Slough Feg-Hardworlder
(Cruz Del Sur Music, 2007)

All I can pretty much muster right now is wow. Slough Feg is a band that lives, eats and sleeps heavy metal, but instead of sounding retro the band takes the classic style and makes it sound modern and vital.

What really drives the album is the inventiveness of the riffing. There is definitely an underlying Iron Maiden feel to the riffs but the band adds in almost spacey elements and has a great sense of dynamics. The riffs utilize a lot of different tones and the band has a lot of elements that seem pulled from 70s rock as well. There is an almost celtic influence to the music at times hinting at an almost folky like tone. It isnt used extensively but the parts definitely do stand out.

I fucking love the guitar tone on this album. It is as heavy as needed but very natural. It has a lot of breathing room and the lead guitar tone is pretty much to die for. It reminds me of Iron Maiden to a certain degree but I cant help but think of Richie Blackmore. Hell even the music has slight hints of Deep Purple, but the lead tone has that vintage Marshall stack cranked to the max tone and it fits the band perfectly.

It is very easy to hear that Slough Feg draws from the classic era of heavy metal and arent afraid to show it. This is a Deep Purple meets Iron Maiden riff fest sure to please even the most anal fans of the genre. They manage to carve their own niche in the genre which is no easy feat. Heavy metal fans this is for you.

Ignitor-Road of Bones
(Cruz Del Sur Music, 2007)

There are lots of bands that say that they are influenced by the hard rock and metal bands of the 80s, but few albums sound like they could have actually have been released during the 80s. This album certainly fits the bill and if you dont me this has originally been released in 1983 I wouldnt have been surprised in the least.

The band has an energetic and riff heavy approach to metal. It treads the line between hard rock and metal with crunchy yet metallic riffs and soaring vocals. It has a similar vibe to say bands like Metal Church with a more deliberate pace and hints of technicality. There is certainly no shortage of memorable riffs here. Every riff has a hook to latch onto and I love the fact that even though this isnt what you would call technical, the riffs never come across as being overly simplistic.

The production is a bit raw but it certainly helps the album have a sound fitting of the style they play. A shiny new production just wouldnt fit if you ask me. The guitar has a lot of bite but seems just a bit too trebly at times. It does add a bit of crunch to the riffs but makes some of the busier moments sound a bit thinner then they should. This is a good sounding album not without its flaws, but at the end of the day Ill take this over a modern sounding production.

If you cut your teeth on the Combat Records catalog or consider yourself a fan of Metal Church this one is definitely for you. The band plays energetic and well written metal that gives a big middle finger to what is currently going on in the metal scene. Grab your jean vest and get ready to rock.

Fightstar-Grand Unification
(Trustkill Records, 2007)

This album is a re-release of the bands debut album which I believe has been out in the UK for awhile now, and Im pretty sure that the follow up is going to be released fairly soon. I can definitely see what people see in the band, but honestly I cant help shake the feeling that this band sounds ridiculously similar to Thrice. They have the same sweeping sense of melody mixing it with heavier moments. Thats not to say that the band isnt good at what they do. These are well written songs boosted by a stellar drum performance and a passionate vocal performance. The songs are certainly memorable, but I cant help but shake the feeling that Ive heard it before. Its good for what it is but it does borrow quite heavily from Thrice and possibly even Alexisonfire at times. By all means though if you like your music melodic and you enjoy the bands mentioned then you may indeed like this. It certainly isnt a bad album, but it isnt exactly what I would consider an original album. Maybe with their next album theyll have a more original take on the genre.

Cerebrus-Dispute the Truth
(Creator Destructor Records, 2007)

My initial impression of Cerebrus was the band could pretty much be pigeonholed as a cross between Unearth and The Black Dahlia Murder. After numerous listens I think the comparison still fits but there is a lot of power on display here and the band certainly know how to wring a lot of intensity out of their instruments. It might not be groundbreaking but it certainly is enjoyable.

