurgence - 9 times out of 10, the bands can play as well as their predecessors, most often even better, but vocally they fall flat." While the vocals on They Came Over The High Pass don't kill the album, the come damn close. The music is very enjoyable... somewhat like Hammerfall with a harder edge (although I am sure they hate hearing that comparison), but the voice just isn't there. Phillip Von Segebaden (formerly of Afflicted), the man behind this project, went ahead and enlisted fellow Afflicted alumnus Michael van de Graff to handle the vocal chores. One thing I have learned over the past few years is that most death metal singers should stick to grownling, and van de Graff is no exception. Although I know this guy is from Sweden, I could swear I've heard his voice fronting at least 8 unsigned New Jersey metal bands over the past year. His voice isn't terrible, it just isn't powerful enough to give these songs the performance they deserve. Shame, too, as I have to give Von Segebaden credit. His heart is in the right place, and the music IS total metal, but if you are going to name your band Defender, which immediately brings the mighty Manowar, home to one of the greatest metal vocalists of all time, to mind ("Defender" is a popular track from their Fighting the World release), you had best have a vocalist that can live up to the legacy and van de Graff just ain't cutting it. - Al Kikuras
Gooseflesh - Chemical Garden (Nuclear Blast '99)
Rating: 9.5/10
Tracks: X Wrath, Burning Soul, Godbreed, Cut That Never Heals, Thin Skinned Jesus, Controller, Art Of Treachery, The Syndicate, Voices, Sore Throat, Denial, Absence
I thought I told these guys to change their name. Gooseflesh is one of the worst heavy metal names EVER! Sorry guys I gotta call it as I see it. I don't understand why these guys aren't signed yet, but It's gotta be that name. They are one of the most talented thrash bands to come across my desk in a LONG time.
Gooseflesh (I'm going call them GF for now on because Goosedick makes me sick)Šwhere was I, oh yeah, GF have that great "crunch" to their sound that I love. It's a lot like Pantera and Fear Factory. I like these guys a lot. Their album is VERY, very good. If these guys don't go big, then I'll lose all faith in the metal world.
All of GF's songs are angry and heavy and catchy as hell. These guys love to rock and it shows. There are a lot of rock elements to GF's music that makes it very enjoyable. This album is possibly a 9.9/10 or a 10/10 if the name was better. Check these guys out for yourself if you are into heavy thrash metal with a real old school rock sound that kicks you in the ass. - Piston Rod
Kreator - Endorama(Pavement Music, '99)
Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Golden Age, Endorama, Shadowland, Chosen Few, Everlasting Flame, Passage To Babylon, Future Ring, Entry, Soul Eraser, Willing Spirit, Pandemonium, Tyranny
When the press release says, "Those with open minds are sure to benefit from this magnificent release." You know something fishy is up. Whenever a press release mentions the words "open mind" you know that even they are asking themselves, "What the hell is this and how the hell are we going to promote it?" You don't need and open mind to enjoy Kreator's classic albums. I personally think that Kreator's album Outcast is one of the best albums put out in the 90's, and that a lot to say. That album was heavy, angry, and catchy. Kreator's classic albums don't need any defending at all, they are just great. That is why when I got Endorama I got excited by the fact that Kreator would be trying something different. Outcast was a different sound for them, and that was great. I had perfect faith in Kreator's founder, mastermind, guitarist and lead singer Mille Petrozza. I was hoping that he would again craft a masterful slab of musical mayhem.
At first listen I was totally turned off. All of the songs were mid-tempo, and none of them until "Soul Eraser" is "grab your nuts" heavy. The more I listened to this album however, the more I did enjoy it. I must say that these guys are god damn talented musicians. There is a lot of depth to this album, and a lot of thought went into it. A lot of people will be like me (I think even Pavement did) and wonder what the hell Kreator was smoking when they recorded this album, but in fact there is a lot to get excited about. Very different, to be sure. This is the kind of album that bands go out on a limb to create. It's an album that can kill a band, but it's also an album that can rejuvinate a band if done well.
It's not a perfect album, not the best thing they have ever done. I would have liked to have had more meat in my sandwich, with a little salad on the side. This album has too much ruffiage, but it's a good album. If Kreator can mix the aggression of Outcast, with the mid-tempo metal of Endorama, and the thrash of their classic material, then they would have a perfect album. For now, this is an album that is worth listening to many times, and that's a good thing. - Piston Rod
Lockup - Pleasure Paves Sewers (Nuclear Blast '99)
Rating: 8.5/10
Tracks: After life in purgatory, Submission, Triple six suck angels, Delirium, Pretenders of the throne, Slow bleed Gorgon, Ego pawn, The dreams are sacrificed, Tragic faith, Darkness of ignorance, Salvation thru destruction, Leech eclipse
Here's a nice surprise. I had forgotten Lockup even existed. A difficult feat, considering the group features Peter Tagtren (need I name his multiple projects?) along with Jesse Pintado and Shane Embury of Napalm Death and Nick Barker (former drummer for CoF, currently in Dimmu Borgir). This is "supergroup" the breakfast cereal and it shows. Raging death metal from start to finish with elements of Terrorizer-ish (geez, where'd that influence come from??) grind throughout. Great songs, great vocals ala Hyprocisy's Inferior Devoties and just a complete bludgeoning from the first second to the last. It's nice to hear that I'm not the only one who listens to World Downfall on a regular basis... thanks, boys, for keeping the blood boiling and bones crunching! The metal world needs it! - Al Kikuras
Moonspell - The Butterfly Effect (Century Media, '99)
Rating: 7.5/10
Tracks: soulsick, butterfly fx, can't bee, lustmord, selfabuse, I am the eternal spectator, soulitary vice, disappear here, adaptables, angelizer, tired, k
It is nice to be pleasantly surprised. I expected The Butterfly Effect to be an entirely pompous, non-aggressive affair, and while there is a fair amount of pomp throughout these 12 tracks, on the whole it is a lot better than I expected it to be.
