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ALBUM OF THE EDITION:

Soilwork

Surgical Dissection | Swordmaster | The Deadbeats | Tourniquet | Triumphator | Veneficum | Vital Remains | Indecision | The Gathering | Thou Shalt Suffer | Therion | Sentenced

Rating: 10/10
Tracks: Chainheart Machine, Bulletbeast, Millionflame, Generation Speedkill, Neon Rebels, Possessing The Angels, Spirits Of The Future Sun, Machinegun Majesty, Room No.99

I haven't had an album impress me as much as this since Strapping Young Lad's City. This is pure metal played with no limits or apologies. Soilwork has created an opus with The Chainheart Machine that stands as a breath of fresh air among a large crop of new metal bands that wouldn't know their ass from their elbow when it comes to metal (or music in general).

Soilwork are musicians first and metalheads to the core. This much is obvious. That's what separates the men from the boys in this world. Anyone can pick up a guitar and play, but unless you know how to write songs, your music will last in my CD player about as long as my shit stays in my bowl, not too long.

I was impressed with, but weary of Soilwork's debut album Steel Bath Suicide. Although I was impressed with their playing, they sounded too much like At The Gates, and I was afraid that Soilwork were just another one of the MANY "jump on the bandwagon" bands popping up lately. (I also didn't like the name, but that's another story) Well, I wrote this and got a letter from the band thanking me for my honest and fair review. They must have taken my advise to heart, because these guys have really opened it up a lot with respect to diversity of writing. To the novice listener the music may tend to sound similar, and that's because it is all in your face power music. This album has the same feel that SYL's City has; even though the songs have the same feel, there is enough diversity in the album to keep the listener interested throughout the entire album, and the 43:36 length of the album seems to be over before you know it.

The song "Chainheart Machine" opens up this glorious album, and we know this isn't going to be a walk in the park. Not much has changed structure wise however, this is the song that is the most like the stuff from Steel Bath Suicide. It takes "Bulletbeast" to let the listener know that a new beast is in the hall. It's a powerhouse of metal that explodes into the air with a waves of mayhem. The fifth song "Neon Rebels" really shows what these boys are made of, the drumming moving to an almost relentless power display. "Spirits Of The Future Sun" is pure metal, this is a song that shows the roots of all evil, great tune.

I'd describe these guys as Arch Enemy meets Strapping Young Lad meets Death. Although the "Gothenburg Sound" is very present; with the black metal-like banshee screams, there is obvious influences of Carcass, Judas Priest, Iron Maiden, and Venom mixed within. Their music moves from thrash to speed to death and pure heavy metal with an ease and fluidity that can only we captured by true musicians. All hail Soilwork (PS - I still think it's a stupid name). - Piston Rod

Surgical Dissection - The Inborn Malignance (Erebos Productions, 2000)

Rating: 8.5/10
Tracks: Companies of Murderers, Narcotic, To Memory of Tortures, Lights From The Other Side, Angel Of Darkness, Bestial Pleasure, Weed Out The Parasites, World Is Bizzare

I, for one, really miss Wild Rags Records. I know Richard C caught a lot of shit in the underground and had a bad rep as a ripoff, but I had been dealing with the guy since '89 or so and never had a single problem with him. I guess the fact that he is now MIA might confirm some of the rumors, but I have nothing but fond memories.

All that aside, the thing I loved about Wild Rags was that the label was TOTALLY underground. Releases like Blasphemy's Fallen Angel Of Doom, Impetigo's Ultimo Mundo Cannibale, Hexx's Quest For Sanity, Nuclear Death's Bride of Insect, Toxodeth's Mysteries About Life & Death... all complete fucking classics way ahead of their time that, somehow, Richard C had the foresight to release. Yeah, now we all know and love those bands, but if Richard C hadn't released the albums, we probably would have no idea who the hell they are to this day. I remember getting each release in the mail, wondering who the band was, and what they sounded like. There is nothing, I repeat, NOTHING better than getting an album from a band you never heard of before that are from the dark depths of the world somewhere in Mexico or (in this case) Slovakia.

