God Dethroned-The Toxic Touch
(Metal Blade Records, 2006)

The album may be called The Toxic Touch, but I think the band must have had the Midas touch when writing this album as this is easily the best album yet from the band. The album is filled with trademarks of the band like the scathing vocals, and the fast melodic guitar lines, but the band is also breaking some new ground. The overall feel of the album is a bit more stripped down and an almost rock vibe is present in a few of the songs. This is also possibly the catchiest the band has ever been and also the most dynamic as the band covers a lot of ground throughout the album. You have the fast songs with melodic riffing and thrash style drumming, a few songs that have a more black metal feel with faster blasting drumming, and a few excellent slower songs with a more epic vibe. No matter what the feel of the song the band has written some very memorable material here. On Wings of Pestilence and The Day You Died are probably the two catchiest songs the band has ever written. Lyrically the album is also quite interesting. Some of the songs have typical metal imagery, but a few songs are a bit more personal yet still very dark. The song Hating Life deals with depression, but does in a stark and non-pretentious way. Not only is the song a kick ass metal song, it also has a bit of a unique slant lyrically. It really is a nice change as most metal albums really fail to offer anything of substance lyrically. I’m not sure if the band realizes it or not, but there is definitely something special captured here. This may just be the album that defines God Dethroned. I don’t care what subgenre of metal you usually like, all fans of metal of any sort need to check out this album. This is what you call a perfect metal album.

Born From Pain-War
(Metal Blade Records, 2006)

When listening to this album I can’t help but think of the battle between Darth Vader and Obi Wan Kenobi from A New Hope. Now where am I going with this? Give me a second and you’ll understand. Darth Vader says that he is now the master, and that fits in with this album because Born From Pain may have once been Hatebreed sound-a-likes, but they have become the master, so to speak. There is no getting around that the core of Born From Pain does sound a lot like Hatebreed. With this album however the band has thrown in much more melody and some well played guitar solos moving them slightly away from the chug filled albums of the past. Don’t get me wrong though, the album is still filled with breakneck hardcore and chugging breakdowns. They stick to what they do best, but have expanded their repertoire. I think that if the band possibly took a look at their vocal approach and possibly made it a bit more diverse and lost some of the repetition they would move even further away from their Hatebreed influence. Also of note is that the song Grey Life is very close to the Slayer song Bloodlines. And by very close I mean it sounds damn near identical right at the start. I’m not going to really say it bothers me though as this isn’t a band I look to for anything overly original. While they are coming more into their own, they are reinventing the wheel when it comes to heavy music. I definitely wasn’t expecting to hear this much of a progression from the band and I enjoy the added melody quite a bit. I’m expecting big things from Born From Pain with their next album as this album was quite the wake up call.

My Bitter End-The Renovation
(Uprising Records, 2007)

For some strange reason I was expecting this to be somewhat rock sounding because of the band name, but damn was I ever wrong. My Bitter End play vicious metal with a technical flair and some well done melodic elements. Could you call it metalcore? I suppose you could, but this is much more involved then most metalcore. This reminds me more of say a cross between Between the Buried and Me and The Red Chord, with a bit more melody thrown into the mix. Sweep picking is all over this album, and not only just used in guitar solos. A lot of the main riffs are based around the technique, and there are no shortages of jaw dropping guitar moments littered throughout the disc. Vocally the band is a bit one dimensional always keeping things harsh with either a scream or a death growl. I don’t think clean vocals would have really fit in all honesty, but a bit more diversity would have been nice. Musically this is quite diverse hitting on everything from fast almost black metal like passages to more melodic passages that recall the more Swedish style of death metal. They also have some parts that remind me of Killswitch Engage’s more melodic side, but without the clean vocals. The band also dabbles with small colors of dissonance, but the vast majority of the album is actually quite melodic. That said, you never really know what to expect as the songs feature a large number of riffs each usually quite different then that previous. Basically if you took everything good about metalcore, threw is a heaping amount of death metal you’d have My Bitter End. This is a heavy and technical album that throws a lot at you but manages to make it stick with concise songwriting and some damn catchy riffs.

