Music Reviews

Nevermore - This Godless Endeavor (Century Media, 2005)
 
Rating: 10/10
 
This is the metal record of the year; no need for a progressive detailed story to conclude how great this record is, because this is an upfront conclusion, which in turn serves as an introduction and a theory requiring proof. The year has brought forward some great metal releases (JUDAS PRIEST, CROWBAR, etc.) thus far, but This Godless Endeavor is simply the proverbial "cream of the crop". Before the release of This Godless Endeavor, NEVERMORE's name had been linked over the years with contract and production disputes with it's label (Century Media) concerning both their future and 2003's widely criticized Enemies Of Reality album. Earlier this year, Enemies Of Reality was remixed and remastered by long time metal producer Andy Sneap, in order to reintroduce the two year old masterpiece (buried by Kelly Gray's production) to the masses the way it was/is supposed to be heard. With This Godless Endeavor, an album that seemingly molds together Dreaming Neon Black and Dead Heart In A Dead World, NEVERMORE are back on track and ready to take over the metal world.
 
This Godless Endeavor kicks off with Enemies Of Reality-like pure aggression with the first three tracks starting with the death metal-like "Born", which is a surprise coming from a band like NEVERMORE. For the first 20 seconds, the listener may wonder whether or not this was a manufacturing defect, because it is something previously unheard from NEVERMORE before; hell, vocalist Warrel Dane is growling!  However, after the first 20 seconds, the rest of the song is familiar to even the most casual NEVERMORE fan, in terms of signature arrangement and sound. From there, it's pure guitar riffola, support from a strong rhythm section and the art of the voice that Warrel Dane possesses. This track sounds like something that could have been on 2000's "Dead Heart In A Dead World", only with a fresh and new heavier twist. "Born", like most other NEVERMORE songs, contains an extraordinary guitar solo from Mr. Jeff Loomis; already, This Godless Endeavor sounds very, very promising. Next is the single, "Final Product", which discusses the decline of civilization and is quite a Dreaming Neon Black melodic-style mixed with straight forward heavy riffing... and of course, contains a signature extraordinary solo from Jeff Loomis. "My Acid Words" sounds like something left right on the cutting room floor from the Enemies sessions.
 
The album takes a change of pace with "Bittersweet Feast", which has a Dreaming Neon Black meets Dead Heart In A Dead World feel to it. The song begins with a melodic opening, only to head straight into shifting into heavy and atmospheric riffing, and contains a dual Guitar solo trade off by Jeff Loomis and new guitarist Steve Smyth. "Sentient 6" drifts moreso down the boulevard of the ballad, and is quite similar to the old school style of NEVERMORE. "Medicated Nation" is similar to "Inside Four Walls" or "We Disintegrate", in that it is all-around very catchy and contains the intriguing chorus, "did you remember to feed me while I was broken and bleeding". If and when NEVERMORE decides to release a second single off This Godless Endeavor, "Medicated Nation" would be a very good choice. "The Holocaust Of Thought" is a peculiar track, considering that it lasts barely a minute and a half, is mainly Bass-driven and features a guest guitar solo from Death Metal legend James Murphy!
 
Returning back to a ballad path, "Sell My Heart For Stones" features a very memorable vocal performance by Warrel Dane and truly shows how Steve Smyth improves NEVERMORE's sound and direction. "The Psalm Of Lydia" has a riff that immediately hooks the listener in, and Jeff Loomis proves that he is one of the best guitar players in the world with his riff and solo technique. Similar to "Bittersweet Feast", "The Psalm Of Lydia" features the dual Guitar solo trade off by Jeff Loomis and Steve Smyth. The last tracks on the album "A Future Uncertain" and "This Godless Endeavor" are both mellow and acoustic-like tracks, with "A Future Uncertain" containing only the lead guitar work of Steve Smyth. "This Godless Endeavor" is an 8 minute 57 second epic.
 
