Music Reviews

Overlorde - Return of the Snow Giant (Sonic Age, 2004)

Rating: 10/10

OVERLORDE first formed in '85, released a highly-acclaimed and sought-after EP in 1987, disbanded in '88, and re-formed in 2000 to release a great 4-song demo. Now, another 4 years later, their debut album, Return of the Snow Giant, is FINALLY available.

That's an album that's over 19 years in the making, people, and I am happy to say that it delivers in every single way. There are a slew of "power metal" bands making the rounds these days that are a dime-a-dozen, churning out pompous, generic metal based on the formula that the originators developed way back when, but without the individuality that made the originators just that... the originators. I have heard so many albums over the past few years that I appreciated on many levels, but just failed to grab me the way a really GREAT metal album did. There have even been albums that I loved after a few listens, and gave a glowing review, but then a month later realized I had no desire to listen to it anymore. The TIMELESS metal album has fast become a lost art.

That, my friends, is where OVERLORDE come in. Maybe it is because they were formed during the golden era of classic US metal, or maybe it is because a lot of the material on Return of the Snow Giant was actually written back then, or that the musicians are all just so damn good. Most likely, a combination of all of the aforementioned is what leads to Return of the Snow Giant being such a great, great album, and one that I know I will still be listening to 10 or 20 years down the line, like I still listen to Reign in Blood, Don't Break the Oath, Battle Hymns and so on.

The album is LONG, clocking in at over an HOUR, but it never grows tiresome. Never redundant. Like a true finely-crafted work, it flows from one song to the next perfectly. The production is pristine, with a great, full guitar sound, heavy drums and audible bass throughout. Each member of the band turns in an exemplary performance, from Mark "M.E." Edward's great riffs and fluid leads, to the dynamic bass playing of John "Kong" Bunucci, the rock-solid pounding of Dave Wrenn and Bobby "Leather Lungs" Lucas' awesome vocals.

A brief intro, "And the Battle Begins...," sets the stage for "Snow Giant," a glorious song that, in the first 20 seconds, OVERLORDE set the standard that the rest of Return of the Snow Giant more than lives up to and so many other bands never even approach... raging guitars, pounding drums, rumbling bass and vocal acrobatics that would make Rob Halford say, "Damn, this guy can SING!" The song writing is spectacular. The songs are varied in tempo, feel, and subject matter. "Hell Hath No Fury" is a raging metal anthem. "When He Comes" an ominous track that builds from a moody intro to a pounding rhythm, the first minute or so featuring perhaps Lucas' best vocal work of his career. "Mark of the Wolf" is an epic track that showcases OVERLORDE's song writing at its best. Clocking it at almost 9 minutes, it tells the story of a man tortured by lycanthropy, not just lyrically but musically as well... the intensity of the music reflecting his transformation. "Colossus (Island of the Cyclops)" is another near-epic, and one of my favorite tracks on the album.

OVERLORDE have delivered a true classic that is sure to wind up on many top 10 lists for 2004, including mine. Return of the Snow Giant is one of the best metal albums I have ever heard. - Al Kikuras

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Polterchrist - Engulfed By the Swarm (Season of Mist, 2004)

Rating:  8/10

Another good release from another Pennsylvania metal band. Its been a pretty damn good 2004 looking back and the longer the year went on, the better it got. Sadly that ended but this is still definitely very good.

POLTERCHRIST are not some new band to pop up overnight, they have existed for nearly 10 years and toured with bands such as SATYRICON, KRISIUN, and IMMORTAL so people ARE taking notice. Season of Mist were wise to pick them up, as they are definitely one of the best metal bands I've heard in recent times from America.

The production is so thick on this, I wish more bands had a sound this full. Don't always go so nuts on the drums in the mix, crank up the guitars a bit, and it can sound really good, they seem to get that.  The style they play is a mix of death, and black but I also hear a bit of thrash in some of the riffing at times. It works quite well for them, very few bands have a sound like this, everything truly stands well on its own, I never found myself saying "that sounds like a riff in the last song" which often happens in death metal for me. Pick this up and enjoy a good pure slab of black/death metal. - Rick

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Rammstein - Reise, Reise (Republic/Universal, 2004)

Rating: 8/10

Now I know many of you are going "Why is someone reviewing the new RAMMSTEIN album in Unchain the Underground?  RAMMSTEIN isn't underground!"  Well, let's set the record straight.  Firstly, they haven't had a hit in the US since "Du Hast," and not only that, they've recently commited commercial suicide in the US with the single off of the new record "Amerika." By doing so, they are officially both edgy and heavy.  Certainly not as heavy as other things I'm going to review, but deserving of a review, nonetheless.