The band combines high octane melodic riffs with flairs of technicality and heavier rhythmic sections. There is of course a Swedish influence on display here and some of the riffs are a bit typical of the genre. While they arent bringing much new to the genre they do play with a lot of energy and play with conviction. I think the band gets a bit more creative with the slower riffs which allow them to explore different note choices. The faster riffs have a strong At the Gates type feel while the slower riffs while still melodic, are much more rhythmic and have a much darker edge to them at times.

One drawback to the disc is that some of the songs on the disc do have a very similar feel. There are elements on each song that are a bit different but the main parts of the songs do something sound fairly similar. A few blast beats would have helped the band kick up the tempo higher then the usual thrash tempo that most of the album uses. This is a solid disc but it is a bit by the numbers at times.

This doesnt reinvent the melodic death metal genre but it is indeed a solid listen. If you listen to Darkest Hour, Unearth or The Black Dahlia Murder this one is right up your alley.

Severance-Suffering in Humanity
(Goregiastic Records, 2007)

There was a time when I pretty much couldnt get enough US styled brutality. I suppose my tastes have broadened over the years but when an album from a band like Severance comes along it is definitely right up my alley. With inhuman roars, rhythmic chunks flying from the guitars, and blasting insanity the band plows through 12 tracks of uncompromising death metal.

While the band isnt doing anything really new in the genre they do have a surprisingly varied approach to death metal. Of course the requisite power chord chugging riffs are here as are the faster tremolo picked riffs. What is somewhat different is that the band actually interjects a little bit of melody into some of the riffs. I dont mean like Swedish style melody or anything, but little melodic lines that make the album offer more then just endless brutality.

The songwriting is surprisingly catchy as well. They dont seem to be a band that gets bogged down in trying to be as technical as humanly possible and isnt afraid to play something simple if the song calls for it. It gives the album a New York styled death metal feel to it. If you are expecting constant blasting and a thousand notes a second being thrown at you, you are going to be disappointed. The writing here allows the songs to breath a little bit more and makes the faster moments stand out even more.

While it does sound clich to call something true death metal, it certainly does fit in this case. The band doesnt throw in outside influences and pummels from beginning to end. If you enjoy pounding and rhythmic death metal, youll enjoy this.

Tangorodrim-Justus Ex Fide Vivit
(Southern Lord Recordings, 2007)

What we have here is 30 minutes of lo-fi black metal that doesnt do anything new but still kicks a lot of ass. The riffs are stripped down and the vocals barked conjuring the earliest bands in the genre. If Celtic Frost and Dark Throne got hammered and jammed it would probably sound like this. Its fast, evil and extremely catchy.

The riffs are simplistic yet very dark. There is no need for technical playing on an album like this. The riffs are bare bones and evil sounding. That is all you need to have an effective black metal album. You dont need layers of keyboards or a swarm of bees guitar tone to make a great black metal album. These guys understand what the genre is all about and keep things straight and to the point. You dont have to pussyfoot with long pompous intros; the mayhem starts as soon as you press play and never relents.

This is the type of music that is actually hard to review. Its so barbaric and to the point that words dont really seem to do it justice. Its like a bulldozer hitting you at full speed and dragging you straight into the depths of hell. If you are a fan of Celtic Frost, Dark Throne, or Bathory buy this right now.

Trelldom-Til Minne
(Regain Records, 2007)

The last full length by Trelldom was unleashed in 1998 and after quite the wait we have the follow up. Im not sure what exactly contributed to the long period in between albums but they certainly havent been sitting idly by as this album is an explosive and varied black metal album that draws from the old school of the genre but not without moving forward as well.

If you are at all familiar with the black metal genre you know that you can expect dark riffs, fast drumming and harsh vocals. Those are all of course present here and done extremely well at that. What really makes the band stand out though is the sheer memorable nature of the riffs. These are indeed dark yet they are stripped down to the essentials and really stick in your head because of it. Dont worry though this is still a fast album at times; dont let it being memorable worry you. When they want to Trelldom can be among the fastest in the genre. They just know how to write riffs that you actually remember instead of just being a wall of harsh noise.

For some reason Im more anal about productions in black metal then I am with other genres. Thankfully the production here is more then up to snuff. It has a live natural feel with a warm guitar tone and a powerful drum sound. The band entirely relies of guitars for atmosphere so the sound is very big and never falls into the thin warbled sound that quite a few black metal albums suffer from. The vocals are mixed out front but arent harsh enough to become grating. Sure the vocals are harsh but they wont cause ear damage when played at high volumes.