Erebos Productions may be my new great white hope. Surgical Dissection completely brings me back to the aforementioned days. In this case, it is safe to judge a book by its cover. With a name like Surgical Dissection, you pretty much know what you are in for: brutal death metal ala early Cannibal Corpse and Autopsy, two more bands that don't exactly fall into the "subtle" band name category. The Inborn Malignance is quite appealing with its gutwrenching approach and overall chaotic sound. The vocals are deep and muffled, broken up by the occasional piercing shriek. Picture if former Kataklysm vocalist, Sylvian Houde, didn't employ such a shizophrenic vocal delivery. The riffing is relentless, the songs are short and intense. It is the drive behind this music that makes it so damn likeable. Not since Voivod's RRRöööAAARRR have I heard a band sound this hungry and ferocious. What is the surefire way for a band treading familiar musical paths to still sound vital and refreshing? Enthusiasm! It works for Krisiun, it works for Devilyn, it works for Diabolic, and it definitely works for Surgical Dissection! - Al Kikuras

Swordmaster - Moribund Transgoria (Osmose, '99)

Rating: 7/10
Tracks: Deathspasm of he Eibound, Towards Etotomech Eye, The Angels and the Masters, Metalmorphosis - The Sweat of Cain, Sulphur Skelethrones, Moribund Transgoria, Doom at Motordome, The Grotesque Extravaganza

It is albums like this one that make my job difficult. A good album is relatively easy to review. A bad album is a walk in the park, but Swordmaster's Moribund Transgoria has been quite the chore.

Here is the deal: despite all I have heard about this band in hardcore black metal circles ("suck," "sellouts," and "gay" are the three words that pop up most often), this album really is not horrible like I expected it to be. Nor did it knock me on my ass. It is the kind of album that you throw on and, unless you are sitting their staring at the stereo, it just kind of slips by. It has taken no less than 9 listens for me to even begin to write this review and I had to actually dim the lights, get away from the computer, and move all reading materials from my line of vision to really soak this sucker up. I am happy to say that it is a lot more rewarding than the first 8 listens lead me to believe it would be.

For those who do not already know, Swordmaster play thrasy, melodic death metal, with mid-range vocals akin to the classic At The Gates/Soilwork Gothenburg sound. Actually, come to think of it, both of those bands would be a fair comparison. The musicianship on Moribund Transgoria is up to par. The production, courtesy of Andy La Rocque, is excellent as would be expected. The fault with the album is the material itself. With few exceptions ("Towards Erotomech Eye" primary amongst them), the songs are not very memorable and when a band resides in fairly neutral waters, keeping the brutality in check for the sake of melody and vice-versa, it is the songwriting that has to carry them through and Swordmaster just do not have it, in my opinion. Maybe it is just me, but after 9 listens all the songs still sound the same. So, no, they don't "suck" as I had heard and since this is the first thing I have heard from them, I can't say whether or not they are "sellouts." They don't appear to be overly "gay" to me either (although the guy with the headband looks a little questionable). I can say that they aren't doing anything new, and what they are doing has been done better. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, but nothing that sticks to the ribs. - Al Kikuras

The Deadbeats - s/t (Fueled Up Records/Necropolis, '99)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: not provided

From Sweden comes one of the best rock and roll bands I've heard in a really long time. Featuring former members of Edge Of Sanity, this is The Deadbeats. The back of the promo sleeve mentioned being drunk quite a bit, while forming and recording, as well as writing, and for this material to come out as well as it did is suprising to me. This very talented and alcoholic band managed to put out an impressive debut album, although a bit on the short side (13 tracks, 36 minutes), it's still a very good album. It's got some very aggresive, and fast riffs, and the vocals remind of Monster Magnet, before they went corporate and changed their style quite a bit. The drumming, while not anything over-the-top, is very tight, and sounds mixed into the music very well. The bass is a little bit lower then I usually like it in my rock music, but as long as it carries the tune it does it's job. An all-around great cd, and I'm really looking forward to their next effort on Fueled Up Records (headed by Paul Thind of Necropolis Records), tentatively titled "Nitro". - ArcticMyhm