Abigail Williams-Legend
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Well what do we have here? An album of melodic death metal that is actually good, and damn good at that. There isn’t much out of the ordinary here really. The band plays fast and abrasive metal with Swedish styled guitar runs, and harsh vocal roars. There really isn’t much that could be considered new here, but the band plays with a ton of energy and the songwriting instantly grabs you by the throat. The band also has a more technical flair to the sound and has a grasp on writing interesting metal riffs without sounding overly clichéd. There is also an almost Goth metal tinge to the band as well as they use quite a bit of keyboards. The vast majority of this five song EP tend to travel at a rather quick pace though. The songs may be varied but they also seem to revolve around a similar thrash styled tempo. Guitar solos are also quite common and feature some nice use of sweep picking. In all honesty this sounds a lot like early Soilwork, which is definitely a good thing. I still think that the first few Soilwork albums are some of the finest melodic death metal ever put to tape. Throw in some well done clean vocals that never overstay their welcome and you have a young band that packs quite the punch. Fans of everything from At the Gates to Cradle of Filth will find aspects here to their liking. This is a young band to watch out for.

Destruction-Thrash Anthems
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Instead of releasing a greatest hits package, Destruction has taken what are essentially their classics and rerecorded them. How does it sound you ask? Well like Destruction but with a more modern production. Basically you have 13 redone songs and 2 brand new songs. I’m not entirely sure if this release was called for, but I do like hearing the songs with a new sheen to them. But it must me said that there really wasn’t anything wrong with the old recordings. Early Destruction still stands as some of the best thrash to ever be released and these new versions definitely reinforce this. A few later Destruction songs are included which have a bit more of a technical approach opposed to the more breakneck approach of the earlier works. There really aren’t many bands in this genre that are still kicking ass in the same way that Destruction are. Sure they had some dark days but ever since they reformed the band has been releasing consistently solid thrash metal albums that sound as vital as they ever have. Would I consider this an essential purchase for Destruction fans? Yes and no. I think all Destruction fans will want this for the two solid new songs and to hear the old songs with a new coat of paint. But essentially this CD just amounts to old songs with a new sheen on them. If you are fine sticking with the classics, then you may want to pass on this.

Cardiac Arrest-Morgue Mutilations
(Redrum Records, 2006)

Now this is what I like to hear. After an impressive debut MCD, Cardiac Arrest is back with a full length of old school death metal that kicks a whole lot of ass. Think vintage Carcass mixed with Bolt Thrower and possibly even Massacre. You have fast blasting sections, thrashy sections, and pounding sections where I hear the Bolt Thrower influence. There is definitely a slight modern feel to the album as it does have a bit of a goregrind feel to it at times. In fact I would say that the album almost has a Razorback Records feel to it. I know that most of the bands on Razorback do sound different, but this is an album that would have fit in quite well with the usual sound of the label. I have to say that this album pretty much takes everything about Cardiac Arrest and improves on it greatly. The MCD showed a lot of potential, but this album is tighter, faster and just plain better. The songs are memorable and filled with some of the best old school flavored riffs I have heard in a long time. The production is also actually quite impressive. It has a powerful sound with thick guitars, natural drums and well balanced vocals. There is no mistaking that this is an underground release and I wouldn’t expect or want a different sound. It fits the band perfectly with just the right amount of rawness. This is one of the best underground metal albums I have heard in a very long time. It’s awesome to see bands keeping the more old school style of death metal alive. Sure I like some of the hyper fast technical bands, but for me this is what death metal is all about; memorable riffs, powerful vocals, and heaviness to spare.

Ektomorf-Outcast
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2007)


Why the hell is Nuclear Blast wasting their money releasing albums from this band? This is such a second rate Roots era Sepultura clone that it is ridiculous. If you didn’t know any better you would think that this was indeed a new Sepultura album. Hell it sounds more like Sepultura then Sepultura does these days. The funny thing is that these are actually fairly catchy songs and the production is incredibly heavy, especially in the guitar department. But at the end of the day this is such a rip-off that you’d probably only listen to the album once just to see how much this does sound like Sepultura.

