Gemini Five-Babylon Rockets
(Wild Kingdom/PHD, 2003)

For some reason this band reminds me of a more rock n roll version of Def Leopard. I suppose if I was a bigger fan of Def Leopard that might be a good thing, but well Def Leopard is ok I guess but this band definitely isn’t. It somewhat reminds me of the material Motely Crue wrote when Vince Neil rejoined after his hiatus. I didn’t care much for that album. I suppose it’s catchy, but it can be summed up in one word, meh. It doesn’t leave much reaction. They do a pretty cool cover of You Spin Me Round, but that’s about the only interesting thing on here.

Ghoul-Maniaxe
(Razorback, 2003)

I was a huge fan of We Came for the Dead when it came out. I thought Ghoul's energetic combination of death metal, grindcore and thrash was heads above most of the bands playing similar music. This album is similar to the first album but they have taken the thrash element even further on this cd. You'll hear less blasts, and more mid-tempo double bass filled riffs. The only thing that would really make this a death metal album are the death metal style vocals.

I always see these guys getting compared to Carcass and I really don't see it. Sure, they have the sick dual vocals, but that's as far as the comparison goes for me. These guys are totally thrash influenced. You hear more Megadeth, Anthrax, Exodus, or Slayer then you do Carcass. I think some people just automatically compare a band to Carcass if they use both low and high vocals. Even Impaled gets the comparison, and that's another band that really doesn't sound like Carcass either. So repeat after me, this is thrashy death metal that does not sound like Carcass.

I'm not sure if I prefer the production on We Came for the Dead or Maniaxe. This sounds good, but I thought the first album had a bit heavier sound to it. This still sounds good, I think I just prefer the guitar tone of the first album. This is a better album all-around though.

Keeping with the tradition of their last album the band has included a cover song. While it was a Megadeth song last time, this time they cover a more traditional song, What a Wonderful World. I kid you not, they didn't even really change the music much. Sure, it's heavier but they kept the melody intact. What they did change however was the lyrics. Pretty fun stuff actually. I've always thought these guys had a sense of humour, which is nice to see in the world of death metal. The almost surf sounding song was different too, and it was pretty damned cool.

This band would definitely appeal to fans of Impaled and Exhumed, but be forewarned. After listening to Ghoul you may not be able to think of those bands in the same light. These guys just destroy pretty much every band playing similar music.

General Surgery/The County Medical Examiners-split cd
(Razorback, 2003)


Razorback has released a gem for all of you sickos out there. These two bands definitely shouldn't be new to anyone involved with the underground scene, and this is quite a powerful combination on one cd.

General Surgery are back and they are ready to rip your fucking head off. This is just what the goregrind scene needed right now. Sure, there are a lot of great bands around right now, but it's nice to see one of the masters getting back together to show them how it's done.

If you haven't heard GS before, well they basically sound indentical to Carcass. They are however tighter then Carcass ever was and play with a lot more energy. I guess it goes without saying that they are faster as well too. So basically think of early Carcass, the blasting simple riffs, sick vocals, and straight forward yet energetic drumming, that's the same formula that General Surgery uses. If you thought Necrology was sick, wait until you hear these 7 new songs.

The County Medial Examiners are also pretty big Carcass fans. They are highly influenced by the masters of gore as well, and pretty much stick to the same formula as General Surgery does. The main difference I'd say is that General Surgery is more influenced by Reek of Putrefaction while TCME is more influenced by Symphonies of Sickness. The slow sininster riffs are more present in this band then they are with General Surgery.

If you are a fan of early Carcass, or have General Surgery's Necrology EP, you'll want this split cd. It's worth the price alone for the new General Surgery tracks. Throw in the new TCME tracks and this is a cd you can't afford to miss out on.

Glasseater-Everything is Beautiful if you don't look down
(Victory, 2003)

I was eagerly anticipating this new cd from Glasseater, but nothing could have prepared me for this. Glasseater pretty much throws everything into their sound, and it comes out sounding fairly original. You'll hear hints of punk/punk, emo, hardcore and even a little bit of metal in a few songs. They definitely know how to keep things interesting from the beginning of the cd until the end. You won't find one bad song on this cd, even if you try to look really hard.

If you need comparisons, well you're sort of out of luck. The only band they even remotely remind me of every now and again is The Ataris. Even that comparison is mainly the vocals and vocal patterns remind me of the singer from the Ataris. They have a few similar riffs from time to time as well. There's definitely a lot that seperates the two bands, but chances are if you like The Ataris you will definitely be able to get into what Glasseater does.

I'm always drawn to music that has lyrics that I can easily relate to. This album is full of emotional songs that deal with subjects that everyone can relate to. They aren't chilidish either. Sure, the songs deal with subjects that many songs have it the past, but you won't find any of the tired old cliches. It's well written and hard hitting. If you can't relate to any of this stuff, you simply must not be human.

If you are looking for a hardhitting combination of pretty much every subgenre the punk scene has, minus ska, then Glasseater is a band that you need to heard. Albums this good only come around every few years, so don't sit on your ass, go get it!

