Handful of Hate-Gruesome Splendour
(Cruz Del Sur Music, 2006)

Even if this label is known for having bands slightly left of center, Handful of Hate play a fairly straightforward style of black metal that isn’t quite as avant-garde as most bands on the label. While I do enjoy the bands that push the envelope, I am a huge black metal fan and a more straight ahead black metal album is right up my alley. The first thing that stood out was that this was a very thick sounding album and the band definitely wasn’t as thin sounding as the vast majority of black metal. As far as the style of the band, I guess I would likened them somewhat to say a band like Dark Funeral. They have the cold melodic riffing yet there are a lot of dynamics and pauses during the riffs which almost gives the band a slight thrash or death metal edge at times. The band plays with a great deal of vigor and this has much more energy then you’d usually hear on a black metal album. There is no getting around the fact that this is a fast album. When the band is blasting this album is like a full on missile attack, and the slower side of the band is a thrashier style which is still quite fast. They do slow down for the occasional dark sections which have a more typical black metal feel with the usual strummed minor chording. I like that the blasting sections are diverse. Most black metal albums tend to have riffing that sounds the same for all of the fast sections, but this band seems to be influenced by many of the No Fashion bands like Decameron, or Merciless adding a great deal of energy and having a Swedish slant to their sound. At the end of the day this is definitely a black metal album, but it definitely has an appeal that reaches beyond just black metal fans. Fans of Dark Funeral or any of the Swedish blackened death metal bands will definitely want to check out this one. This is one hellish metal album full of fast riffing, harsh vocals, and blazing drums.

Crescent Shield-The Last of My Kind
(Cruz Del Sur Music, 2006)

The cover artwork for this album really didn’t give away much as to what the band would sound like, so I was pleasantly surprised when the band kicked into their style of old school heavy metal. The band sounds like a cross between vintage Iron Maiden and a more modern style of power metal, but they definitely seem to draw from the former more then the latter. The album also has a very analog sounding recording which definitely reinforces the old school feel of the album. The guitars aren’t extremely heavy and have a live from the amp feel that was once very common in metal. Guitars are so layered these days that you don’t get the same feel that metal albums once had. This sounds like a band playing metal, not an overproduced pop album with heavy guitars. While I could just say that this sounds like a heavy metal album going into further detail is probably warranted. The band has a fairly typical style with crunchy riffing mixed with a more melodic style. Of course leads are a big part of the band’s sound and guitar solos are quite common. There are quite a few riffs here that sound like they could have been unreleased Iron Maiden riffs, and it’s funny when you think that these are more Iron Maiden sounding then even what Iron Maiden is doing these days musically. I think that if you basically took Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, and Mercyful Fate you would have Crescent Shield. One of the few problems I have with this album is that vocal performance isn’t exactly bang on throughout and some of the vocal patterns seem a bit too clichéd. Aside from that though, there isn’t much to complain about. I’m a huge fan of vintage Iron Maiden so this is pretty much as no brainer for me. It may not be original, but I’ll take this over another metalcore album any day.

Antiquus-Eleutheria
(Cruz Del Sur Music, 2006)

I’m not sure if I would call this progressive as it isn’t incredibly technical or mind boggling. It is an original metal album though, I will give it that. I’m not even sure who to compare this to. It is indeed metallic in nature with chugging guitars, soaring vocals and interesting lead guitar lines. I guess you could call it progressive in the sense that it is doing something unique, but it is nowhere near as self-indulgent as most of the albums that fall into the progressive metal genre. I’m not sure if it is the production of the album but something sounds just a little bit off. The band never really nails the grooves it seems, and this is an album that makes you feel tense when you really shouldn’t feel tense. There are definitely some interesting ideas on display here but the execution just doesn’t seem up to snuff at times, but it may very well just be the production. Possibly with a better production this would have been a killer album. For this style of music the last thing you want is an album that just doesn’t sound together, and unfortunately this one does indeed sound like that at times. While there is potential on display here, I’d find it hard to recommend this album.

Attack in Black-Widows EP
(Dine Alone Records, 2006)

For some reason I was expecting this band to sound quite a bit different then this, I was expecting something along the lines of noisy rock. However this sounds like a combination of Taking Back Sunday and Boys Night Out but with a bit more noise added. There might only be 4 songs on here, but it is more then enough to become hooked and realize that this band definitely has a future. I’m not sure what else the band has released but I have to say that I haven’t heard an album in this style that has impressed me this much is a very long time. Not since say Sparta, or possibly even Get Up Kids going back a few more years. This is well written, extremely catchy and the most important thing for this style is that the band is wearing their hearts of their sleeves. They have relatable lyrics and sing with conviction, something missing from a great deal of bands these days. I really like the fact that these guys don’t worry about being heavy, or fast, they just write rock songs and let the songs go where they may. It has a similar vibe to some of Hot Water Music’s material, but overall there are only a few moments that bring to mind HWM, particularly the third song, Cut and Run. Like I mentioned before I’m not entirely sure what else these guys have released but I am definitely curious to check out more. This is one of the best new Canadian bands I have heard in a long time, and big things are sure to happen for this band. Fans of everything from Rise Against and Hot Water Music to Taking Back Sunday will easily be able to get into Attack in Black.