It's scary to think back to 2002 when NEVERMORE were having problems with Century Media, and the musicians were forced to seek employment elsewhere during this period as a result. With Warrel Dane cooking at the Swedish Cultural Center Of Seattle, Van Williams working as a graphic artist for Nintendo and Jim Shepherd bartending at Goofy's, it was ridiculous to think that Century Media wasn't meeting the band's needs. Kelly Gray's abysmal production, mixing and mastering work on 2003's Enemies Of Reality took NEVERMORE back several more steps, despite the music being NEVERMORE's most aggressive and heaviest to date. Luckily, Century Media finally saw that NEVERMORE were something to behold and supplied a budget that could afford Andy Sneap, and This Godless Endeavor proves that NEVERMORE will no longer be ignored. NEVERMORE sound better than ever, and Steve Smyth is a perfect fit for the band, because he compliments Jeff Loomis' style. Now that Steve Smyth is the permanent fifth member of Seattle's least discussed band, and the fact that This Godless Endeavor is as good as Dreaming Neon Black and Dead Heart In A Dead World, NEVERMORE can finally achieve the recognition that they have always deserved. NEVERMORE is completed by Warrel Dane's excellent vocal talent, the dual guitar duo of Jeff Loomis and Steve Smyth, and the strong rhythm section of bassist Jim Shepherd and drummer Van Williams. - Dave Larmore

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Relentless – Tempest Of Torment (Crash Music, 2005) 

Rating: 7/10

RELENTLESS is a competent death metal band from Sweden that has spent too much time listening to MORBID ANGEL and MONSTROSITY and other “classic” death metallers.   Guitarist (and vocalist) Matte Andersson has a great trashy Euro-death guitar tone and some really killer riffs, but his vocals are by-the-book, and overall, Tempest Of Torment fails to tread any ground that hasn’t been trampled under by a thousand identical records.   That said, it’s really not a bad record, either--just completely and wholeheartedly derivative.  The band can groove when they need to, and they’re certainly not shabby musicians.   “Zombie Genocide” and “At War” have some catchy bits that you can find yourself getting into, but those are just scattered moments within the whole.  Overall, Tempest Of Torment is a decent record by a good band doing a great job of replicating better records by original bands.  I give it an “average.” - JW

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Satanic Warmaster - Carelian Satanist Madness (No Colours, 2005)
 
Rating: 6/10
 
Strange, I really dug much of this bands' previous output. But something about this record isn't sitting well with me.  Typically SATANIC WARMASTER have always come off to me as sounding like early Emperor with less emphasis on the synth stuff. 

This time around it's a bit different. The songs aren't quite as interesting and absolutely struggle to balance between cheesy and evil.  Now, it's no secret that the black metal well ran dry on original ideas years ago. But when track 3 hit, I was sure the band was covering "Deathcrush."  Apparently not, even if the main riff is almost exactly the same.

Not to focus completely on the negative. SATANIC WARMASTER are certainly a talented act and that does shine through more often than not. I suppose I was expecting more from this band coming off the incredibly creative collaboration with CLANDESTINE BLAZE. - Big Juan

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Swarm Of The Lotus – The Sirens Of Silence (Abacus Recordings, 2005) 

Rating: 8.5/10
 
Monolithic and jagged are the sounds of Baltimore’s SWARM OF THE LOTUS. Like a thrashier ISIS, SOTL churn out walls of dense guitar, pounding drums and pained vocals, building tension within the listener that never seems to release, only crashes back down on itself and comes back tenfold.  Dual vocalists Peter Maturi and Jamie Garonzik possess perfectly tortured barks that overlap brilliantly into one powerful anguished scream.  Picture the middle ground between the bleakness of ISIS and EYEHATEGOD and the powerhouse stoner metal of HIGH ON FIRE, and that’s close to SWARM OF THE LOTUS. Manic opening track “Hookworm” starts the proceedings on an uptempo note, but most of the record stomps along in a colossal midtempo groove.  There’s power here without the shifting tempos and blast-beats and all the classic tricks of the trade­the power is in the anger, the agony, the passion of the band, all of which SOTL has in spades.  I had heard good things about these guys, but I hadn’t heard the first record, 2004’s When White Becomes Black, so I was happy when I got the chance to review this one, and I can say that I agree with the good things I’d heard.  SWARM OF THE LOTUS is definitely one to watch. - JW

