Light Pupil Dilate-Snake Wine
(Lifeforce Records, 2007)

My ears are very happy right now. This is one of the most fresh and interesting albums I have heard in a very long time. Light Pupil Dilate pick and choose from different genres like a kid stealing from bulk candy bins in a grocery store. The ideas come together cohesively and really give the band a sound that is only really summed up by the word original.

What makes the album work is the overall organic feel of the album. They manage to go from Hot Water Music inspired rock to full throttle blast beats and it works. Throw in some heavy grooves and a technical edge at times and you have the basic foundation of the bands sound. Basically mix Hot Water Music, Mastodon, Slayer, King Crimson, Converge, with hints of No Means No and possibly even Fugazi. It seems like a strange mix when you read it, but your ears will believe what your eyes may not.

The production courtesy of Matt Washburn fits the band perfectly. It has an analog type sound and really thin digital sound just wouldnt fit a band like this. The guitars need to be loud and a bit raw and that is exactly what you get here. The production has a lot of nuance to it though so all of the little moments right through loud and clear. The bass performance rings through clearly and you can hear that this guy is one hell of a bass player. The drums have a very natural sound and I think they could have been just a touch louder in the mix but that is being overly anal I think.

Im not entirely sure if this is the debut album from this band but it is definitely the first time their music has graced my ears. This is an album that I cant recommend enough. Its an interest mix of rock and metal that manages to keep things together in a cohesive package.

Between the Buried and Me-Colors
(Victory Records, 2007)

If you were expecting Between the Buried and Me to follow up Alaska with an album that tries to break the band into the mainstream, think again. Sure this album features more then its share of mellow moments, including the opening song which sounds like Between the Buried and Me meets The Beatles, but this album is an absolutely monster of progressive metal chock full of blazing speed, mind numbing riffs and some of the most melodic material the band has ever written. Basically its like what theyve done in the past but better.

The album basically works as a continuous piece of music more so then individual songs. The way they have managed to slightly meld the songs together makes the album much more interesting and pretty much demands that you listen to the entire album from start to finish. Im not sure if the entire album is linked lyrically but in a way this almost reminds me of the tech metal version of Crimson from Edge of Sanity. It works just as well and manages to feel a lot shorter then its hour long running time.

The band really managed to put a lot into these songs. You have the death metal speed the band is known for, but they experiment much more with different tempos and rhythms with this album. The songs all feature a large number of riffs but they manage to keep things interesting and dont seem to repeat the riffs much during the songs. Thats quite the feat considering some of these songs are over ten minutes long, the longest being just over 14. In that respect it does take a bit of time to invest in the album, but it is definitely worth it in the end.

If youve always looked at Between the Buried and Me as just another metalcore band, one listen to this album will prove you dead wrong. This band is to metalcore what King Crimson is to progressive rock. What does that translate to? Basically one of the best if not the best the genre has to offer. This friend is what it sounds like when a band is firing on all cylinders. Strap yourself in and enjoy the ride.

Seizure Crypt-Hello My Name is Madness
(3:16 Productions, 2007)

This one took a few spins to grow on me, and there are still moments that I dont like, but overall the bands varied approach to hardcore is enjoyable. The album starts out right with a high speed song with simple riffs and shouted vocals. The second song tries to be a bit more rhythmic and really it doesnt work. It sounds like a weak Biohazard to my ears. The third song continues to be mellower with a melodic approach before exploding with speed during the end of the song. Basically the rest of the album continues the trend of having some fast songs and some more experimental songs which flirt with different rhythms. I find myself enjoying the fast songs with the slower songs coming across as being a bit boring and not as together as the faster moments. The band almost comes across like a crossover band with the faster songs. Id love to see them explore that side of the band more and possibly incorporate the melodic aspect of the band into speedier songs. At the end of the day though, sure there are things I dont like about this album but Id rather hear a band playing hardcore then listen to another band playing emo or metalcore.

Afgrund-Svarta Dagar
(Life Stage Productions, 2007)

Holy grindcore Bat-Man! Afrgrund absolutely explode out of the speakers with a speedy and dissonant form of grindcore intensity that reminds me quite a bit of Nasum but a bit noisier.

