Music Reviews

Antaeus - Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan (Baphomet/Necropolis, 2000)

Rating: 9/10

I love black metal bands with completely indecipherable logos. Antaeus not only fall into that category, but they took it one step further and smeared a black logo against a dark brown & black background, so any hopes of actually figuring out what the band is called from the cover goes right out the proverbial window. Since the promo didn't come with a tray card, I couldn't read it off the spine so I hunted around the disc and found the copyright info along the edge with the band's name.

2 points for me.
0 for Satan.

That settled, I moved on to the music and was floored from the first 10 seconds on. Antaeus are one of the most chaotic and violent black metal bands to come across my ears in ages. The vocal delivery combines a typical (but certainly not boring) black metal screech with deep, guttural growls. The production is just about out of control, sounding like any second, things are going to deteriorate into a sonic blur. Musically, Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan is along those same lines... it sounds like the band just barely has a harness on themselves, combining the attitude and insanity of early Venom with the speed of Marduk. Yup, this is that black metal stuff, folks. With a title like "Cut Your Flesh and Worship Satan" you wouldn't really expect the band to be all that subtle, and the 8 tracks on here are about as subtle as gang rape. This is one disc I have been (and shall continue to) spin over and over! - Al Kikuras

Antagony - Expect the Worst (self-released, 2000)

Rating: 8/10

Expect the Worst is an intense 18-minute assault on the ears of a death metal/grind hybrid that the fellas in Antagony have dubbed "sporadicore." There is a slight tinge of hardcore thrown into the mix as well, but death metal is definitely the primal beast lurking beneath this all. The deep vocals are particularly excellent, calling back to the vomitous bellows on Reek of Putrefaction. The equally-enjoyable high screams bring Seth Putnam and (surprisingly) Varg Vikernes to mind. The music is multidimensional, jumping from a grinding blast to a sludgy death metal groove at the drop of a dime. The songwriting is good, which I think is the Antagony's primary strength. They know when to blast & when not to blast, and as such the music never gets boring or redundant. - Al Kikuras

Averse Sefira - Homecoming's March (Arrogare Records, 2000)

Rating: 8/10

Averse Sefira have a taste for the epic. Not in the typical black metal sense which most folks associate with keyboards and pomp and stuff like Bal Sagoth and other such slop. Averse Sefira steer far clear of the goth crapola, playing dense and technically challenging brutal black metal.  This US powerhouse has a perchance for writing some LOOONG tunes, like "Sentinel's Plight," clocking in at around 13 minutes (intro included). The challenge here in writing a long song of this vein is keeping things interesting throughout, and Averse Sefira aptly manage to do so.  All of the tracks on Homecoming's March are pretty lengthy, the shortest around 6 minutes, with the average length around 7.5-8 minutes. I cannot find fault with this album, other than the infrequent use of mediocre clean vocals and the fact that a drum machine was employed, although it is used tastefully. The performance sounds like a live drummer, but the problem I have with drum machines is every time you hear the snare, or the kick drum, or the cymbals, etc. the hit sounds exactly the same and as a result,  dynamics are pretty much impossible to achieve. I have read that they have since enlisted a live drummer ("The Corpse" is his oh-so-imaginative name, I believe) which is a big plus. This is a very impressive debut - if Averse Sefira continue along these lines, we can expect the next release to be immense.  - Al Kikuras

The Black League - Ichor (Nuclear Blast, 2000)

Rating: 2/10

No no no no... we DO NOT need this. Enough grunge and pseudo-hard-rock bands smeared us with pompous crap in the mid 1990's. Bad enough Sentenced lost their sack for playing really heavy music after the incredible North From Here. Was it really necessary for Taneli Jarva to step away from his now-equally crappy, watered down other band to record this dreck? I think not. This is even weaker than the last few Sentenced releases, as it is much more commercially viable and crap-happy. Vocals that sound doped up on queludes, half-heavy rock songs that have been done time and time again. I can't believe this is the same guy that sang "My Sky Is Darker Than Thine!"

The one good thing about the album is that the inlay card is printed on really nice, thick stock paper, like Bestial Warlust's Blood & Valour was printed on. I love the scent and texture of it, but unfortunately this is an album that smells better than it sounds.