Now let's talk about "Mutter," RAMMSTEIN’s last release. It was an obvious movement forwards for the band. While there were still the "old" RAMMSTEIN subjects coming through ("Zwitter" anyone?), there were still obvious progressions in their sound.  These guys are by no means "progressive," but they certainly progressed in themselves.  Reise, Reise is a continuation in said direction. The use of acoustic guitars, orchestrations, bagpipes, childrens voices, etc. help spice up the crunchy, meaty, nearly industrial sound that  RAMMSTEIN basically coined in the popular mind.

Being that I don't really need to describe their sound any further, I want to talk about the meat of the album, the songs. RAMMSTEIN has mastered the technique of writing a good heavy, but catchy, song. Every song on Reise, Reise is well written with a good chorus, a great hook and a groove that I normally wouldn't allow myself to get into.

This record makes you just nod your head in agreement to the simple pop genius that this band embodies. There is a reason that they still hit the Billboard charts when the release a record, even if they aren't as popular as they were when they toured with LIMP BIZKIT and KORN (and thank whomever you can that a tour like THAT will never happen again). Frankly, they're way better than they were then, and this is probably the best relatively commercially successful record released in a long time.

Oh, by the way, Amerika is probably one of the best tongue-in-cheek songs ever written! It won't change anyone's mind, but the video is genius and the chorus is so goddamn catchy that I can't go a day without whistling it. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Rhapsody - The Symphony of Enchanted Lands II: The Dark Secret (SPV/Steamhammer/Magic Circle Music, 2004)

Rating: 8/10

RHAPSODY is a band that should need no introduction by now.  Every time they release a record, they become a little more famous/infamous among the metal crowd. Their brand of over-the-top Hollywood Metal has began to sell big across the world, and their guitarist (Luca Turilli) has ascended to godlike levels among guitar geeked-out metalheads. Everything this band does, as far as most of these guys are concerned is beyond the realms of normal reality.  They stretch the boundaries of space-time and evoke strong emotions from all who encounter them (in one way or another). Even non-metal guys own their CDs for the metal cred that it instantly bestows upon them.

When I found out that they had teamed up with Christopher Lee to do the narration, I wasn't sure what would happen.  In many ways, I thought it would validate the attempts at drama that their vocalist (the aptly named Fabio) had failed at so miserably on their past records. I thought to myself "Maybe, just maybe, Christopher Lee's acting ability will launch Rhapsody to the next level of musical drama!

I was then informed that they were using a real orchestra on the new recording, and I became more excited than ever before!  With a real orchestra, RHAPSODY could outdo even the most overly done BLIND GUARDIAN record! They could out-track, out-solo, in short, out-do the rest!  With this record, RHAPSODY could conquer the power metal world with one fire-breathing blast!

When I got this album, I threw it in my stereo without hestitation. I skipped Math to listen to this record straight through. I must be entirely honest with you, I don't think it was worth it.  It's a good album but it is lacking in several areas.

Firstly, not only did Christopher Lee NOT launch them to the next stratosphere, I think he's cheesier than Fabio! During all of this, I had kept thinking of Christopher Lee as Saruman from Lord of the Rings, but I had forgotten that he was also 150 B Movies from the 70s. So because of all of that, I think the narrations were worse than ever.

Not only that, but the orchestra is not NEARLY as interesting as their old stuff! On the older records, particularly their excellent Power of the Dragon Flame, the orchestra was fun to listen to! It was always working along with the guitar, and very lively.  Using a real orchestra is not nearly as easy I think they were hoping for.  Or at least, the way the music was written for that orchestra, is far more sedentary than I had hoped for.

Of course, this is still RHAPSODY. There are many highlights, and it's still worth owning. However, I just don't think that they pulled off the opus that this record should have been. While every song is still a whirlwind of emotion, etc., it feels lacking in guitar solos, and the lively orchestral structures that keep their music so interesting. 

It is still an excellent record, but it certainly isn't up to RHAPSODY standards. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Seasick - Bestie Mensch (PWP, 2004)

Rating:  9/10

SEASICK from Germany play Grindcore kind of in the vein of SKITSYSTEM in my opinion.  Its chock full of punk riffs, skank drumming and angry vocals. What really makes this band stand out are the riffs, and their ability to write songs longer than 1-2 minutes in length. They write what you might consider epics with some songs clocking in at 4-5 minutes.