The main thing you can expect from the band is speed. This is an incredibly fast album that hardly ever slows down. Basically when the band isnt blasting they are playing at a fast hardcore tempo. Its a formula that has worked for grindcore for a long time now so as the old adage goes it if aint broke dont fix it. What helps separate the band from Nasum is the added dissonance. The band does use the standard tremolo picking a great deal but they manage to add noisy passages and flairs of dissonance that manage to make the album sound even more dangerous.

Lyrically the band sticks to their native tongue and all of the songs are in Swedish. Although even if this was in English Im not sure how much you would even be able to decipher as these are some very extreme vocals. The band uses a dual vocal attack and it really works for the band, its nothing new for the genre but it certainly adds a lot of intensity to the music.

If a cross between Nasum and His Hero is Gone grabs your attention then this is definitely an album you will want to check out.

Through the Eyes of the Dead-Malice
(Prosthetic Records, 2007)

The last album from Through the Eyes of the Dead showed a young band with a lot of fire, but damn I didnt expect them to reach this level with their next album. This is an over the top ride of death metal intensity mixed with melodic thrash that shows the band really coming into their own sound.

The first thing I noticed was that the songwriting this time around was incredibly hard hitting. The riffs have tremendous impact and each song is littered with creative ideas and energy to spare. Whether the band is playing a blast beat or a slower riff that toys with dissonance they do both equally well and never stumble. The songs are not without dynamics either. They do from sickening speed to chugging breakdowns and to pretty much everywhere in between. I really like that the band took the time to make the breakdowns a bit different then usual. They are still probably the most common part of the bands sound but they manage to make them work with this album.

This album marks the debut of a new vocalist, Nate Johnson, who used to be in Premonitions of War. The attack is much more guttural this time around and is also a lot more powerful. This guy has an incredible set of lungs and it adds a whole new dimension of intensity to the band.

The production comes courtesy of Erik Rutan so you basically know that the album has an amazing production. The guitar tone is massive and the drums have a tight and clear sound that allows the barrage to hit with full intensity. This is easily the most professional the band has ever sounded and this could possibly be the best sounding album in the history of the label. It might be saying a lot but this is essentially the perfect metal production.

If you enjoyed Bloodlust you are going to go fucking apeshit for Malice. Sure that is a bit crude to say, but there is no getting around just how fucking good this album is and how much the band has progressed with this album.

Suicide Silence-The Cleansing
(Century Media, 2007)

I was ready to dismiss this band as just another metalcore band. Of course that was before I took my head out of my ass and actually listened to the album. Suicide Silence is like the musical equivalent of a bull dozer. They crush you with their heaviness, but arent afraid to slow things down and make sure that every last breath is squeezed out of you. Imagine an even faster version of The Red Chord mixed with hints of Cattle Decapitation and some metalcore influences and you basically have Suicide Silence.

This is definitely what you would consider a fast album. The vast majority of the album travels at a blast beat tempo. The riffs themselves are a speedy combination of tremolo picking and power chord chugging. If you enjoy your riffs with lots of pinch harmonics then this one is definitely for you. Many of the riffs utilize pinch harmonics quite extensively, almost to the point of it being a hook. As speed driven as the album may be, breakdowns are a big part of the bands sound. They slow down to sludge like tempos quite frequently. They break the mold from time to time, such as having a slow chugging riff with a blast beat underneath, but some of the breakdowns are a bit typical.

Vocally the band isnt quite as varied as some of the bands on the genre but the use the dual vocals to great effect. The main style used is an incredibly harsh scream that almost sounds like it wouldnt be out of place on a black metal album. The other style used is a deeper more typical death metal style. Both styles are done well but the growling definitely comes across as being the more typical of the styles.

This is definitely a young band with a lot to offer. This is an extreme and memorable slab of metal that is sure to please not only metalcore fans but fans of straight forward death metal as well. If you like your metal fast and abrasive, Suicide Silence does what they do very well and deserves your attention.

Freedom Call-Dimensions
(SPV, 2007)

This is the third album from this German power metal band, sadly though this is my first time hearing the band. I consider power metal to be one of my guilty pleasures, and this is the type of band that basically has me grinning from ear to ear. This is bombastic, catchy and above all just plain fun to listen to.