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Terrorist - Mata O Muere (Deus Mortuus Productions, 2005)
 
Rating: 10/10
 
In 2000, BRUJERIA issued their third (and seemingly last) full length effort, Brujerizmo. Only two years later, BRUJERIA axeman Asesino issued his solo effort, Corridos De Muerte. Then in 2005, Asesino, Hongo Jr. and Hongo all quit BRUJERIA in one fatal swoop, leaving frontman Juan Brujo by himself standing in the ashes of a fallen death metal band.
 
What the hell does the above have to do with death metal act TERRORIST and their debut album, Mata O Muere (translates to Kill or Death)?  The BRUJERIA and ASESINO notion has a hell of a lot to do with TERRORIST, seeing as TERRORIST have seemingly picked up where both bands left off. Similar to BRUJERIA and ASESINO, TERRORIST play very brutal grind/death metal at high speed, each band member performs under alias, they wear masks and they chant their messages completely in spanish. TERRORIST not only mold ASESINO and BRUJERIA together, but there's an obvious strong NAPALM DEATH influence, as the style of vocalist S.Shit can be very similar to Barney Greenway.
 
To be perfectly honest, there is not one bad track on this album. Each and every song on the album start off with a strong signature "chugga-chugga" death metal riff, which is only followed by steady and talented drum work, backed by distorted bass and brought to the forefront by S.Shit's death grunting. The album starts off with a hostile spoken word speech performed by Diego Martinez entitled "Mundo en Llamas", which is then appropriately followed by "Estado Brutal", which sounds like it could have fit perfectly on Brujerizmo. The album's single, "Himno Del Odio", immediately starts right off with a combination of grunting and fast guitar and drum work... with fast riffing and drumming proceeding and carrying the rest of the song. On the enhanced portion of the disc, the video clip for "Himno Del Odio" can be found, which features four terrorists secretly entering an unknown location... only to reveal that the terrorists are the band themselves going in the room to churn out metal so raw and brutal that SLAYER might get jealous! 
 
On "100% Terroristas", the opening Guitar riff's tone can be compared to that of SOULFLY and SEPULTURA, only to take a turn down ASESINO lane. The 29-second track, "O S S A M A", starts off with a Bass riff/tone that would rub BRUJERIA bassist Hongo (or Fantasma) the right way, and then goes into death metal brutality. To answer the question, no, the track is not a nod to Osama bin Laden; each letter represents a word in the song. "Enfermo De Mierda" is a song that could have appeared on NAPALM DEATH's The Code Is Red... Long Live the Code, if it were in english. The album proceeds to close with "Disturbios", containing riffing that would make Tony Iommi himself very proud, and is (*gasp!*) a fairly slow song clocking in at over four minutes.  The same track contains a hidden track at the 9 minute-38 seconds point, which is simply an appropriate album closer containing dark sampling.
 