SEASICK has existed for 12 years now, its a shame this is the first time I've heard of them. I'd love to check out some of their earlier material.  This is really good straight up Grindcore. - Rick

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Six Reasons to Kill/Absidia - Morphology of Fear split CD (Bastardized Recordings, 2004)
 
Rating: 6/10
 
This split CD is actually a split label release as well being released by both Bastardized Recordings and Per Koro. Now when I saw the logo of the later record label, I nearly shit my pants (in fact I'm pretty sure something crept out down there, but, err... forget it). As a quick history lesson, in the mid-1990's Per Koro was the center point of a German hardcore scene overflowing with innovative bands like ACME, SYSTRAL, CAROL, AMBUSH, MORSER, DAWNBREED, MINE... I could go on for hours.  At that point the mixture of hardcore and grindcore was still pretty much an experimental mix. A brilliantly experimental concoction I might add.

Sadly, nothing on this CD even limps towards the mark set by the above named bands. What you have here is a straight forward hardcore/grindcore hybrid that doesn't take nearly as many risks as the mid-90s Per Koro roster. At the same time, these guys are absolutely good at what they do.  Both bands sound similar to me and you wouldn't have to go through much trouble to trick me into thinking this is one band.

ABSIDIA, however, do throw out some unconventional nuggets such as some surprising  "emo" riffing.  And their guitar player sure can fucking wail. Not to discount SIX REASONS TO KILL who prove that they have an extremely capable drummer who can blast with the best of them.

Perhaps I am being too hard on this CD due to the expectations I built up.  Any fan of death/grind bands such as KATAKLYSM, CRYPTOPSY and even DISCORDANCE AXIS will probably enjoy this disc. As for me, I'm heading upstairs to break out some old 7"s! - Big Juan

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Solace in the Shadows - Screaming to Survive EP (Red Candle Records, 2004)

Rating:  9/10

I'm not sure where this band came from.  Everything in the metal scene seemed a bit stagnant for a while and now theres just suddenly good creative metal again? This makes me incredibly happy.  I'd hardly think Pennsylvania is a hotbed for music such as this but I hope I'm wrong because SOLACE IN THE SHADOWS (from henceforth referred to as SitS) are really damn good.

These guys instantly did something which made me take notice and find enjoyment in this EP, they did not include a homoerotic intro. I wish more bands would pretend intros and outros don't exist, they are just plain pretentious.  That's a rant for another day, or review however.  SitS play a very earpleasing hybrid of death and black metal with some very melodic moments and incredibly powerful riffs. The vocals range from a low guttural grunt to a high raspy scream, and uh... clean and talking vocals.  I could have done without them..perhaps one day they'll wise up and totally abandon the clean vocals. Production is damn good here, very professional sounding.

In a scene I know next to nothing about it is easy for a band like SitS to stand out but the riffs on this are just amazing. I'd love to hear a full length from them, perhaps one will be made at some point..till then I will listen to this and wait. Kickass EP, one of the best newer bands I've heard all year long. - Rick

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Suicide Note - Too Sick To Dance (Ferret Music, 2004)

Rating: 7.5/10

Had I been forced to quantify the statistical chances that I would arrange a string of words into specific sentences during my tenure as Reviewer Emeritus at Unchain the Underground, the following would have been considered a statistical enigma MODEST MOUSE, meet crust punk. Crust punk, meet MODEST MOUSE. Now that we're acquainted, we have SUICIDE NOTE.

Let me qualify the above statement by saying that I never expected to review an album like this while still employed by Unchain the Underground, but I'm not disappointed. SUICIDE NOTE have masterfully crafted (in 20 days) a morose roller coaster of seriously crusty, and strangely intriguing post-hardcore music.

Production-wise, SUICIDE NOTE enjoys a production far more similar to late 70s or early 90s underground punk rock, avoiding the heavily produced sounds of the day, while not compromising good tone in the process.  While sometimes the sound gets a little muddled, it most certainly works in their favor because of the crusty sound that permeates those moments. The tension created with the overbearing distortion and dissonant chords is offset nicely by the minimalist clean parts that are interspersed throughout the record.

The vocals range between clean and almost a Swedish death metal scream, but most of the time are somewhere around the crustcore scream.  The lyrics are repetitive and simple. The exude anger, disgust, and loathing in a very simple but effective manner.  Obviously vocals like this are symptomatic of the scene, but I prefer something a little more complex and artful.

While music such as this definitely has its place, I'm not sure if its in a metal 'zine.  However, I begrudge no one, as I enjoyed this record and will most certainly hand it off to a few of my hardcore friends. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Taake/Thule - Helnorsk Svartmetall (Perverted Taste, 2004)

Rating: 9/10

It is my firm believe that anything Høst is involved with is fucking awesome. All the TAAKE stuff that I've heard to this point, including early demos, has just fucking ruled.  It doesn't matter how bad the production is, it doesn't matter whether it's an mp3 or vinyl, it's all just awesome. 

