Adrenicide-Drunk With Power
(Thrashard Records, 2006)

I've been a huge fan of thrash and crossover for a long time now and while it inst common that a new band comes along that sounds like they could have been around in 1988, it certainly is a nice surprise. Adrenicide have a strong crossover sound that draws mainly from DRI during their days when they first starting getting metallic in sound. I'm not a fan of throwing out the description old school, but it certainly fits with Adrenicide.

If you couldn't have guessed this is what you would call a fast album. The riffing is fast and sharp with a perfect combination of hardcore intensity and thrash metal chops. This inst what you would consider complicated, but I wouldn't consider it overly simplistic either. The vocals are definitely old school flavored and while they do have a few weak moments I really enjoy the vocal approach. It's nice to see a band playing thrash and keeping the original vocal style instead of throwing in growling or a black metal styled rasp.

What I really like is the fact that the band has stayed very true to the crossover genre. You wont find any blast beats or death metal vocals on here, just straight ahead thrash with killers riffs and a no nonsense vocal approach. If you are into DRI, MOD, or Cryptic Slaughter this one is definitely for you.

http://www.myspace.com/adrenicide1

Sworn Enemy-Maniacal
(Century Media, 2008)

It's very cliche to say that a band has a new album and they are stronger than ever, but the shoe definitely fits when it comes to the latest album by Sworn Enemy. Taking the intensity of previous albums and upping the metallic aspect of the bands sound considerably, Maniacal is an album that will leave you bruised and bloody after just one song. The remaining 9 songs might just be enough to put you in a hospital bed for a very long time. As far as thrash infused hardcore this is the album that new bands in the genre should study before even bothering to write a song.

To my ears Sworn Enemy has always sounded like the bastard child of Sick of It All and Slayer. The pounding hardcore intensity and throaty vocal style brings to mind hardcore while the thrash styled riffing and guitar solos bring to mind Slayer. This is the best the band has ever sounding bringing in some down right memorable yet killer metal riffs that seem to draw from the classic thrash days of the likes of Exodus or even Anthrax. One riff that really stands out is during A Place of Solace is a chunky riff that wouldnt sound out of a place on a Suffocation album. Its little moments like this that makes the album effective. Each song has moments that you would expect from the band but there are definitely surprises as well. I was definitely surprised by the blast beats which I werent expecting. The amount of guitar solos is also a surprise but definitely a welcome one.

This is the best album yet from Sworn Enemy and an album that should appeal to metal fans just as much as it would hardcore fans. The energy level is vicious and the band is playing like a fire has been lit under their asses. Take everything about Sworn Enemy of the past and just make it plain better and you have Maniacal.

Blotted Science-The Machinations of Dementia
(EclecticElectric, 2007)

What do you get when you put three of the best musicians the metal world has ever seen together? You get Blotted Science, a technically excessive rhythmic monster of a band. Formed by Ron Jarzombek of Spastic Ink/Watchtower fame, he is joined by Alex Webster of Cannibal Corpse and Charlie Zelany of Behold the Arctopus. So there is no question that the chops are there but how does the music fare? Quite well I would say although if you are not a fan of technical music this might be a bit too much for you to handle. If you like rhythmically intense odd time signatures and guitar and bass heroics however, this is definitely right up your alley.

This is an instrumental album and it certainly isnt what you would consider easy listening. The songs are filled with odd time signatures, long guitar runs and a middle finger to conventional song structuring. The songs do have memorable moments but if you are looking for something to hum along to youll have to look elsewhere, unless of course you can hum ridiculously fast and long melodies.

If you are a guitar fan or player you will absolutely devour this album. The playing is ridiculously clean but there is definitely a lot of feeling in the playing. There are long runs of note heavy soloing, but melodic sections are quite common as well. There are moments that will have you shaking your head at the amount of notes coming at you only to be thrown a curveball with a melodic solo right after. While the bass and drum performance is flawless, this is definitely a guitar player's album.

The album is indeed a lot to digest at just under an hour in length. If you really dig in and let the album entrance you, you'll be treated to a technical roller coaster of epic proportions. There is almost an unfair amount of talent on display. This is the type of album that will either inspire you to reach new heights on your instrument or just give it up entirely.

Aetherius Obscuritas-Vizioli (Visions)
(Paragon Records, 2007)

While some might argue that this band has a somewhat typical take on the black metal genre, there is no denying that the songwriting is top notch and the band has a powerful delivery.

They utilize both blistering speed and sweeping epic melodies giving the band a sound that is somewhere in between black metal and Viking metal. The fast moments are very melodic with a riffing style somewhat similar to early Dark Funeral. The slower sections are still quite melodic but bring to mind De Mysteriis Dom Sathanas ear Mayhem. The album covers a wide range of sounds and the band isnt afraid to be slightly different than a typical black metal band. The bass guitar in particular adds a unique feel as the playing doesnt always follow the guitar lines exactly.