At least now I have an extra uncracked jewel case handy. - Al Kikuras

Boulder - Ravage and Savage (Tee Pee Records, 2000)

Rating: 5/10

Pretty standard Nola area southern rock/sludge from this outfit.  Definitely not bad stuff, but nothing that really stands out either. Not much I can really say about this.  If you like Down, Crowbar, or even Eyehategod, you might dig this.  It's roots are more rock and roll oriented however, and would most likely appeal more to fans of old Sabbath and the Obsessed. - Master Shockwave

Carnal Forge - Firedemon (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 6/10

Not much to say here.  Carnal Forge play thrash metal that borrows heavily from older Slayer material (this shouldn't shock anyone). However, with the new Haunted disc, I feel that a new precedent has been set in retro-thrash, and records like this simply sound dated and slightly above average. Recommended for hardcore fans of Slayer, the Haunted, old Dark Angel, etc... who desperately need a thrash fix. - Master Shockwave

Carpathian Forest - Strange Old Brew (AvantGarde, 2000)

Rating: 8.5/10

Carpathian Forest are one of the few remaining bands in the original Norwegian scene who play their style of Black Metal with cryptic minimalism. Their sound is unquestionalby their own, while being definitively Black Metal.  Though the band has made obvious sound improvements that come from years of playing together, they still manage to capture the essence of Black Metal to record, while many of their peers strive for experimentation or have simply reached stagnation. 

"Strange Old Brew" picks up right where 1998's "Black Shining Leather" left off. The first half of the record is noticeably faster in tempo than the songs on the later portion. Songs like "Bloodcleansing" and "Mask of the Slave" show that CF have improved upon their technical ability, but can still spook the fuck out of us.

As the record progresses to the later tracks, a noticeable, but not negative, slower tempo is introduced.  These tracks are as atmospheric as they are evil, with a cover of the theme from "Nekromantikk" topping it all off. A great release from one of the most original band in the scene.  I should also point out that "House of the Whipcord" has to be the first Black Metal song ever to use a saxophone.  Brutal. - Master Shockwave

Cryptopsy - And Then You'll Beg (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 7.5/10

I have recently found myself approaching total music and review burnout. So many albums to listen to, so many to review, even discs that do grab me at first tend to get filed away and never thought of again just because of the mass quantity of it all. Sitting here now, listening to And Then You'll Beg at a fair tilt on the headphones, I am really enjoying what I hear, but wonder: 2 months... 2 weeks... two DAYS after I write this review, will I have the urge to listen to this album again? I don't know. Some discs do rattle around in my head indefinitely... the last December Wolves, Gorguts' Obscura,  the last two Nevermore albums, the Bloodshed Divine CD... but, now on my third listen to the new Cryptopsy, a single hook still has not sunk in.

I can appreciate the aptitude of the players, the thought that went in to these intricate compositions, their adherence to non-stop intensity throughout the entire release, but I don't think they managed to pen an album that has the staying power of None So Vile or Whisper Supremacy. I have to question myself, however: is it that my overloaded brain simply cannot hold on to the hooks they are providing or are the hooks simply not there? I can't be sure. But, I can say that this album is as fast and intense as anything Cryptopsy have done in the past. Things have definitely been kicked up a notch as the arrangements and guitar parts are even more insane. While many folks felt that former Cryptopsy vocalist Lord Worm left far too big a pair of shoes to fill after his departure, having set such a lofty standard on None So Vile, I was among the minority that thought DeSalvo did an ample job of the task at hand and here, again, I think he does a fine job. The major gripe I have heard is that he sounds too "hardcore." While he certainly is not as over the top as Lord Worm, DeSalvo brings a level of annunciation to the words that his predecessor did not. I think that is a fair trade. No fan of their past work that is in his or her right mind should be disappointed by And Then You'll Beg. Hopefully I'll get into a horrific car accident and break both my arms and be unable to write reviews or have access to my CD pile and a month or so later, after I get back from the hospital and am semi-recovered from my accident and aforementioned burnout, And Then You'll Beg will find its way into the stereo again and properly sink in.  - Al Kikuras

Divine Empire - Doomed to Inherit (Olympic/Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 3/10

I cant say enough about this cd... actually, I cant say enough about how boring it is. You've heard this album a hundred times, done immeasurably better by the likes of Malevolent Creation and Cannibal Corpse. Even the cover art looks cheesy and borrowed.