This record (really, vinyl, it's included in the TAAKE vinyl Box Set which is available on the Perverted Taste website) is two TAAKE demos and two THULE demos put into a single record.  From start to finish, we're talking about some raw, excellent black metal.

We'll start with the TAAKE demos, since they're first on the CD. The first track is a poorly produced version of a song that ended up on Nattestid..., but after that it's all new. The style isn't much different from the two albums. While produced with a lot more "atmosphere" (which might appeal to the much more kult black metal fans) the basic style is much the same. Pretty trem-picky, with lots of good harmonies.

The second demo has far inferior production. It sounds like a practice tape, where everything is overtaking the speakers and they can't handle it.  However, the material is totally solid, and the shitty production just lends to the aggressive atmosphere that black metal should have.

THULE is Høst's earlier project. Much in the same vein of black metal as TAAKE the production is mediocre at best, but the vocals are unreal. I've never heard a band with vocals like this, but maybe I'm just not well listened enough. It basically sounds like a little kid doing black metal vocals.  Very high pitched, almost inhuman sounding. THese two demos are fucking unreal.  This material is great and I almost like it better than the TAAKE stuff on here.

Perverted Taste did the world a favor by releasing this material.  It's as fucking black metal as it gets.  Buy this record. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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The Chasm - The Spell of Retribution (Earache Records, 2004)

Rating: 9/10
 
It's about fucking time THE CHASM got their due. When I heard they'd been picked up by Earache I was happy for them. I've watched these guys surf around the underground for years now, knowing full well that there was a place atop the metal inner circle already reserved for Daniel Corchado (who has also served as front man for INCANTATION) and THE CHASM.

In my opinion THE CHASM are one of the most unique products on the metal market. They're able to blend NWOBHM riffs with the deadliest of death/doom/black or whatever you want to label it.  While that may be an incredible cliche, I'd take that one step further to say that the Chasm are the dictionary definition of what it takes to stand out in the modern metal scene. Go ask DEEDS OF FLESH, it's no easy feet.  These days you can usually hear two minutes of a band and throw out any of these names "SUFFOCATION, DARKTHRONE, BURZUM, MORBID ANGEL, SLAYER, etc." to immediately pigeonhole them.

As with any of their recent efforts, "The Spell of Retribution" begins with an absorbing instrumental track before launching into their first song proper. For the next nine tracks it's smooth sailing for anyone connoisseur of metal. - Big Juan

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The Great Deceiver - Terra Incognito (Peaceville, 2004)

Rating:  4/10

This is really strange.  Its metal at times but then it has these riffs which just sound like leftovers from later PARADISE LOST, and then some really hardcore moments. Now I don't mind hardcore, I like some bands but I dislike metal and hardcore crossing over very much. It sets really bad examples, bands then bite off that style and creativity goes out the window. With members from DIABOLIQUE and AT THE GATES I was expecting so much better and I was really let down.  For what this is its listenable, but with those credentials I can't help but feel like they can do better. 

On the Peaceville site, Tomas Lindberg said "The Great Deceiver is the dark hardcore cousin of At The Gates, the logical continuation of my career."  I say, "Please re-form At the Gates." - Rick

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Time Machine - Reviviscence Liber Secundus (Lucretia Records, 2004)

Rating: 4/10

If time machines really existed, I would request the fellows of the band with the same name helped teleport me back in time so that I could gain back the hour that I wasted listening to this masturbatory practice in mindless "progression." Very rarely does a band achieve such boring results with such incredible talent.  I guess the best parallel I can draw is the "technical masturbation" of the (unduly) much worshiped DREAM THEATER.

As I sat and listened to this record, I was amazed at how every hook, melody, interesting idea, etc., was thrown to the winds within seconds of first appearing, and the only musical elements that remained around for any period of time were the completely boring "progressive" pieces. So to give you a clear idea of what these guys sound like, I'd suggest you dig through your power metal collection and listen to all of your neo-classical groups that people love and respect like YNGWIE, ADAGIO, SYMPHONY X, et al.  Now remove all catchy vocal melodies (not kidding, there isn't a SINGLE melodic line that I was left humming), all good ol' rockin' heavy metal parts (again, they ended practically before they began, only to be replaced by sporadic syncopated rhythms, that while technically interesting don't make for a good heavy metal record), the melodic guitar leads (the closest thing I heard to a solid melodic guitar lead in the IRON MAIDEN vein was an acoustic guitar part that was never extrapolated on) and pretty much anything else that makes for good metal.