I Killed the Prom Queen-Music for the Recently Deceased
(Metal Blade Records, 2006)

I Killed the Prom Queen showed a great deal of potential with their last album, and obviously the folks at Metal Blade thought so as well because here we have their follow up album. Have the band lived up to the potential they displayed? A loud yes is definitely the answer to that question. The band is still very much rooted in the melodic euro-core genre that has become so common, but this is a much stronger effort in pretty much every way. The songwriting is much more focused, the energy level higher, and the music is well heavy as all hell. Of course the speed picked Swedish riffs and burly breakdowns are here, but with them come a ton of blast beats and some very guttural vocal roars. Guitar solos also seem to be a bit more common this time around adding a nice layer of well played solos to the mix. Clean vocals are still a part of the band’s sound but they seem to be used quite a bit less. They aren’t in every song, and they do actually seem to add to the music rather then take away from it. The production is loud and thick and sure to make buildings shake during some of the breakdown riffs. I’m not sure if I really noticed in the past, but this album really reminds me of As I Lay Dying. This album definitely reminds me more of the band then the previous one did. I definitely enjoy this album much more then the latest As I Lay Dying album though, and the songwriting seems to be a great deal stronger. This album doesn’t do much new for the metalcore genre, but it is definitely an energetic and heavy album that is easy to enjoy. Turn it up, flair your arms and enjoy.

Feast for the Crows-When All Seems to be Burned
(Bastardized Recordings, 2006)

I’ve always liked the European metalcore bands more then the US bands. While it is tough to put my finger on why exactly, the bands just seem better in most aspects. This is the debut album from Feast for the Crows and it pretty much annihilates most of what I’ve heard lately from the US. The band is tight, and extremely heavy taking their cues from Swedish metal of course, but there is a slight hardcore edge here and the band really doesn’t fall into using clichés very often. Sure there are breakdowns, but the band does a good job of making them actually fit into the songs are rarely are they just one note. Comparisons are a bit tricky, but the band definitely has similarities to Heaven Shall Burn, As We Fight, and possibly even Caliban to a certain extent. I really like the fact that these guys really aren’t just mimicking Slaughter of the Soul and throwing in breakdowns. Sure you can hear At The Gates in a few places, but this is actually pretty involved and the songs feature many riffs and not just thrash riffs at that. So they may draw influence from At the Gates but not really in the typical way that most bands do these days. It is actually quite hard to believe that this is a debut album. There isn’t one misstep throughout the entire album and the playing is pretty much flawless. Listen to the guitar solos and the playing in general and it is very hard to believe that this is the debut album from these guys. For fans of European metalcore this one should really be a no brainer. If you listen to the likes of Heaven Shall Burn, As We Fight, or Caliban you’ll want to pick this album up ASAP.

Dark Order-The Violence Continium
(Battlegod Productions, 2006)

I must say that I’ve never even heard of Dark Order before, so I was a bit surprised that a relatively unknown Australian band would release a dual-sided disc. That said though, this is actually quite a damn good album of thrashing mayhem. It definitely has the Aussie vibe, although I wouldn’t quite call this war metal. While there might be some blasting from time to time, this is pretty much a straight ahead thrash album, and a damn fast one at that. Imagine a rawer version of Slayer with hoarser vocals and blast beats and essentially you have Dark Order, although I think that this band is much more science fiction oriented lyrically. Arise era Sepultura also seems to be a big influence on the band, which is always a good thing in my books. The guitar solos are pure Slayer worship throwing notes and squeals at you at a rapid speed. The solos are far from tasteful but they definitely fit the feel of the band perfectly. The band has a bit of a melodic side as well which shows itself every now and again. Clean vocals even pop up and they definitely give the band a distinct edge. They sound somewhat similar to the cleaner vocals you might hear in a band like Enslaved with a bit of a Viking slant to them. The DVD side of the disc is a pretty cool addition to this disc. It has a few music videos that are far from being slick, but still a cool visual representation of the band. There is also a slideshow which goes through a history of the band which is definitely a cool addition as I know absolutely nothing about this band. This album was originally released in 2002, and I’m not sure if the band had broken up for a few years. They are however back together, and hopefully a new album isn’t far off. This is some of the best thrash I have heard in years, and the fact that they are adding original ideas makes this a band to watch out for. Fans of early Slayer and Sepultura need to pick this up right now!

Intestinal Disgorge-Humiliated
(Pray for Death Productions, 2006)

I really didn’t care for this band at all in the past, but for some reason this album seems to be a bit more straightforward and easier to get into. The band is still very much a noisy grindcore band, but there seems to be audible riffs here and the overall approach is a bit more together. It actually reminds me of a cross between the older style of the band and Agoraphobic Nosebleed. The noisy aspect is still there, but there are many really cool almost punky like parts added to the sound. Vocally the album is still all over the place. From random screams to a more powerful guttural sound, it really is the vocals that really make this sound noisier then it really is. Although there are noisy elements to the music as well, the vocals are what really add that extra layer of slime that make this band what they are. The songs are of course on the short side, and that is exactly what you would want for this style. If they were any longer, it would get stale and quick. I must say that I am really surprised by this. Then again it has been a really long time since I’ve heard this band. In fact I think their debut album was the only thing I’ve heard, and I have no idea if the band has even released anything else. This however is a vast improvement over what I had heard in the past and I have no trouble recommending this to all fans of fast and dirty music.