Moonspell have not completely abandoned their death/black metal roots. A ferocious roar is (too-infrequently) employed, with the majority of the vocal performance comprised of deep crooning ala Danzig, or even the King, himself (Elvis, not Diamond). Moonspell are at their best on tracks like "Lustmord," forging death metal and Type O Negative sludge with the techno-mutant child of Simple Minds. It is the juxtaposition of the melodic and gentle side of Moonspell with the occasional moments of brutality that really makes The Butterfly Effect shine when it does choose to shine, but, unfortunately, the brutal passages are too few and far between and as a result the album winds up just glowing moderately throughout. - Al Kikuras
Mortiis - Crypt of the Wizard (Earache, '99)
Rating: 7/10
Tracks: damned if I am typing all these titles. I can't even pronounce them
So burned out am I from doing reviews, when I first threw on the Mortiis CD, I was waiting for the guitars to crank in. I thought I was just listening to a synth intro that black metal bands are so fond of polluting the first 2 minutes of every album with (thank you Marduk for skipping all that crap on the new one). By track three it dawned on me that almost 15 minutes had gone by and still no blasting drums, no screeching vocals... just more synth intro music.
That about sums up Mortiis' Crypt of the Wizard. Not a bad thing, really, as there are times when I am in such a frame of mind that I wouldn't mind just intro music going on for 20 minutes (or, in the case of Crypt..., just over an hour). It's some great stuff to doze off to, but then that is the problem with releasing a disc with over an hour of it. I'm too much of a narcopleptic to stay awake until the end. Although there is some cool, occasionally creepy stuff on here, Mortiis' compositions don't sound like much more than intro music to me. I don't think all albums of synth-based music like this sound like intros. The latest Puissance is a complete masterpiece for example, and the last few Burzum releases (the latest, especially) manage to actually sound like compositions rather than preludes, but Crypt of the Wizard seems more comprised of pieces conveying a singular, hokey mood, while the aforementioned releases display a great amount of depth and as a result are much more rewarding listens. Crypt of the Wizard does have its place in my listening rotation, though. Next time I am laying in bed at 5 AM struggling to fall asleep before the sun comes up, it may come in pretty handy! - Al Kikuras
Necrophagia - Black Blood Vomitorium (Red Stream, '99)
Rating: 9/10
Tracks: And You Will Live In Terror, They Dwell Beneath, It Lives In The Woods, Black Blood Vomitorium
Killjoy and crew have unleashed a sickening beast this time around. I was a big fan of Necrophagia's debut release, Season of the Dead. I played the cassette I purchased oh so many years ago until it made this horrible squealing sound every time I listened to it, and I am sure I was not the only one. But no one expected the new Necrophagia to be this horrifying, not even me.
Black Blood Vomitorium is a completely oppressive, chaotic, repulsive slab of music that makes the skin crawl. Unfathomable horrors come to mind over the 16 minutes that comprise this EP. When the uninitiated talk about music that sounds like people screaming and dying, music that represents all that is wrong, evil and decrepit in the world, they had may as well be speaking directly about Necrophagia, and that is about the highest accolade I can give a band. This is music like the stench of a rotting corpse... breathe deeply, oh ye disciples of the dead. Never before has the decay smelled so sweet... - Al Kikuras
Pegazus - Breaking The Chains (Nuclear Blast, '00)
Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Metal Forever, The Crusade, Queen Evil, Breaking The Chains, Tears Of The Angels, Chariots Of The Gods, Emerald Eyes (Acoustic Instrumental), Bastards Of War, Apache Warrior, A Little Time (Bonus Track)
This is perhaps the closest to the genuine metal article that I have heard over the past several years. I don't need to say that classic metal has seen a resurgence of late (although I just said it anyway). Most of it sucks, to be honest, because it sounds like someone from 1999 (keeping in mind that I am writing this review in '99 although the album won't be released until 2000) trying to write tunes like it is 1989. Kind of like fat free ranch salad dressing. Sure, it has that ranch flavor, but the creaminess that makes ranch dressing so delicious is not there, not even a little bit.
Pegazus' Breaking The Chains sounds like the real deal. But, the deal is that this sounds like a mediocre album from the golden age of metal, with the exchange rate on such a release placing it at the "above average" level for a retro album, circa 1999. The keys to Pegazus' seeming-authenticity are 1) their ability to pen hook-laden, catchy metal tunes 2) the vocals (finally someone that is in key and can actually sing) and 3) the lyrical content ("Metal Forever" says it all).