The fact is this; when semi-progressive bands like SONATA ARCTICA, BLIND GUARDIAN, SYMPHONY X, and ADAGIO do something progressive, it is interspersed between more traditional parts. What does this create? It creates variation and contrast, making the music interesting to listen to, while at the same time EASY to listen to because of the melodies, beat, texture, and all the other musical elements that we take for granted. Unfortunately, TIME MACHINE falls into the trap of being too "progressive" for their own good.

I suppose that if you like technical experimentation (though, it's not even really anything different than what DREAM THEATER has been doing since the early 90s) and a completely cerebral experience, you might enjoy this record. But if you're really into the "cerebral experience" of music, I'd say that you should listen to some Baroque period music, like Bach's fugues or Vivaldi's Concerti Grossi. Or, you might find it interesting to listen to some 12-tone or free jazz. All three options are far more intellectually stimulating, and far more underground than this extraordinarily boring collection of extraordinarily boring songs. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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Tsjunder - Desert Northern Hell (Season of Mist, 2004)

Rating: 8.5/10

Parallels to IMMORTAL are sure to be drawn when listening to TSJUNDER's Desert Northern Hell, but based on their sound and even the cover art, which is similar to Pure Holocaust, I don't think they would mind. As it says on the back of the promo case, "No synthesizers, no female vocals, No Fucking Compromises!" That pretty much lays it out right there.

Yeah, there are a lot of black metal bands going the purist route (just as many that went the fruity, pompous route) to the point that declaring such has lost most of its impact, but TSJUNDER don't sound like the run-of-the-mill, stripped-down black metal band because they are far superior musicians to many of their contemporaries. Desert Northern Hell is a tight, focused, intense black metal album, with touches of thrash throughout. Though almost 50 minutes in length, it never gets boring. The songs are good and the music rages. Desert Northern Hell reminds me of when I first heard MARDUK's Heaven Shall Burn... When We Are Gathered which, in my opinion, is an album that raised the bar in intensity and fierceness. Desert Northern Hell does so once again and is an album that I know I will find myself listening to regularly for quite some time. Highly recommended. - Al Kikuras

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Visceral Damage - Garden of Mutilation (Xtreem Music, 2004)

Rating: 8.5/10

A short time ago I was given a demo by VISCERAL DAMAGE from Spain and I really enjoyed it. I gave it an 8 out of 10, as I felt really it wasn't their maximum potential, and thankfully I appear to have been right. 

VISCERAL DAMAGE have put out a full length finally and it solved most of the small problems I had with their demo. The bass was so low in the production, its turned up quite a bit here and it has this real low-end heaviness to it.  If you listen on headphones you might not hear it but trust me, a subwoofer makes all the difference in the world. The vocals sound a bit different than on their demo and this is a good thing in my opinion.

Where this band really shines is on songs like "Hammer Massacre" with the totally fucking unrelenting drumming. I haven't heard someone with hands and feet this quick in some time, the drummer seems to speed UP the longer he goes, and I absoloutely love this. They have these little moments in several songs which remind me of DERANGED quite a bit. They play a slam riff, or just something with a little bit of groove but at hyperspeed.  More bands need to take up this practice.

If you like brutal death metal, this is the album for you. I just wish Xtreem Music would package their discs with lyrics, I was unable to find any at their official site, and I'd like to know what the lyrical content is so I could judge that a bit.  very minor complaint though as the most important thing here, the music, really does kick ass. - Rick

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Witchkrieg - Dark My Way (Rede & Rite Records, 2004)

Rating:  0/10

This is quite possibly THE WORST RECORD EVER RECORDED. I'm going to stretch to find anything to say at all, but here goes.

WITCHKRIEG hails from Australia. I'm not sure exactly what kind of sound they're aiming for, but I can say for sure, that they're failing miserably at it. First and foremost, the vocals issue must be addressed.  I enjoyed 2 minutes of one song on this record, and those two minutes were entirely death metal vocals.  The rest of the entire album (45 minutes) was covered by quite possibly the most terrible vocals I've ever heard. This completely tone deaf woman, in essence, recites her completely terrible poetry over completely contrived and crappy thrash influenced heavy metal.  I've heard 15 year olds who can't play instruments put out better demos than this.  I think that my niece and her guitar that makes preprogrammed noises when you press a button could make better music than this.

Everything about this record is bad, the layout, the production, the vocals, the writing. I honestly believe that Al Kikuras hates me.  There can be no other reason that he sent me this record and expected me to sit through it. It's giving me shivers just thinking about how bad this album is. - Jim Bob The Enforcer

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