It has been a long wait for this album but it was definitely worth it. Bands are bringing out albums every year and the spark just isnt always there. Trelldom still has the creative spark and if it takes 9 years in between albums so be it.

Kamelot-Ghost Opera
(SPV, 2007)

If you think that all power metal is upbeat and happy think again. Kamelot is undoubtedly a power metal band, but they definitely seem to have a taste for the melancholy with Ghost Opera. This is an epic and melodic album, but forget about hearing the same rehashed Helloween riffs on this album, this is as original and dynamic as power metal comes.

The songs are very riff heavy layered with melodic guitar lines and spattered with symphonic keyboard runs. The songs have a very epic feel to them with a vocal performance that is more then up to the task of adding an equally epic layer to the songs. The guitars have a charging energetic feel but never have the bouncy feel common in the genre. It sounds a bit cheesy, but you could almost call this gothic tinged power metal. It might sound odd at first, but once you hear what the band is trying to achieve with this album the description fits like a glove.

While it might be a stretch to call this album progressive there are definitely flashes of technicality. The guitar solos are executed flawlessly and are pretty much the only flashy part of the bands sound. The solos never seem excessive though and always seem like integral parts of the songs. The songs are usually only around 4 or 5 minutes in length so you dont have to worry about the band spending 2 of those minutes on a guitar solo.

This is an ambitious and complex metal record that takes the power metal genre in a slightly different direction then people might be used to. The melody is here but it is darker then you might expect and the band has really taken the time to make each song diverse. This really feels like an album and not just a bunch of songs thrown together. I cant recommend this album highly enough.

Canvas Solaris-Cortical Tectonics
(Sensory Records, 2007)

If Im not mistaken this is the third full length release from the band and not only is it their heaviest album it is also their most ambitious to date. If you enjoy technical yet heavy music, this band will have your head spinning in no time. Notes are thrown at the listener in rapid succession with a few somber moments thrown in as breathers.

The first song, Berserker Hypothesis, throws a ridiculous amount of riffs at you. At times it sounds like you are listening to a metal CD and are pressing the next button over and over again. The riffs are diverse in both note choices and rhythmic and they come fast and furious. There are a lot of starts and stops and the band plays with dissonance quite a bit with this song. The second song, Sinusoid Mirage, is much mellower starting off with two minutes of melodic guitar lines and light percussion. It has an almost jazzy 70s rock vibe before kicking in the distortion around the 2 minute mark. The band then plays around with riffs that seem to combine Cynic with mathcore. I would say this song features some of the catchiest riffs on the entire album while still retaining the technical edge the band is known for. The song also features a few amazing guitar leads as well as a twin guitar melody that is ridiculously well written. Interface follows with a sound that somewhat reminds me of The Police but with more notes. Its melodic but has a unique beat and stays mellow for the duration of the entire song. The band pulls out the Moog in the middle to great effect making this a stand out track on the album. The next song Gammas Knife brings back the distorted guitars and melodic yet technical guitar lines the band is known for. Its a fairly standard Canvas Solaris song but is still an interesting and challenging song with some very cool lead guitar flurries. Rhizome combines both the heavy elements of the band along with the melodic side of the band. Stabs of heaviness truncate the note heavy melodic guitar lines used throughout the song. Like every song on the album, the song features a standout guitar solo this time with a lot of harmonized sections that makes it a bit unique to this track. The album closes with Reticular Consciousness which is an absolute monster clocking in at 17 minutes. The song basically takes all of the ideas explored on the album and brings them all together into one big package. If one song could sum up what the band was all about it would definitely be this track.

Ive been a huge fan of everything these guys have released so far but this album just seems more together and more thorough. There is probably a wide variety of people who would be into this. Fans of Cynic obviously, but even fans of Between the Buried and Me or possibly even The Dillinger Escape Plan would be able to full understand what the band is trying to accomplish. This is ambitious music but if you give it time it is definitely rewarding.