Graveworm-Engraved to Black
(Nuclear Blast/PHD, 2003)

I’m sort of middle of the road on this cd. It’s well produced, the band is tight, and it’s a cd that I can definitely listen to. The main problem is that it’s just a very typical sounding black metal album that doesn’t offer anything new. Take equal parts Cradle of Filth, Dissection and Emperor and you basically have Graveworm. There definitely are worse bands that you could choose to imitate but that doesn’t really change the fact that these guys aren’t the most original band these days.

One thing that almost sets these guys apart is some of the slower sections. They are extremely melodic and almost remind me of something Hypocrisy would have written on The Final Chapter. I almost hear hints of Nevermore in the slower moments as well. I guess the more I listen, the more I actually notice a lot of things that aren’t usually present on a black metal album. Sure, they have the shrieky vocals and blasting, but the slower moments aren’t very typical of the genre. If the faster side of this band becomes as original as the slower melodic side this band will be one hell of a powerful band.

The production of this cd is damn near flawless. You wouldn’t really expect anything less from a band on Nuclear Blast, and due to the fact that this band doesn’t play an extremely raw style of black metal a full and polished production doesn’t hinder the impact of the album.

They won’t win any awards for originality just yet, but this is a tight and competent band that will definitely be a force to be reckoned with when they come into their own.

Gone Without Trace-s/t
(Thorp, 2004)

A blistering debut offering from this Orange County band is what we have here. Burly breakdown riffs are met with equally vicious vocals, while the drums keep things moving along at an energetic double bass filled pace. I'd say it's a combination of Hatebreed, Killswitch Engage, Bleeding Through and possibly Coalesce. They have the rolling noisy rhythms of Coalesce, breakdowns and faster sections ala Hatebreed, metal riffing reminiscent of Killswitch Engage, and vocally the band reminds me a bit of Bleeding Through at times.

These are all just reference points though. It's rare that a band playing a heavier take on hardcore is actually devoid of trends, but Gone Without Trace really brings their own style to the genre. It's just heavy, unpretentious and played with a lot of aggression and passion. I like the fact that these guys also obviously have a put a lot of time into their instruments. They can handle playing music that is a bit more complicated and things don't get rough around the edges for even one second during this entire cd.

The production was surprisingly handled by the band themselves, and it sounds amazing. The guitar sound is just utterly gigantic, and the entire production has a more metal sound to it. The drums are especially powerful, with a somewhat clicky bass drum sound that really cuts through the mix. For a band to produce an album this amazing themselves, I'd say that they definitely have a good idea as to how they want the band to sound. They definitely don't need to bring someone in.

For a debut album, this blows away most of what the heavy hardcore genre has been offering lately. It stays away from the trends and just pummels you with brain shattering riff after brain shattering riff. If you are into heavy, and I do mean heavy, hardcore, then Gone Without Trace are your new favorite band.

Good Riddance-Bound by Ties of Blood and Affection
(Fat Wreck Chords, 2003)

Good Riddance have really hit a groove with their past two cds. The cd prior to Bound By Ties of Blood and Affection was easily my favorite release from GR and this one is just as good, if not even better. If you are a fan of emotional, energetic punk rock, Good Riddance are basically the professors of the style. Every up and coming band needs to sit down for a few classes from these guys. They have the formula down and can pen some of the most memorable songs the genre has ever heard.

This album is pretty similar to their last cd. It has an almost nearly indentical production, and the style has pretty much stayed exactly the same. You'll get 14 songs of fast punk with either a strong political message or more personal and emotional lyrics. I guess if the formula isn't broken, there is really no reason to mess around with it. They may not be changing much musically, but the songwriting definitely improves with every album.

I've always thought these guys were probably the most interesting punk band lyrically next to Bad Religion. They are actually a bit similar now that I think of it. Both have lyrics that are easy to relate to, yet they are written well and don't seem childish in the least. It's nice that some bands realize that you don't have to be extremely blunt to get a point acorss.

If you are a fan of Good Riddance chances are you already own this album. If you haven't heard them yet, I highly recommend that you do. If a combination of pop/punk and old school hardcore sounds appealing to you, Good Riddance is your new favorite band.

Gorerotted-Only Tools and Corpse
(Metal Blade, 2004)

I never thought I would see a cover on Metal Blade done by Jake from Tales from Uranus, but there it is! The high quality doesn’t just end with the cover art though. This is easily the best stuff Gorerotted has done so far in their careers. They seem to have stumbled across something that most death/grind bands haven’t figured out yet. How to make things memorable. These guys are as heavy as they come, but they manage to also have catchy vocal patterns and riffs. They don’t just have 20 bland riffs smothered in blast beats and vomit like growls.

I’ve never really known who to compare this band to. They have elements of other bands, but to be honest they really do sound unique. It’s death metal, but it almost sounds like it’s coming from a grindcore like approach. The riffs are simple, and rarely ever feature anything technical. That’s not what these guys are about. They’d rather pummel you into the ground with groove riffs, then bore you to death with guitar solos.

