Behemoth-The Apostasy
(Century Media, 2007)

Extreme metal fans are known to be pretty fickle so there is always going to be debate when any band with a cult following releases a new album. There will be people who think this is the best album yet from Behemoth and then there will be those who think it doesnt quite stack up. My thoughts? While it might not be the most extreme album from the band, it certainly is the most memorable and also surprisingly stripped down at times.

The Behemoth sound is still very similar to the last album, but the riffs and structures are a bit more streamlined this time around. The songs have more immediate impact and the riffs seem to stick around in your head more then they typically would. The guitar solos are also quite melodic and really help the album stay diverse throughout.

If all the mentions of the word memorable have you worried that the band has slowed down , youll be glad to know that the album is still quite fast. Blasting is quite common and this is some of the best blasting I have heard since Morbid Angel was in their prime. It is fast and concise and makes the album really hit home with a lot of impact.

With each album Behemoth is carving out their own niche in the blackened death metal genre. This is an album full of surprises, filled to the brim with killer riffs, powerful vocals and excellent guitar solos.

Entombed-Serpent Saints
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

This is the album that I knew Entombed still had left in them. The band is playing with an urgency that hasnt been heard since To Ride, Shoot Straight and Speak the Truth. While this isnt a throwback to the early days entirely, it is the most raw and fast the band has sounded in quite sometime.

For long time fans youll be hooked from the first song. It has an up-tempo feel that comes across like something you would expect off of Clandestine but a bit more punk and less tremolo picking. The heavy creepy vibe the band is known for is present throughout the entire album and it seems like the band has really received a kick in the ass and is playing like it was 1992 all over again.

The production is raw and a bit thin at times, but it matches the music on the album perfectly. Entombed has never been a band that is about perfect productions and crystal clear guitar sounds. This has the raw and somewhat muddy guitar tone that made the older style so memorable. The vocals are mixed perfectly and this is one hell of a vocal performance.

If you are an Entombed fan this is pretty much an essential purchase. Sure the band may have stumbled with a few albums, but this album is back on track and kicks a whole lot of ass.

SSS-Short, Sharp, Shock
(Earache Records, 2007)

Fucking awesome is the easiest way to describe this album. Crossover certainly isnt a genre of music that is common these days, but with a sound that reeks of early Metallica meets DRI, SSS certainly could have been around during the heyday of the genre.

Blistering speed and memorable riffs make up the vast majority of the bands sound, but a lot of the album travels at a more mid-tempo pace which reminds me quite a bit on vintage Anthrax. Melodic guitar solos give the band a bit of a Suicidal Tendencies or Excel feel at times and really add a bit more diversity to the album. Early Slayer also seems to be an influence at times. One listen to The Answer is Never and youll definitely be able to hear the Slayer influence. The album doesnt sound much like Slayer during the other songs, but this song just reeks of Slayer.

What I really like about this album is just how damn diverse the album is from song to song. One song will be a total thrash song while another will bring in an English punk style that has a completely different feel yet still fits perfectly on the album. Truth be told I wouldnt have been disappointed if all of the songs sounded similar as the band has an amazing sound, but the diversity shows that the band isnt lazy when it comes to songwriting.

If you are a fan of crossover there is no reason why you wont be able to enjoy what SSS does. Its fast, energetic and most importantly, fun to listen to. Grab your skateboard and your headphones and prepare to be thrashed.

Municipal Waster-The Art of Partying
(Earache Records, 2007)

If thrash is dead someone must have forgotten to tell Municipal Waste as this latest album shows the band upping the metal aspect of the sound and coming off as more pure thrash with hints of hardcore added.

Two things that make this album so effective are the fun aspect of the band and the fact that this is incredibly catchy. You can just tell that the band enjoys what they are playing without a hint of pretension. Most metal these days is about being as heavy and abrasive as possible and what has always made metal so effective is the adrenaline rush and fun that comes along with the genre when done right. Sure the lyrics arent exactly seriously, but how can you not get into a song called Headbanger Face Rip?

One small complaint that I might have is that some of the songs do sound pretty similar. Stylistically each song is very similar and rarely does the band do anything that could be considered new for the band. Then again I dont think the band is looking to expand their sound. They play thrash and that is how they like it.

I think as a whole I might have enjoyed Hazardous Mutation just a bit more then this album, but there is no denying that this is a fun and face ripping album sure to please all thrash fans.

Silverstein-Arrivals and Departures
(Victory Records, 2007

Silverstein are a band that pretty much came out of nowhere and released two albums of interesting melodic yet vicious music that seemed to hit a chord with a lot of people. Will the bands third album be received just as well? I sure as hell hope so as this album shows the band all but perfecting their style.