Tourniquet - Microscopic View Of A Telescopic Realm (Metal Blade, 2000)

Rating: 6.5/10
Tracks: Besprinkled in Scarlet Horror, Drinking from the Poisoned Well, Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm, The Tomb of Gilgamesh, Servant of the Bones, Erratic Palpitations of the Human Spirit, Martyr's Pose, Immunity Vector, Indulgence By Proxy, Caixa de Raiva, The Skeezix Dilemma Part II

I'm trying to place my aversion to Christianity aside so I may write a objective review of Tourniquet's Microscopic View Of A Telescopic Realm and base my review on the merits and downfalls of the music, itself. I am determined not to let the fact that they are a hardcore Christian metal band blur my otherwise perfectly lucid sense of all that is fair and right in the world of reviewing music. It is hard, so bear with me.

I was shocked at first, to say the least. The opening track, "Beskprinkled In Scarlet Horror" is an intense technical workout akin to recent Broken Hope and Meshuggah, sans the over the top vocals. Granted, it is not as heavy or ugly as the aforementioned bands, but the song is definitely an explosive display of excellent metal chops. In fact, most of this album is much better than I expected it to be, but then there are some moments so horrible that I get douche chills just listening to them. Take the whistle solo in "Drinking From The Poisoned Well," for example. There are two major downfalls to Microscopic View of a Telescopic Realm: 1) the occasional idea so bad or cheesy that it is embarrasing (although they are not overfrequent) and 2) the vocals. Much like item #1, the vocal performance is decent much of the time, but occasionally lapses into just plain bad ("The Tomb of Gilgamesh," much of the raging opening tune, etc.).

Now, I know I said I wasn't going to go there, but I must. I get the feeling that if Tourniquet had evil bone one in their bodies, they would be capable of unleashing some outrageous death metal mayhem, but as is the music wavers too much between all-out aggression, melody, hardcore, classic metal and almost folkish moments that rather than sounding like a cohesive whole, it comes off more like a soup sandwich. That probably has nothing to do with the fact that they are Christians through and through, but hey, if you're going to blame someone, it had may as well be God. - Al Kikuras

Triumphator - Wings of Antichrist (Necropolis, 2000)

Rating: 8/10
Tracks: Infernal Divinity, Conquered Light, Heralds of Pestilence, Burn The Heart Of The Earth, Crushed Revelation, Redeemer Of Chaos, The Triumph Of Satan, Goathorned

Fredrik of Marduk is the drummer. What the hell do you expect? Marduk comparisons are inevitable, not only because of Fredrik's involvement, but the mighty Swedes have pretty much set the standard as far as insanely fast black metal goes, and Triumphator falls into that classification. The vocals are of a deeper register than Legion's, but the music is as intense and fast as the most frenzied moments on Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered. Wings of Antichrist doesn't quite have the hooks of Marduk's material and, as a result, isn't as memorable, but still makes for a very entertaining listen. This is one that black metal fanatics are going to flip over and those that hate black metal will hate with a strong passion. - Al Kikuras

Veneficum - Promo 2000 (Demo) (Self-Released, 2000)

Rating: 8/10
Tracks: The Torture of Existence Pt. 1, Majesty in Chaos, Deliverance, The Offering

I wasn't familiar with this band but the second I put this in my cd player I was blown away. After the eerie intro track, it really begins. I found myself practically drooling over this cd. It reminds me so much of the Early-Mid 90's Norweigan black metal sound its almost scary. The riffs have the same cold feel as older Satyricon, the drums are very dynamic and over the top, and the keyboards create such an atmosphere it almost makes Emperor's In the Nightside Eclipse sound weak, and the vocals remind me quite a bit of Ihsahn but they aren't as raspy and high, it's a bit more of a growl rather then shriek, which I prefer in black metal usually. Everything on this flows so perfectly its shocking, and it's not your run of the mill 4 track "raw" black metal recording, its ideal production. This is probably the best US Black Metal band I've heard to date. With a performance at March Metal Meltdown in NJ March 10th, and an MCD and a full length on the way, this band is on the verge of big things. - ArcticMyhm