In the end, Mata O Muere, is a hell of a disc! Even if the non-spanish speaking listener can't understand what the hell they are talking about, they will find TERRORIST to just as "evil" and brutal as ASESINO and the now-defunct BRUJERIA. In fact, Mata O Muere will literally give the listener an ass-whooping, because it is such a good fucking record!  This album is highly recommended, and hopefully TERRORIST has much more to offer to the world of Metal! Unfortunately, there isn't a single trace of an official internet headquarters for TERRORIST, but Mata O Muere can be purchased off of the Deus Mortuus Productions website. - Dave Larmore

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The Unheard Of – The Struggle (self-released, 2005) http://www.theunheardof.com/

Rating: 6.5/10
 
Let’s play a game, kids. Let’s play “Spot The Influence” with The Struggle, the latest demo from San Diego’s THE UNHEARD OF.  Album opener “Sail To The Edge Of Your Mind” is total DIO.  Second track “Shake” brings to mind melodic nü-metallers DISTURBED. “Grudgeman” may as well be ALICE IN CHAINS, while “If You Wanna” is a STONE TEMPLE PILOTS knock-off. The power ballad “Walk Away” is the “radio hit,” a la HOOBASTANK or any number of other bands these days.  The funky “Beautiful” is a bit of a misstep, reminding me of that awful ROB THOMAS / SANTANA collaboration, except with less guitar heroics.  Aside from that one and the shallow emoting of the “radio hit,” this isn’t a bad listen.  The band has enough chops and youthful energy to pull it all together. Let’s hope they find an actual style of their own somewhere between all those individual tributes to the heavy-hitters of modern rock. - JW

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Unshine – Earth Magick (Crash Music, 2005) 

Rating: 3/10
 
Top Ten Almost-Excusable Reasons For Buying UNSHINE’s Earth Magick album:
10. You bought it as a gift for someone that you hope will never talk to you again.
9. You are heavily medicated.
8. You need to be heavily medicated.
7. You bought it by accident, thinking it was the new UNSANE album.
6. You’re deaf, but you bought it anyway because the gay lute-playing elf on the cover reminded you of Jim Henson’s underrated classic, The Dark Crystal.
5. You like LACUNA COIL, but you wish they just weren’t so heavy.
4. You’re one of those sissy Goth kids that even the other Goth kids think is lame.
3. You hate yourself because Daddy hit you and Mommy didn’t hug you enough and that’s okay…
2. You are part of a scientific experiment testing the human boredom threshold.
1. You didn’t listen to the experts at Unchain the Underground and now look where it got you…
 
Seriously, people, don’t try this at home. I can barely even review this record.  UNSHINE wants to be LACUNA COIL, but instead, Earth Magick sounds like MADONNA’s lost thrash album or a 40-minute “metal” version of “99 Luftballons.”  The vocals are completely lifeless, and the guitars are thin and devoid of anything even remotely resembling balls. Listen at your own risk. - JW

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V:28 - SoulSaviour (Vendlus Records, 2005)
 
Rating: 8/10
 
Norwegian experimental/doom/death metal band V:28 have quite the peculiar approach and gimmick pertaining to the band; the self-described "voice of innovative deconstruction" base their concept on a phophecy concerning the transformation and deconstruction of Earth. With their second album, SoulSaviour, V:28's message will definitely get across to the listener in a heavy manner.
 
The album opens up with a cryptic spoken intro entitled "The Brightest Light", which concerns the most powerful explosion ever witnessed due to a test of a hydrogen device, and sounds like a live national news broadcast. "Unleash The Energy", the single off SoulSaviour, proceeds the introduction with fast guitar picking that does not dissapoint the underground metal fan. "A Prophecy In Uranium" contains a fast Thrash-like riff to it, but still maintains the signature experimental death sound that V:28 has perfected thus far.  "Infected By Life" starts off with a strong guitar and drum combo, and it doesn't let go of the meaty guitar and drum combo at all. Beginning in the middle of the song, the element of programming enters the picture, and actually works pretty well with the song.
 
One of the album's strongest song lies in "The Purifying Flames", with the opening riff even being a bit catchy. In the middle of the song, the guitar and drumming reverts back to the fast picking style that initiated "Unleash The Energy", followed by even more programming and slow doom-like riffing. "Solid Structure Unknown" is just an all-out balls-to-the-wall death metal song, in terms of the fast guitar licks and drumming, plain and simple. "As The Sky Opens" is a slow tempo track, initiated with sampling, which in turn is followed by mid-tempo yet meaty guitar riffing... and there's a nice audible Bass riff behind it!  Additionally, "As The Sky Opens" is the other strongest song, sharing the spot with "The Purifying Flames". "deConstructor" opens up with the one liner, "you've got that special glow", which proceeds into the signature experimental death sound that V:28 have crafted.
 