The first track starts out with a gunshot, and after fifteen minutes or so of sludgy, go-nowhere riffs and standard Floridian death metal vocals, I wanted to take a shot at it myself.

Someone should tell these guys that it's not 1991 anymore, so we really don't need song titles like 'Murder Suicide', 'Self Inflicted', and 'Mandatory Punishment'. The sampled intro that sounds like Skeletor from He-Man made me laugh, but thats the best I can say about this redundant slab of unoriginality.

The Parental Warning should be taken off the front, replaced by a stamp that says "official death metal band." Luckily for Derik Roddy, he gnawed his arm off and ran to Hate Eternal. - October Tide

Dying Fetus - Destroy the Opposition (Relapse, 2000)

Rating: 8/10

Dying Fetus is among the new crop of American death metal bands to emerge in the last few years. When talking of this scene, names like Deeds of Flesh, Skinless, Disgorge and Lividity come to mind.  Dying Fetus, however, may be leading the race.  Having improved with each record thus far, the Fetal ones have unleashed their most punishing output yet. The guitars are thicker, the drums are MUCH faster, the bass is thumping, and the vocals are guttural as ever. Their Relapse debut really shows a band about to move to the forefront of the death metal scene.  We may have found a band to fill the hole left in Suffocation's absence. Highly recommended. - Master Shockwave

Eyehategod - Confederacy of Ruined Lives (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 8/10

Those crazy fucks in Eyehategod have reunited after several years apart and returned to the sludge rock forefront. Even with several years of dust on their songwriting skills, the boys sounds the same as they ever were.  Which can be a good or a bad thing. If you enjoy Eyehategod and want a solid of their bluesy-sludgy-Sabbath influenced noise, then this is an LP to add to your wish list. They haven't lost a step on their time away and this disc shows that. However, Eyehategod are never ones to reinvent their sound, so if you aren't a big fan, and have one disc from them that satisfies your curiousity, then "Confederacy..." is really not a necessity, though still a very solid release. - Master Shockwave

Fleshgrind - The Seeds of Abysmal Torment (Olympic/Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 8/10

I wasn't incredibly impressed by Fleshgrind's last album, Destined for Defilement. A decent slab of death metal, it was, but nothing to wet the bed about. The Seeds of Abysmal Torment finds Fleshgrind vastly improved over their debut. While it fails to knock me completely on my ass, as there are no surprises within, it does display much more refined musicianship and songwriting. The improved drum performance, alone, breathes an immense amount of new life into the band. With 10 tracks of non-stop brutality, it tends to blurr into one big long song, but the music is so intense throughout that it is not get boring... just kind of nondescript. I am a big fan of Rich Lipscomb's vocals. I know they are totally ridiculous, especially the deep, completely indecipherable cupped-mic growl, but fuck... I can't get enough of it. At first I just thought it was funny, and listened to Destined for Defilement as much as I did for the novelty of his voice, but that growl sunk its claws in and I was hooked. His vocal performance is much more varied and impressive on this album, but that growl is still there in abundance, much to my joy. The Seeds of Abysmal Torment is an album that manages to be vital and relevant despite bringing nothing new to the already overflowing death metal table. With the semi-resurgence the genre has seen of late, it is albums like this that will help the resurgence swell and keep the watermark for quality above the rim of the toilet. - Al Kikuras

Halford - Resurrection (Metal Is/Sanctuary, 2000)

Rating: 10/10

He is one of the reasons I became a Heavy Metal singer. Rob Halford is back and he has picked up the intensity, without missing a step mind you, where he last left off. This spectacular offering is quite simply the comeback album of the year! Fans of Judas Priest will be quite pleased when they pop this instant classic into their towers of high voltage (that's lingo for stereo). "Resurrection" was produced by non other than Roy Z. The very same Roy Z who mastermined the production of Bruce Dickinson's solo albums, respectively speaking, "Accident of Birth" and "The Chemical Wedding". That should give you one reason to buy this album. The other reason would obviously be the band HALFORD itself which consists of an incredible array of relatively new talent featuring the guitar tandem of Patrick Lachman and Mike Chlasciak along the great rhythm section of bassist Ray Riendeau and drummer Bobby Jarzombek. Every track is a sure-fire winner with my favorites being the title track "Resurrection", a classic in terms of the banshee wails of Mr. H, "Made In Hell" which is an all out anthem very reminiscent of early JP favorites "United" and "Defenders of the Faith". Another standout is "Saviour" a title most befitting to the man himself and the gift of song that he has given to the masses over the years. The musicianship is simply outstanding and Halford has never sounded better. He is still the master. Get this album now or you'll find yourself in a "FIGHT". - Bob Mitchell