Its not hard to hear that Helloween was a huge influence on this band, particularly in the vocal department. That said the band isnt without anything unique to offer. The band writes excellent songs and throws in a bit more rock then Helloween ever did. The high speed energetic approach makes the album very easy to get into and reminds me of a time before a lot of power metal bands began to incorporate progressive influences into their music. This isnt flashy, this is focused and catchy power metal with ridiculously catchy vocal lines and choruses. The song Mr. Evil is cheesy but at the same time its hard to not get into the simplistic nature of the main hook and vocal lines.

The album is surprisingly varied. Many of the songs are uptempo and full of fast guitars, yet the band isnt afraid to slow down and be a bit mellower. Keyboards are used for extended periods with hardly a distorted guitar in sight. At the end of the day though this is a metal album and heavy guitars are what you pay the price of admission for here.

If you are a fan of fast and melodic power metal this one is definitely for you. The band is far from being a one trick pony and the slower songs are just as well written as the faster songs. If you are even remotely a fan of Helloween or Hammerfall this is pretty much essential.

Spheric Universe Experience-Anima
(Sensory Records, 2007)

Progressive metal has a tendency to sometimes shy away from being as heavy as it could be. Sure the riffs are heavy but few bands have riffs that make you say damn that is a heavy riff. This is one of the few bands that are extremely progressive yet also very heavy. The riffs tend to stick to the lower register and the rhythmic chunks the band throws at you are extremely memorable and very heavy. There is no shortage of extended instrumentation where the band makes good use of the entire range of their instruments, but the main structures of the songs are built on mammoth riffs.

What really grabs me about this album is the fact that the band can be throwing a million notes at you and it remains catchy. Trust me when I say this when the band decides to let down the flood gates and really throw notes at you theyll go for a good two or three minutes throwing rhythmic weirdness and a flurry of notes at you. But what makes it work is the structuring and the fact that there is substance to what they are playing. It always fits the feel of the song and they always seamlessly transition back into the main sections of the songs.

The vocals pretty much stick to a higher register and this is definitely an above average vocal performance. You can sometimes tell that English isnt the bands first language with the pronunciation and even how some of the lyrics are written, but that really isnt a big deal, if anything it gives the band a bit more character.

If you have always shied away from music of this style because you thought it was a slower subgenre of metal, this is definitely a band that would prove you wrong. Were not talking about blast beats, but the band does get pretty fast at times. I would say it is similar in speed to some of the faster power metal bands out there, but this is about as far from being a power metal album as you can get.

If progressive metal is your genre of choice this is definitely a band that you will want to become acquainted with. It seems criminal to me that a band this good remains almost entirely unknown while so many faceless clones are making a name for themselves.

Wolves in the Throneroom-Two Hunters
(Southern Lord, 2007)

Few bands truly transcend just being music and become what you would call art. Wolves in the Throneroom have always been a band that are so much more then a typical black metal band. The music is emotional, soothing yet violent and above all creative. This isnt constant blast beats and standard riffing. The songs are long journeys that have moments of fast harshness yet the band has no problem having long almost dreamlike passages that are somehow soothing. Even the fast moments dont come across as being violent or aggressive; they still have the atmospheric feel that the band manages to get across so well.

These are fairly lengthy songs. The album is just over 45 minutes and there are only 4 songs. The last song is an epic clocking in at 18 minutes but the song is filled with different moods and tempos and to have the band cut any of that back would be criminal. They allow themselves to fully explore their sound and in the process give us some of the most creative black metal music ever written.

The production is organic and much easier on the ears then most lo-fi black metal recordings. The drums have a natural ring and remain audible even during the fastest moments. The guitars have warmth that is almost unseen in black metal. Sure the riffs are cold but the sound is much easier on the ears. This is still a raw sounding about but it isnt hard on the ears.

Black metal as a whole these days is really hit or miss. It seems the most creative bands around right now are coming from the US with Wolves being one of the best the country has to offer. If you like your black metal epic and without pretension this one is definitely for you.