Firewind-Allegiance
(Century Media, 2007)

2007 is just under way and we already have the power metal album of the year right here. It has been a really long time since I have heard an album in the genre this good. Each song is filled with kick ass metal riffs, soaring choruses, and guitar solos that demand you play air guitar. This is an album that is almost impossible to not enjoy. It is written and played with such class that it almost effortlessly will fall right into place as a classic within the genre. From beginning to end each song is dynamic and memorable, yet each song is different and explores different ideas. The opening song Allegiance is a more uptempo track with fast guitars, and an unbelievably catchy chorus. Falling to Pieces opens with an almost Ac/Dc like guitar run before going into one of the catchiest riffs on the album. This song brings in an almost Sentenced like gothic vibe into the power metal sound of the band. Breaking the Silence continues in the Sentenced like sound and features a guest female vocalist which gives the song a unique sound. Before the Storm is an awesome instrumental track that really lets the band show off their chops, especially the guitarist. The rest of the album is right up there in terms of quality with each song demanding your attention, and each for a different reason. Choruses have always been a big part of power metal, but it isn’t just the choruses here that are catchy. All of the vocal patterns are extremely catchy and you don’t find yourself waiting for the chorus to come around again. If you are thinking about starting a power metal band, pick up this album and learn how to do it right. Be warned though, this album may just make you want to forget about starting that band, because it just doesn’t getter any better then this.

Blinded Colony-Bedtime Prayers
(Pivotal Rockordings, 2006)

For an upstart label Pivotal sure manages to discover some amazing bands. First it was Sonic Syndicate, and now it is Blinded Colony. Both bands are somewhat similar with a rhythmic take on Swedish metal, but I would say Blinded Colony is a bit more original and doesn’t draw nearly as much from Soilwork. There is no denying that this is an aggressive band, but this isn’t what you would call a fast band. The band is chunky and rhythmic with almost a rock feel at times. Many of the riffs have what could be considered a typical Swedish sound. This reminds me quite a bit of newer In Flames in terms of tempos and feel, but the band itself doesn’t sound identical. The screaming definitely has a similar feel, but the clean vocals are a lot stronger here. The production is absolutely top notch and I was surprised to read that the band produced it themselves. This is a 100% professional sounding metal album that sounds better then albums released on some of the bigger metal labels. I’m not going to overshoot the truth at say that this album is the rebirth of Swedish metal, because it really isn’t. What it is though, is a tight and powerful metal album filled with emotion and strong songwriting. There is no denying that this band could be huge as they are easy on the ears, so only time will tell. Sonic Syndicate was signed by Nuclear Blast, so let’s see what the cards hold for Blinded Colony.

Destroy Destroy Destroy-Devour the Power
(Blackmarket Activities, 2006)

This wasn’t what I was expecting from this album, but I must say that I am pleasantly surprised. Destroy Destroy Destory play an energetic and vicious form of metal that seems to draw heavily from the likes of Children of Bodom and Cradle of Filth. The band mainly travels at a fairly quick thrash pace with some very cool chunky riffs thrown in to change the tempo occasionally. I hear a bit of 3 Inches of Blood as well, but this is nowhere near as cheesy. From the lyrical content it is hard to tell if the band takes themselves really seriously. After all a song called Ripped Apart by the Juggernaut of Fornication is hard to take seriously, at least lyrically. Musically they seem to take themselves seriously, which is a good thing. I much prefer the band when they are playing fast, which thankfully is the vast majority of the album. The slower sections are pretty damn catchy though and are extremely well written. The performances are also top notch, especially in the guitar and keyboard departments. The guitar playing is actually a bit more restrained then I would have hoped for though. A few more guitar solos would have been welcome to me. A bit of a modern edge also comes through at time with a few chugging riffs that hint at metalcore. The band also manages to be rather diverse throughout the album, with a few songs even being almost death metal in nature. The production could have been a bit stronger, but it does the job. The drums could have been a bit louder and a bit more overall clarity would have been nice. The bottom line here is that this is just a fun metal album to listen to. It doesn’t do anything new, but it does everything well. If a cross between Children of Bodom, Cradle of Filth and Three Inches of Blood sounds like it would be right up your alley check out this album immediately.