Judas Iscariot - Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten (Red Stream, 2000)

Rating: 9.5/10

What a nice suprise this EP is. No one saw it coming, no one was prepared for this little slice of malevolence that Akhenaten decided to unleash on the world. Session drummer Cryptic Winter is the striking new feature on this EP, as his performance is faster and tighter than any of Akhenaten's playing on previous albums. As a result, the material is much faster and tighter overall. What, you say?? Akhenaten's trademark semi (and sometimes outright) sloppy drumming is not a part of Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten?? ‘Yes!’ I say! Although I love his playing behind the kit, it is a pleasant change to hear Judas Iscariot ripping things up in a more Sarcophagus-type fashion, where the overall aim is barbarism rather than atmosphere. Akhenaten's writing is perhaps the best it has been yet, especially on track 3, "Journey Through Visions of War," undoubtedly my new favorite Judas Iscariot tune. I have heard that this is not going to be the predominant new direction of the project (faster and more straightforward, that is) but rather Dethroned, Conquered and Forgotten is just a few demons that needed to be exorcised. A glorious exorcism it is... recommended to Judas Iscariot fans as well as former detractors that did not care for previous works. This is great, raw black metal that any fan of the genre would be remiss to ignore. - Al Kikuras

Avernus - Where the Sleeping Shadows Lie (Cursed Productions, 2000)

Rating: 10/10

This is my first taste of Avernus and I want more.  This features 5 demos, and a total of 10 crushing somber tracks guaranteed to depress and spread gloom, but never bore you.  Most doom bands simply go for slow and heavy but Avernus combines melody in with this crushing heaviness, darkness,  as well as influence from folk,goth and mid-eastern music.  Starting with the Sadness demo its all uphill/downhill from there.  As the music gets better and better, it becomes much darker and gloomy.  I don't know what to say about this superb band other than if you are into slow dark doom buy this compilation, and enjoy the fine work of a band that defines doom metal. - Rick

For Those About to Rot: A Tribute to AC/DC (Dwell Records, 2000)

Rating: 7/10

I'm not the biggest fan of tribute albums to be totally honest.  It's usually several bands trying to make songs better or identical to the original, but in this case it's a half decent effort.  While some bands stick to the standard AC/DC format, Necrology do a total grindcore cover of You Shook me All Night Long.  Many bands on this are unknown to me,  but they do good covers of AC/DC, but the Necrology track is the standout,  as they take a regular heavy metal/hard rock song and convert it to one of the sickest songs I've heard.  Not bad at all, fans of AC/DC should dig this, the covers are close to perfect, its just not anything ground breaking,  as it shouldn't be (it is a tribute after all), but rather a fitting homage to a legendary band. - Rick

Dark Tranquility - Haven (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 8/10

I've only had the luck to hear The Gallery and Projector prior to this, while I was disappointed by Projector, The Gallery is a classic.  This album seems to be somewhere between both of them, as there is a lot of elaborate keyboard work, while blended with some riffs that sounded like they belonged on the Gallery.  This is a lot less technical then the older material but in no way is this a bad release.  If you enjoyed  Projector you will dig this, I'm sure.  But for the diehard fans... stick to the older material. - Rick

Rotting Christ - Khronos (Century Media, 2000)

Rating: 4/10

Yet ANOTHER album produced by Tagtgren. I'm a huge Hypocrisy fan but this is ridiculous, his production is mediocre at best and does it ever show on this album.  For any of you expecting another Non Serviam, or Passage to Arcturo stop reading this right now, you will only be disappointed. Although better than a Dead Poem, and Sleep of the Angels this in no way does justice to the past, when they were able to write good songs.  Warm production, bland riffs, and unimaginative music as a whole make this an album only for people who just got into black metal last week.  Avoid this album, do yourself the favor. - Rick

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