What I have always liked about Silverstein is that the band manages to be catchy without being obvious. This isnt a band that is about radio friendly choruses and lazy song structures. Sure the choruses are catchy, but the band puts a lot of twists and turns in the songs and the choruses alone are not what define the songs. There are memorable moments littered throughout the entire songs and youll find yourself finding a lot of these riffs working their way into your brain and staying there for quite some time.

This may also be the heaviest album yet from the band. Heavy riffs have always been a big part of the bands sound but they just seem heavier this time around. Dont worry though it still sounds like Silverstein, just with a bit more oomph during the heavy moments. The slightly heavier approach really helps the choruses and softer parts stand out even more and in the process make this arguably the most dynamic album yet from the band.

I think this album shows that the band is still brimming with creativity and the well is far from run dry. Its not very common to find a band that continues to impress with each album and still has interesting ideas to offer, especially in a genre like this. This shows why Silverstein is at the head of the pack and I cant see them becoming dethroned any time soon.

A Perfect Murder-War of Aggression
(Victory Records, 2007)

A Perfect Murder has changed quite a bit from their Hatebreed inspired early days. There are still hints of that style, but the band has evolved into more of a full fledged thrash band. I think the style comes across as a bit more fresh as this isnt anywhere near as Pantera influenced as their last album as well, but the influence is still quite common. There is something about this album that comes across like meat and potatoes. By that I mean that it is familiar and sure you know what to expect but it sure tastes damn good. The band really isnt doing anything new, but the chunky grooves, harsh vocals and thrash inspired solos make this an album hard not to enjoy. When you add in the fast thrash sections and the heavy hardcore moments this album really packs quite the wallop.

Im not a big fan of the clean vocals really. They are well done, but they still sound a bit too much like Phil Anselmo to my ears. Even the harsher vocals have a bit too much Pantera coming through Id say. Hopefully with time itll slowly start to fade as the singer is much better when he sounds natural and has an original vibe happening.

If a cross between Hatebreed and Pantera sounds interesting to you then this is definitely an album that you will want to check out. I think the band still has a way to go in terms originality but this is an album that is easy to enjoy none the less.

Pigto-Muddy Bodies of Semen and Blood
(Half-Life Records, 2006)

Im trying hard to get into the guttural and vomitous style of this band, but the production is really not helping matters. The album seems to have been mastered very quietly and the production itself leaves a lot to be desired. The guitars are nearly inaudible, and the drums sound like a blur during the faster moments. The vocals are processed and very gurgled and only add to the overall sound of the band being hard to hear. If the guitar had of been a bit louder this would have had a lot more impact. As it stands this is fairly typical of what you would expect from a gore/grind band that uses a drum machine. If you cant get enough of gurgled vocals, fast blasting and sick samples then you might be able to enjoy this more then I did.

Scumfuck-Analblasting Rubberplug
(Half-Life Records, 2006)

If you thought Cannibal Corpse had sick album covers you really havent seen anything yet. The album cover alone is vomit worthy, and the rest of the booklet is just icing on the cake. Musically this one is all over the board. It has elements of grindcore, but everything from funk to electronic elements are thrown into the mix with interesting and schizophrenic results.

Blasting and harsh vocals are of course the main style on display here and the overall sound of the band does somewhat remind me of Catasexual Urge Motivation, but more porno oriented. Instead of serial killer samples you have porno samples, most of which are in German I do believe. Id be lying if I said that this would be an album that I would listen to all of the time. It does however have an audience out there Im assuming as it reminds me quite a bit of some of the bands released back Extreme Scene Records back in the day.

This is definitely an odd one, full of many surprises. If you can look past the beyond disgusting album art there is some interesting music to be found on the album.

Sikfuk-Teabagged At Birth
(Goregiastic Records, 2006)

With a name like Sikfuk you know that you arent in for sweep picked arpeggios and technical proficiency. What you are in store for is blast beats galore, sick and demented vocals and some truly twisted and noisy riffing.

There is definitely something unique about the bands style. They dont rely on the same tremolo picked riffs and chunky riffs that most bands in this style use. They utilize a great deal of dissonance and almost come across like death metal meets circus music. It gives the band an energetic yet schizophrenic approach that really helps the band stand out.

Its not quite common to hear a band that has a sense of humor in a genre like this. Sure a lot of bands use funny samples, but the music itself tends to take itself very serious. Thats not to say that the band doesnt take the music seriously, but some of the riffs and vocal lines are just so outrageous that the band has to be laughing as well. This is Mr. Bungle meets death/grind and it works wonderfully.

Chances are you havent heard anything quite like this before. If you are expecting typical death metal you will be disappointed. There is elements of US death metal, but the amount of surprises here makes this much more then just another brutal death metal album.