Vital Remains - Dawn of the Apocalypse (Osmose Productions, '99)

Rating: 9/10
Tracks: Intro, Black Magick Curse, Dawn of the Apocalypse, Sanctity in Blasphemous Ruin, Came No Ray of Light, Flag of Victory, Behold the Throne of Chaos, The Night has a Thousand Eyes, Societe des Luciferiens

It is a sad thing when a band releases a near-masterpiece only to have the lineup virtually dissolve. Incantation are perhaps the kings of this dilemma, with Death running a close second. While both bands managed to carry on without skipping a beat (I saw Incantation on the Mortal Throne of Nazarene tour with a different vocalist/guitarist than on the album and no bassist at all), it remains to be seen if Vital Remains shall do the same. From what I have heard, the band recently lost vocalist Thorns and another member (I believe the guitarist, although I could be mistaken) and will be touring with original vocalist Jeff Gruslin. I suppose I will have my chance to find out at the NJ Metalfest in March when they perform. That said, I certainly hope they do, as Dawn of the Apocalypse is one of the finest death metal releases I have heard in ages. I was one of the few that didn't fall to my knees and worship Vital Remains' deubt release, Let Us Prey. Ditto for the Forever Underground release, which I have heard heralded as some of the finest death metal of all time. While I could certainly appreciate the heaviness and dedication to the underground, the music failed to excite me. Dawn of the Apocalypse has, at long last, made me a believer. This is a dark, ominous slab of music that simply seethes with evil. Now I know what all the underground hipsters meant when they started referring to albums as "cult." the music pounds on like the war march leading the minions of hell up to the earth to wreak havoc and chaos upon an unsuspecting mankind. It is a shame Thorns is no longer in the fold, as his performance on Dawn of the Apocalypse is exceptional. Thorns alternates between high-pitched screams and an extremely deep roar without sounding like he has the mic stuffed down his throat. That is his primary strength as a vocalist in my opinion: the fact that he annunciates clearly and cleanly. Too many vocalists in death metal fail to do so.

While there are some speedier passages on Dawn of the Apocalypse, it is the more mid-paced sections that really leave a lasting impression upon me. Vital Remains are way beyond simply displaying their chops by playing as fast as possible or cramming riff upon riff upon riff into one song. This is music with a purpose, and it comes out as much compositionally as it does conceptually. It is, as the title might seem to hint at, as if Vital Remains were composing the soundtrack to the end of the world. Images of humanity in chains, beaten and torn, bathed in the glow of hellfire as they are marched into a bottomless pit of fire are conjured into my mind. It takes music of an extremely high caliber to call forth visual elements, and Vital Remains have pulled it off quite effectively. An essential death metal purchase. - Al Kikuras

Indecision - Release the Cure (MIA Records, 2000)

Rating: 6/10
Tracks: Higher side of low, maybe nonitored to assure quality control, release the cure, through the wasteland go searching we, tunnel vision, burning saints, crawling, save me, dead, suspension of disbelief, at the wake, this time tomorrow, end of a short rope

Hmmm... I am not a fan of hardcore. Having said that, this album sucks. I have a question: why is it that every hardcore band puts pictures of themselves playing at college parties and everyone is jumping around like idiots? Also, do hardcore bands know what a stage is for? I doubt it, because they always seem to be playing on the same level as the crowd and it looks like they are taking the term "audience participation" a little too seriously. And what in the fuck do fans of hardcore music have against long hair? Well, they probably can't grow their hair very long because in order to do so, the human body needs the right nutrients and vitamins found in animal products, and I doubt any of these guys know what a rare steak looks like. Oh yeah, the music. Well, the music is as bland and pretentious as their image. Chug-chug guitars and loud, obnoxious screaming dominate this disc throughtout its entirety. Why such a high rating? Well, I just got laid a little while ago and Im in a good mood. So if you like all of the crap mentioned above, then get this cd. I will now use it as a coaster. - VagnlVomit