The album concludes with the instrumental "Dead Men's Choir", which sounds pretty much like the title suggests; It's a slow-tempo track utilizing percussion and programming at the beginning, which then welcomes lead guitar work and reliable drumming, only to solely conclude with even more programming. In the end, the listener will be able to conclude that SoulSaviour contains a unique sound and concept. At times, the music is a bit repetitive, but is still an enjoyable listen for the underground metal fan nonetheless.
 
With a foggy album cover depicting a busty brunette nurse posed on a square billboard with the phrase "... providing a bright future..." underneath her, the music does fit the cover. The booklet is even in the form of a fold out containing a poster of the same busty brunette nurse posed.  In fact, if SoulSaviour was on shelves at national music stores in the Heavy Metal section, it would definitely stick out. SoulSaviour was recorded between November 2004 and January 2005 at Forbidden Frequencies, the studio owned by the band themselves. The recording line-up on SoulSaviour includes Kristoffer Oustad (Lead and Rhythm Guitar, Programming), Eddie Risdal (Vocals and Rhythm Guitar) and Atle Johansen (Bass), with members of WHEN, DEUTSCH NEPAL and RAISON D'ETRE making appearances here and there offering programming and percussion duties. - Dave Larmore

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Witchcraft - Firewood (Rise Above Records, 2005)
 
Rating: 10/10
 
Sweden's WITCHCRAFT sure do miss the rock n' roll sound of the late 60s-70s, and it shows with their 2nd album, Firewood. While marketing and promotional advertisements will label this band as a stoner/doom band, they could not be anymore inaccurate when describing Firewood, because the album resembles exactly like something one would find in the rock n' roll era of the 60s and 70s. In fact, to really go out on a limb here in order to solidify WITCHCRAFT's sound, this is what BLACK SABBATH would sound like if Tony Iommi's fingers didn't suffer (or gain pleasure) from the industrial accident, which obviously resulted in the creation of heavy metal.
 
Firewood offers 10 tracks that are sure to bitchslap the listener straight back to the days of the 60s and 70s where rock n' roll was groovy, the vocalist sounded like he actually had a bit of experience in his throat, the guitarist played solos, the bassist knew his role (and performed it beyond expectations!) and the drummer hit the drums strong. The tempo here is what one would expect from a rock n' roll band, although it varies from song to song. "Chylde of Fire", "Mr. Haze", "Merlin's Fire" and "You Suffer" are what one would identify as fast numbers utilizing good old fashioned rock n' roll riffage. Exceptionally, "Chylde of Fire" and "Mr. Haze" contains very nice bass work behind the guitar work, and the drum work keep together the basic rhythm behind it all. Similar to OZZY OSBOURNE's remastered hit "Flying High Again", you can practically envision the bassist sitting on a stool during the recording of both songs. "Mr. Haze" sounds like something that JIMI HENDRIX could have cut back in the day, and it even includes an acoustic break down in the middle of the song.
 
"If Wishes Were Horses", "Wooden Cross (I Can't Wake The Dead)" and "I See A Man" are more of the mid-tempo cuts, with "I See A Man" beginning with a bass riff that would make Geezer Butler smile. "I See A Man" has a pretty strong BLACK SABBATH influence. "Queen Of Bees" and "Sorrow Evoker" are both the slow numbers on the disc, with "Sorrow Evoker" primarily existing as a dual acoustic guitar track, with even a bit of flute work!. The closing track, "Attention!", is a mid-tempo song including the additional mid-tempo "When The Screams Come" hiding at the 8 minute 53 seconds mark to close an album full of old school rock n' roll.
 