The album has a sound that manages to give the album a lot of power. Forget about thin sounding black metal productions as this album has a ballsy guitar sound and thick sounding drums. The drum sound is more akin to what you would hear on a death metal album honestly. The performance itself definitely fits in the black metal genre but the drums are much clearer sounding than you might expect from an album of this kind.

It is quite surprising that this is a one man band. The creativity level and musicianship is much higher than your average one man black metal band. This is a powerful album that combines fast and cold black metal with an epic side filled with melodies of the folk/Viking type. If you are a black metal fan, this Hungarian band will definitely be a feast for your ears.

Another Kind of Death-Sleepless Every Night
(Underhill Records, 2007)

While Spain might not be where you would expect a caustic hardcore band to call home, that is exactly where Another Kind of Death is from. With a noisy and rhythmic assault, the band has a sound that would be instantly embraced by a North American audience.

The guitar riffs are burly yet flirt with dissonance quite regularly. The vocals are a harsh yell giving way to the occasional spoken and softer passage. The drums charge forward almost pushing the sound to the verge of chaos adding a great deal of energy to the overall sound of the band. While it wouldnt be fair to the call the band clones of any band in particular the influences are somewhat visible. The common ones would definitely be Norma Jean, Converge and Every Time I Die.

The band does indeed have a sound that is very American in nature. Calling it typical would have too much of a negative connotation. That said this album definitely will appeal to fans of the noisy and rhythmic hardcore of the US. If the band had been from the States I'm sure they would be signed to Ferret or a similar styled label.

This album definitely took me by surprise but it certainly was a welcome surprise. With dissonance, rock inspired riffs and energy levels almost at the maximum; Another Kind of Death is a band with a lot to offer. Fans of Norma Jean, Converge and the Solid State Records roster should have little trouble getting into this.

Severe Torture-Sworn Vengeance
(Earache Records, 2007)

With death metal becoming a genre overrun with bands adding breakdowns and ridiculous amounts of sweep picking, a full throttle death metal album is just what the doctor ordered. Severe Torture has been making noise for quite some time now but Sworn Vengeance is easily their best effort to date.

The best way to sum up the album would be Harmony Corruption era Napalm Death mixed with hints of Deicide and classic Swedish death metal. Melody is infused in some of the more thrash inspired riffs creating a sound that wouldnt have been out of place on the early Dismember albums. The speed level is certainly high with this album. The blasting is frequent as is the use of an energetic thrash styled beat. The band also throws in some powerful rhythmic riffs that help the band from becoming all about speed with this album.

Guitar solos weave their way into the songs adding extra venom to the already volatile mix. The solos are usually kept somewhat short and have an energetic yet old school feel. If you are expecting two minutes of arpeggios per song you wont find them here. When you get right down to it would excessive soloing fit on a speed driven death metal album? The answer is no. The solos are perfect as is, managing to fit into the songs without being a distraction.

With a powerful production and flawless execution, Sworn Vengeance is a gem of a death metal album. The songs are memorable, enforced with a powerful roar and catchy vocal patterns. If you are a death metal fan chances are you already own an album by Severe Torture, but why not add another to the collection? If you enjoy pounding death metal you wont be disappointed.

Acral Necrosis-Eternal Nuklear Violation
(Ground Zero Entertainment, 2007)

Despite a raw production, Acral Necrosis manages to make quite the impact. With a frenzied approach, the band plays a style that land somewhere in between black metal and thrash metal. Thinks early Sodom mixed with Sadistik Exekution but filtered through early black metal and you'd have Acral Necrosis.

The song writing is quite interesting and utilizes a combination of melody and all out insanity. The thrash styled riffs are more straight ahead and leave a bit of the melody behind, while the blasting sections usually embrace a more melodic sound that draws from the black metal genre more firmly,.

To be perfectly honest the production is somewhat lacking. To its credit it has a sound that recalls the demos of the past which is always a good thing. The guitar tone could have been a bit beefier I think and the overall mix would have been a bit clearer. The disc has an underground feel to it which isn't as common these days with home recording becoming much more common. So the sound is raw yet it fits the sound of the band.

If you enjoy thrash infused black metal or war metal, Acral Necrosis is a band to look into. Fans of early Sodom and Aussie war metal should definitely find this to their liking.

Official Ground Zero Myspace Page

Drone-Head-On Collision
(Armageddon Music, 2007)

With a strong production and an accessible sound, Drone is a band that should have little trouble winning over fans of mainstream metal. Heavy grooves and melodic elements collide in a sound that is somewhat a cross between Machine Head, Slipknot and Killswitch Engage with an emphasis on thrash from time to time. While it really isnt innovative the band is quite good at what they do. The songwriting is above average and the riffs maintain a nice balance between hooks and downright heaviness.

Speedy moments rear their head occasionally with the band churning out some excellent thrash riffs and even getting into blast beat territory occasionally. While I do enjoy the fast moments the most, the more rhythmic parts are just as well played and show a band that really have a handle of their style.