Microwaves-Contagion Heuristic
(Crucial Blast Records, 2006)

What the fuck just hit me? Seriously this album is causing serious damage to my brain. This is some of the most fucked up yet intriguing music I have ever heard. Part fast punk, part noisy rock, part hallucinogen, and all fucked is a good description. The guitars on this album make some of the weirdest noises I have ever heard in my life. The term squank isn’t used much but it certainly fits a lot of the noises these guys make. This is noisy, paranoid and about as far from being conventional as humanly possible. If this doesn’t make your head spin, you must be extremely deranged. Don’t get me wrong I like having my head fucked with, but this will definitely take awhile to wrap your head around. I’m not even sure how to put into words just how strange this is. This is really an album that you need to hear first hand and experience to even begin to understand what is going on. There really isn’t anything straight forward about this album so you will definitely need to go into this with an open mind. It might take some getting used to and honestly it might be a bit too much for quite a few people. This definitely isn’t easy listening. Fans of dissonant rock might be able to make the plunge into this world, but fans of the straightforward will definitely want to steer clear.

Black Elk-Self-titled
(Crucial Blast Records, 2006)

While I do enjoy the weird aspects of many Crucial Blast releases, I find myself enjoying the ones that are just a bit more straightforward the most. Black Elk isn’t exactly what you would call straight forward, but they are more conventional in the sense that this is just drums, guitars, bass, and vocals. All of the weirdness is made by human hands, so it is missing that electronic element that is fairly common within bands on this label. Groovy yet dissonant rock might be a good way to describe this band. It’s heavy, unconventional and somewhat in the vain of The Jesus Lizard. There are definitely many facets to the band though. The band hits on everything from doom, to hardcore, to rock, and pretty much everything in between. The cool thing is that you never know where the band will go. Each song brings in new elements and the band never becomes predictable over the course of the album. The album also runs the gamut from straighter forward to self indulgent. The grooves are catchy, yet the band will sometimes play the same riff multiple times with a layer of noise overtop which brings the section more into the self indulgent category. Like most albums on Crucial Blast this isn’t for anyone. But those of you who enjoy the noisy side of experimental rock, or if say a cross between The Jesus Lizard and Clutch sounds appealing to you, you will definitely want to check this album out.

Winnebago Deal-Flight of the Raven
(Fierce Panda Records, 2006)

This is pretty much a solid yet by the numbers rock record that really fails to make quite an impression. The band has the snotty attitude needed to pull off this style of music, but the problem is that it has been done many times over. It is however catchy and you will enjoy it while it is in the stereo. The problem lies in the fact that once you listen to it what will bring it back into your CD player? If you are already a fan of this high octane somewhat punk influenced version of rock you probably already own countless albums that sound damn near identical to this one. This is a solid album of rock, but it really doesn’t stand out from the pack or really come across as being essential to my ears. If you are a fan of rock then by all means you may want to give this album a chance. But chances are you will agree that you’d heard this before.

Mary-Jane-What I Came Here For
(Timeless Music Project, 2006)


This is definitely a CD that does very little for my ears. I guess you could say that the band plays a somewhat commercial version of rock, or possibly even alternative if you want. Sure it is catchy, but it sounds like a bar band to me. It doesn’t stand out really and just comes across as serviceable rock at best. This is the type of music you tolerate at the bar, but without a beer in my hand I really don’t see any reason to be listening to this. Hell even with a beer in my hand I don’t see any reason to listen to this.

Ablaze in Hatred-Deceptive Awareness
(Firebox Records, 2006)

It has been quite sometime since a doom band has impressed by as much as Ablaze in Hatred. The band plays a slow and brooding style of doom but like Swallow the Sun come from an almost death metal point of view, almost like a super slow and incredibly heavy version of older Amorphis. So seeing as though I mentioned Amorphis you could pretty much assume that this is melodic, surprisingly melodic in fact albeit not in any sort of upbeat way. The vocals are of the heavy variety and with music like this the vocals tend to be more for atmosphere more then being that moves the music. That is definitely the case here. The vocal performance is excellent and the singer has an amazingly heavy voice, but the guitars are really the main focus of the album. I’m definitely reminded of My Dying Bride from time to time during some of the riffs and the overall feel of the band, but vocally this is very different. I would almost be lying if I said that this was an original album to be honest. Yes the band is very good at what they do, but at the end of the day it is a fairly standard approach to the doom genre. When the songwriting is this good though it doesn’t really matter that the band isn’t really creating anything truly unique, originality is really only a small part of what makes a metal album appealing. This is definitely an album that all doom fans will want to check out.