Originally, WITCHCRAFT spawned with the intention of paying homage to both Roky Erickson (ex-13TH FLOOR ELEVATORS) and Bobby Liebling (PENTAGRAM), but obviously have since formulated their own brand of good rock n' roll. This band is fairly young too, with the members ranging in age of mid to late 20s, and they certainly have a shitload left to offer to rock music. A listener will probably never hear WITCHCRAFT's music on rock radio, because corporate radio is too busy and stupid praising the likes of PAPA ROACH, SKINDRED and PUDDLE OF MUDD to notice a band of real rock n' roll music genious like WITCHCRAFT.  As long as these guys are making records, rock n' roll will remain good. WITCHCRAFT is rounded out by Magnus Pelander (Vocals and Guitar), Ola Henriksson (Bass), Jonas Arnesen (Drums) and John Hoyles (Guitar). Good old school style of guitar riffing, decipherable and skilled singing, great bass work, reliable drums and a distinct style of guitar soloing? Sounds like a great deal for any fan of BLACK SABBATH, ST. VITUS and PENTAGRAM! - Dave Larmore

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XXX MANIAK - Harvesting the Cunt Nectar (Red Candle, 2004)

Rating: 8.5/10

Luckily, XXX MANIAK's sense of song and melody isn't nearly as delicate as their affinity for the written word. Song titles like "Sprayed By Cans of Shit," "Fist Fuck Death Grip," and, my favorite, "Buying A DVD Player (Then Raping You With My Old VHS Tapes)," wouldn't work well if the music herein wasn't exactly what it is: disgusting, inhuman grindcore, replete with perverse, dark and sometimes humorous audio samples breaking up the songs, ala MORTICIAN. Like MORTICIAN, with 30 songs in under 20 minutes, you know we're not dealing with RUSH's 2112 here, but rather a thoroughly entertaining, gloriously sick collection of depraved ditties that will have fans of pornoholic death grind drooling at the sphincter. What makes XXX MANIAK stand out from the masses of other bands playing this kind of music is their sense of humor. While obviously deranged and struggling with some serious misogynistic tendencies, the two sick fuckers that released this slab do so in a lovable and endearing fashion. They have the good sense to play short songs, varied in tempo, that are never aound long enough to get tiresome, and the samples are just perfect at breaking up the tunes. If the song doesn't do it for you, chances are the sample will. Also in their favor, the vocals aren't the standard monotone gurgle that many grindcore bands tend to employ (though that subsonic level is certainly reached and mucked around in). The sound is huge, the drum machine is on 11. Everything is as it should be on Harvesting the Cunt Nectar, and the end result is an album that may offer nothing new, but does what many other bands are doing better, making it a fun listen that holds up well to repeat spins. - Al Kikuras

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Zubrowska – Family Vault (Xtreem, 2005) 

Rating: 8/10

Taking all the hallmarks of a variety of extreme styles, France’s ZUBROWSKA tosses up complex death metal riffing, screaming vocals, progressive tempo and dynamic shifts, gothic droning passages, and hardcore guitar bits to make a pretty interesting record.  The fact that they pretty much run through that whole gamut in the first song alone makes it all the more impressive.  Unfortunately, in addition to impressive, it’s also a bit confusing, and consequently Family Vault isn’t one of those records that you would throw in and listen to whilst kicking back and enjoying a beer after a long hard day. It’s a challenging listen from a band that seems to enjoy that part of extreme metal that annoys most people. (Song titles like “Maniac Rockers From Darkness” either indicate a sense of humor or a lack of basic English skills.  Or, more likely, both.) Like DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN, ZUBROWSKA are an enjoyable sprawling mess.  I’m not sure it’s a record for everyone, but as confusing and disorienting as it may be, Family Vault is an above-average release, and the best I’ve gotten from Xtreem Music so far. - JW

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