The Gathering - Superheat - A Live Album (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 7/10
Tracks: the big sleep, on most surfaces(inult), probably built in the fifties, liberty bell, marooned, rescue me, strange machines, nighttime birds, my electricity, sand and mercury, eleanor

I am not that big a fan of The Gathering. I only have once of their albums, so all but one of these songs are foreign to me. For a live album, the sound is good. I was a bit dissapointed that only one of the songs is from their album, Mandylion. The honest truth? This album is boring. I fall asleep every time I put it on. I guess you REALLY have to like The Gathering for this to be worth your while, and I, for one, do not really like The Gathering. Oh yeah, and her vocals tend to go offkey more often than is necessary. If you are expecting this CD in any way to be metal, think again. If you want easy listening, elevator friendly thumb tapping music, get this. - VagnlVomit

Thou Shalt Suffer - Somnium (Candlelight, 2000)

Rating: 9.5/10
Tracks: Somnium

I don't think there is a person on the planet that wanted to see this be a disaster more than me, not being a fan of Ihsahns attempts at classical music within the confines of Emperor, I had thought (hoped) that this too would reek of pretentiousness and plasticity. Much to both my delight and disappointment, this simply is on a different level in every aspect. Truly strong material with close ties to Classical music (Even if Ihsahn is now humble enough to not give himself that much credit yet). Very worked through and emotional and dreamy. I have to conclude that Ihsahn was very very busy working on this during the writing of HIV Equilibrium, because there has to be SOME logical explanation why he appeared to completely lose it all at once, only to prove me wrong with his continuation with TSS. Good stuff. - Lance Gifford

Therion - Deggial (Nuclear Blast, 2000)

Rating: 3/10
Tracks: Seven Secrets of the Sphinx, Eternal Return, Enter Yril-Ye, Ship of Luna, The Invincible, Deggial, Emerald Crown, The Flight of the Lord of Flies, Flesh of the Gods, Via Nocturna Part I & II, O Fortuna

I hadn't heard much about Therion in the past and I don't expect to hear much in the future. The female vocals were one of the few enjoyable points of this album. The music itself sounds OK, but nothing great. The vocals really hindered my enjoying this. At first I liked it but I couldn't get past them. With many albums I've grown to love them as time goes on but this certainly wasn't the case this time around. It's a decent album, so if you are a dedicated fan pick it up and give it a listen, but if you aren't familiar with them spend your money on something better then this, that is unless you enjoy vocals that would make an opera singer vomit. - ArcticMyhm

Sentenced - Crimson (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 5/10
Tracks: Bleed In My Arms, Home In Despair, Fragile, No More Beating As One, Broken, Killing Me Killing You, Dead Moon Rising, The River, One More Day, With Bitterness And Joy, My Slowing Heart

Sentenced confuses me, what is going on with them? Each album they move more away from metal and towards Hard Rock. Crimson ends all doubt as to whether there is actually any metal left in this bandŠ there isn't. This is a hard rock album, but it's not even a good hard rock album. It's not catchy enough. To be good hard rock you have to have catchy choruses and very singable lyrics, and they don't.

So let's see, they don't play heavy or well enough to be metal, and they aren't catchy or cheesy enough to be good hard rock, what are they? Alternative! Oh, OK, that answers it. The second song "Home Is Despair" especially could fit every well into the mid-90's alternative scene. It has that "the world sucks so I'm not even going to try" attitude that most music had at that time. File this under the "Too Little, Too Late To Jump On The Bandwagon" file.

Really though, this is a hard album to review. Hell it's a hard album to sit through, let alone more than once. I'm not sure if these guys are selling more albums now that they have gone completely pussy or what, but I can't stomach it. If you like this band and album, please email me and tell me why. I can't figure it out. - Piston Rod

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