Newbie metal fans just getting into bands like Helloween and Hammerfall would do well to check this out for another album to add to their repetoire, while we, the seasoned metal listeners, might want to pick up Breaking The Chains for the warm, fuzzy, nostalgic feeling it instills. Wannabes take heed! This is how to do it right! - Al Kikuras
Prophecy - Contagion (Pavement, '99)
Rating: 7.5/10
Tracks: Visual Betrayer, God-Wrath, Manic Starvation, Lost, Sexual, 9 F.O.F. (M.L.D. Clone), Tolerance Decline, Whore-Like Depression, Digital Contagion, 21st Century Schizoid Worm
What we have here is the makings of a very good death metal band, but what we have here is a big disappointment. You want to know what keeps these guys from being very good? I'm glad you asked, it's the programmed synthetic drums. Computers should NEVER be used to create music. NEVER, NEVER, EVER. "They say that you should never say never, well I'm saying NEVER!" -Chris Rock. Music is about letting our soul out through an art form (same as art, literature, poetry, sculpting, acting, etc.) Computers have no soul, and therefore their soul can not show through the music. That's the big problem (in my eyes) with electronica music. When you program a computer to play all the music, yeah, you are programming it, but without the flesh and blood of a hum to play the instruments you have no human error, no spontaneity, no soul.
First of all, using synthetic drums sounds stupid. It's completely obvious, and sounds more like a metronome than real drums. Second, it's too mechanical sounding. It takes away from the music a lot. With a real drummer (I admit finding a talented drummer who could pull this off is difficult to find) Prophecy could be on the level of Fear Factory, or Machine Head (not as good as Strapping Young Lad, but hey, they have Gene Hoglan). They could keep the programmed special effects, that's fine, it just adds to the music (like a special effect in a movie, if there is no script then special effects don't mean dick [ya hear me Lucas? You dumb prick!]), but the drummer is an essential ingredient in a band, and you cannot fake that.
Let's say these guys mix Fear Factory, weak Strapping Young Lad, My Dying Bride, and a little Marilyn Manson. If that's your cup of tea, these guys serve it hot, but they just leave me ice cold. Give me my Hoglan and keep this Commodore VIC20 for yourself. - Piston Rod
Sleazy Scum Dog - s/t (Self-Produced, '99)
Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Run Swinger Run, Easy With The Sleazy, Mother Slut, LesŠZimoroids, Chemical Exposure, Nuclear Radiation, Baise a la Chaine
This is fun, fun stuff. Very Ramones oriented, these guys are out to have a good time. Punk played the way it should be: without any shame, and with out and pretense. The problem with fake-punk bands like Greenday is that they took their music too seriously. They thought they were making a difference. They couldn't laugh at themselves. Punk was created to be played loud, loose, angry, and fun.
That isn't to say that these are bad musicians, on the contrary I think they are very good. They know how to create a grove, they guitarist is very fun to listen to, and the band is very tight. It's just that punk has a very lose feel to it, it's supposed to.
If punk had a tighter feel, it would be thrash. That's what Sleazy Scum Dog are, a very loose thrash band. That have that white thrash bar feel to them. Like if you are not one of the regulars they will look at you with a pissed off look on their face until you leave or are thrown out.
Definitely recommended listening to anyone that likes the Ramones. These guys are The Ramones with an edge. Normally punk comes off like a bunch of wanna be rockers that just don't have the chops to play well, but not these guys. They come off sounding like guys that love Punk music, and that I can get into. - Piston Rod
Tiamat - Skeleton Skeletron (Century Media, '99)
Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Church of Tiamat, Brighter Than The Sun, Dust Is Our Fare, To Have And Have Not, For Her Pleasure, Diyala, Sympathy For The Devil, Best Friend Money Can Buy, As Long As You Are Mine, Lucy
I expected to hate this release. No. Actually, I found myself TRYING to hate it, but I failed. Not that I mind... it is always better to be pleasantly surprised than bitterly disappointed. Tiamat have completely abandoned their death metal roots for a more melodic, Floyd-ish sound. I should probably mention that the last Tiamat album I heard (and love) is Wildhoney. The Floyd was already showing through, but the death metal beast still lurked beneath, rearing its ugly head from time to time. It was that juxtaposition that I loved so much about Wildhoney. One second Tiamat were lulling you with harmony, whispered vocals, and almost tender guitar lines and the next, the music and vocals were roaring like a bear. Granted the heavy moments weren't heavy by conventional death metal standards, but when compared to the softer moments, the contrast increased their impact tenfold. On Skeleton Skeletron, the rage is gone. The music just lulls, and lulls well. While it is a shame that we are denied the contrast that made earlier efforts (Clouds included) so striking and remarkable, Skeleton Skeletron is well-crafted and engrossing enough that Tiamat still remain viable when so many of their counterparts that similarly abandoned their metal roots had now may as well be dead, and virtually are to my ears. Cheers. - Al Kikuras
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