I think one other element of the bands sound that makes these guys stand out are the different vocal styles. The lower death metal voice really isn’t anything new, but the higher voice is very original. It really doesn’t sound like anything you’ve heard before. That’s not to take away from the low vocals though. They are extremely well done, and energetic. I just think that the higher vocal sound is more unique.

I’m a big fan of the production of this album. It’s not even the tightest album ever, but it has a raw, energetic live sound. It really fits the bands sound and allows a lot of energy to come across. With the exception of some layering, I would assume that this is pretty close to what the band sounds like in a live setting.

I was surprised when I heard that these guys had signed with Metal Blade, but I’m glad to see that they have come back with their best album yet. Hopefully the name will get around a bit more with Metal Blade behind them. It’s probably still a bit too much for some people, but death metal fanatics will eat this up.

Grand Magus-Monument
(Rise Above/PHD, 2003)

You know it amazes me how many bands still pretty much sound identical to Black Sabbath. It really shows how truly great that band was and how much impact they had on the music scene. Granted, these guys are much heavier then BS ever was, but they have the same sinister groove and you can tell that they have listened to Ozzy and CO. more then one time when they were learning how to write music.

The main thing that helps set this band apart is a tremendous vocalist. He has a very powerful voice that at times sounds like a cross between Chris Cornell and Ozzy Osbourne. I really find it strange when people throw screaming over music like this. At times it works, but this is one of the bands that I’m glad left things a bit melodic. His voice is gruff, but it’s a far cry from a death metal growl.

I don’t think I’ve mentioned it yet, but these guys can play! Guitar solos in this style are usually nothing more then bluesy soloing that has been heard a million times before. The soloing in Grand Magus is much more in depth and thought out. It’s not overly wanky, but it fits the style and adds a lot to the bands sound.

The production is heavy and well, pretty damn raw. It has enough bass to possibly shake your house right off of it’s fucking foundations. That my friends is exactly how you’d want an album like this to sound. It’s powerful and hasn’t been castrated by big budget trickery.

These guys aren’t exactly doing anything new, but as far as Sabbath influenced bands these guys are one of the best I have ever heard. Hell, these guys are flat out one of the best bands I’ve ever heard.

Grimfist-Ghouls of Grandeur
(Candlelight/PHD, 2003)

Damn, this has to be the coolest band name ever! It may be a little bit cheesy, but it totally reminds me of the early days of thrash metal when the names were totally off the wall, but still kicked ass. Musically, simply put, this totally kicks ass. Imagine old school heavy metal butting heads with black metal. Death growls spew overtop of the musical carnage that grooves just as much as it blasts. Don't think groove along the lines of new metal, these are old school mid-tempo heavy metal grooves.

This band is basically old school heavy metal's evil twin brother. It has the same fist pumping quality, but the music is extremely dark and features more blackened melodies then most horror movie soundtracks. I guess in some ways it's similar to what Witchery tries to do, but even more heavy metal and not as thrashy. These guys also rip Witchery a new one in terms of intensity. Fans of heavy metal will be able to get into the music, the vocals may turn off fans of the more melodic style of singing, but this band does have a few surprising clean vocal moments.

The first thing you'll notice when popping this baby into your cd player is the amazing production courtesy of The Abyss Studios. I was under the impression that Peter Tatgren was no longer producing bands, but am I ever glad that he is! The guitar sound and drum sound on this record are to die for. It might have a bit of a typical metal sound at times, but who cares really? It's an amazing sounding album, chock full of powerful double bass and blistering guitars. The one main criteria I have for a good metal album is that it has to sound awesome loud. This one definitely does.

I'm not sure if you can say that these guys are doing anything completely new. I'd say that their ideas aren't new but the way they are putting the different genres of metal together may be unique. It's like this, their ideas aren't new, but you'd be hard pressed to find a band to compare them to. They definitely are carving out their own little niche.

Guttermouth-Eat Your Face
(Epitaph, 2004)

Guttermouth are back and ready to piss off everyone possible. In a time when punk is about as sterile as a man with no testicles, this album stands in defiance middle finger proudly raised to the world. From the Discharge inspired layout, to the very Dead Kennedy's influenced opening track, Guttermouth storm through 14 tracks of their patented mayhem filled punk on Eat Your Face. It's nothing new, but damn it's good to hear it right now.

It amazes me how clean punk has become. This record is fast, and damn I miss fast music. Punk is about girls and having the right haircut these days, Guttermouth is about swearing and humping your mother. I wouldn't say that this is Guttermouth's best record, but it's definitely one of their best. The humour is in check and they really let the tempo soar on some of these tracks. Octopus Haircut and I Read It On a Bathroom Wall in Reno are both scorchers, and two of the best tracks on this album.

Catchy choruses and funny lyrics are abundant on this album. No one is safe. From surfers to the neighbour's baby, everyone is a target for Guttermouth on this new album. These guys have a good grasp on the fact that punk rock used to piss off a lot of people. They aren't afraid of who they might offend. It sounds childish, but it's just a good all around time to make fun of things.

I really wonder how many people will notice the Discharge inspired layout. Hell, most pople probably don't even know who Discharge is these days. It's a sad time for punk music right now people. Thankfully Guttermouth is still here, potty mouth definitely intact.