This is the type of band that would probably be very popular in the US but still remains fairly unknown. The German band has a lot to offer particularly to fans of Machine Head, Slipknot, Killswitch Engage and possibly even Pantera. If you are a death metal fan, this wont do much for you, but fans of groove based metal should enjoy this.

Blood Red Throne-Come Death
(Earache Records, 2007)

Blood Red Throne, while old school in nature, have a unique take on the death metal genre combining Florida death metal with the razor sharp riffing of black metal. The result is vicious, showcasing some of the tightest rhythmic playing in the genre right now.

What makes the album stand out is the unique feel the band manages to get out of the riffs. While there are tremolo picked moments, the band has a much more musical and rhythmic approach to death metal. There are very few riffs here that you could consider typical of the death metal genre.

The band manages to prove that there is still room for creativity in the death metal genre. The bass guitar for one definitely stands out more than with most death metal bands. It's nice to hear a bass player getting creative with his bass lines as on most extreme metal albums youd be hard pressed to hear the bass guitar let alone hear it doing something interesting.

Vocally the album covers more ground than your average death metal album as well. The standard growl and shriek approach is used but the band throws in vocal effects from time to time to help keep things interesting in a genre not known for experimentation in the vocal department.

Calling this a typical death metal album is laughable. The creativity level is high on all nine songs that make up the album. With interesting riffs, a powerful production and an impeccable performance, Blood Red Throne has earned a spot amongst the death metal elite.

Limbonic Art-Legacy of Evil
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Limbonic Art is a band whose original style of symphonic black metal has been missed by the black metal scene. Legacy of Evil is the bands first album since 2002 and after one song it is clear that the album was well worth the wait.

From blast beat fueled speed and harsh vocals to melodic almost soundtrack likes breaks, Limbonic Art have a multifaceted approach that is much more than just standard black metal. Even the fast riffing the band uses has a unique and orchestral feel. The band uses layering to great lengths, giving the album a sound that is much bigger than your standard black metal band. There is almost something darkly beautiful about the sound of the album. The melodies are definitely much more epic in nature and even when the riffing brings in a thrash influence it still remains layered and massive sounding.

Even if Legacy of Evil hadn't of been released Limbonic Art have already made their mark on the black metal genre. Thankfully the album is true to form for the band and a welcome addition of the rock solid back catalog of the band.

Xasthur-Defective Epitaph
(Hydra Head Records, 2007)

Xasthur are certainly a band that throws musical conventions out the window. While early albums were more black metal in nature, this latest album shows a much more experimental and noisy approach that is both more dissonant and yet more melodic at the same time.

There is quite a lot of music to digest on this album. The 75 minute running time seems a bit daunting and it is. With music as noisy and experimental as this, 75 minutes is just too much for one sitting, at least for my brain. If taken is small doses and given the time it needs the album still is a giant mindfuck but it is definitely a creative mindfuck.

There are still fast moments but the vast majority of the album is slower and slightly melodic in an off kilter kind of way. I say slightly because even when the music is melodic there is still a lot of noise happening as well. There is absolutely nothing typical and the album and this is possibly the most artistic the black metal genre has ever been.

The fast moments are some of the harshest moments ever heard from Xasthur. The noise driven chaos of the band reaches new heights bordering on almost being incomprehensible. Its chaotic and challenging music that is definitely not for everyone. But for those of you that get what the band is doing, this is one hell of a ride. It is a lot to take in during one sitting, but the album deserves to be heard regardless.

V/A-Change!
(Hopeless Records, 2007)

Change! Is a CD/DVD compilation that pulls together some of the biggest names around right now along with some new faces that you might not be familiar with. The bands run the gamut from emo to death metal and pretty much every thing in between. From the metal side of the tracks you have Every Time I Die, As I Lay Dying, The Chariot, The Human Abstract, The Devil Wears Prada, August Burns Red, Job for a Cowboy, See You Next Tuesday, Parkway Drive and Converge.

Aiden, Silverstein, Chiodos, Saosin, Alesana, and Poison the Well supply the more screamo or metalcore styled tracks while Fall of Troy and Horse the Band add some weirdness to the compilation. The bands youve possibly never heard of come in the form of Memphis May Fire, Pierce the Veil and Gallows.

The DVD portion of the compilation features mainly the same bands with a few changes and less songs overall. Not included on the CD but on the DVD are Boys Night Out, Escape the Fate, Maylene and the Sons of Disaster and Kaddisfly. The DVD is a nice addition as Im sure a lot of people havent had the chance to see some of the videos.

With a lineup like this, there is sure to be a band that you are into. The packaging is very cool and proceeds from the compilation will go to the Hot Topic Foundation which helps organizations that encourage music, writing and filmmaking by youths. So not only will you get some kick ass tunes, but youll also be helping out a good cause.