Robots and Empire-Omnivore
(Trip Machine Laboratories, 2007)

Robots and Empire is simply put on of the best bands I have heard in a long time. With a sound that dabbles with post-hardcore, early metalcore and sludge, the approach is heavy and thick with massive grooves, rhythmic crunch and quite a bit of melody thrown in as well. Deadguy meets Quicksand meets Black Sabbath with a little Cave In sprinkled in would sort of describe the band, but do not think the album is that easily pigeonholed. The band has a lot of tricks up their sleeves and the songs can change on a dime.

There are bands that sound like they are trying to be heavy but this is a band that sounds very natural. There are some very heavy moments but they are not stuffed down your throat. They mix organically with the melodic aspects and when they come they hit like a ton of bricks.

I think that Dean Baltulonis is one of the best producers around right now for hardcore or hardcore related bands and he certainly gives this band a rich and powerful sound. It has a raw edge that fits the band perfectly. This is one of the few albums that remind you how powerful an album can sound. With albums becoming increasingly dull and over processed it is nice to hear an album that sounds like an actual band.

This is the type of band that gets known through word of mouth. One listen and I guarantee you will be telling friends about this awesome band you just heard. Fans of Cave In, Deadguy, Quicksand and possibly even Mastodon will find aspects of Robots of Empire to dig into.

Arise and Ruin-The Final Dawn
(Victory Records, 2007)

After releasing an EP that showed potential but was not anything special, Arise and Ruin must be eating their Wheaties as their debut for Victory Records is a blistering combination of thrash and elements of metalcore. It still isnt incredibly original, but it shows the band growing into a much stronger band.

Truth be told the band sounds a lot like Unearth. The guitar riffs are slightly Swedish influenced bringing melody into the thrash styled riffing. Breakdowns are common and slightly clich although it is tough to deny their heaviness. The best sounds on here are the ones that break away from the thrash and experiment with more mid-tempo riffing. These songs still fit easily into the metalcore mould but they seem to take on less of an Unearth type sound.

I am somewhat on the fence about the production. It doe not sound bad although it has a digital sheen that I do not care much for. The drums in particular are a bit thin and the bass drums could have cut through the mix a bit more with a bit more clarity. This is the type of album that has a band in the studio feel rather than a raw natural sound. The album doesn't sound terrible, but a beefier more natural sound would benefit the band I think.

While not overly original, Arise and Ruin do have a lot to offer for fans of the metalcore genre. Fans of Unearth and Darkest Hour should enjoy this one.

UDO-Mastorcutor
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Balls to the walls heavy metal is what you can expect from UDO on Mastorcutor. The distinctive gravelly voice and melodic metal style make for a sound that is instantly enjoyed and implanted your brain. This is the voice behind some of the greatest metal songs ever recorded, so would you expect anything less?

The music is a sharp combination of Accept styled riffs and more traditional power metal melody. The choruses are massive with booming vocals and hooks that just wont let go. There may not be many surprises from the album, but youll be swept up in the riffs and vocal lines far too much to notice that the album really doesnt do anything new.

The production is razor sharp and to my ears sounds fairly similar in sound to Painkiller. In my opinion that is one of the greatest sounding metal albums of all time so this is a great sounding album as well. The guitar sound is powerful but still natural sounding. The vocals are mixed perfectly allowing the uniquely voiced front man to be where he needs to be in the mix, right up front.

This is the exact album you were expecting from UDO and you wouldnt want it any other way. The album explodes with energy and if you are a fan of heavy metal this is an essential purchase.

Moonspell-Under Satanae
(SPV USA, 2007)

Moonspell is a band that I am only familiar with from their latest album. The fact that this album is re-recordings of early albums really doesn't mean much to me as I am not familiar with the original recordings. What I do know though is that Moonspell must have been a very good band even during their earliest years. The songs are well written and have a very interesting heavy metal meets black metal style infused with exotic note choices and gothic sensibilities. The songs mainly revolved around a mid-paced stomp with flairs on speed punctuating the songs.

For the Moonspell fans out there, the band has re-recorded the entire Under the Moonspell album, the Anno Satanae demo tape and one song from the band was still called Morbid God. While I cant comment on how true to the original recordings the band stayed they certainly have managed to get quite the sound with the album. The production courtesy of Tue Madsen sounds phenomenal and is no doubt a big leap from the original recordings.

This is a collection that is mainly geared towards fans of the band, although even if you are unfamiliar with the original recordings this is an easy album to enjoy. The songwriting is top notch, the production is strong and it is becoming apparent that Moonspell may just be one of the most underrated bands in metal right now.

Marduk-Opus Nocturne
(Regain Records, 2007)

Originally released in 1994, Opus Nocturne shows Marduk playing a blast driven form of black metal with a strong production courtesy of Dan Swano. If you are familiar with Marduk this is certainly an album that packs few surprises.

The blasting is almost unrelenting, only stopping for slower but no less cold sounding sections. The guitar riffs are melodic and for a harsh style are still quite memorable. The songs with this album were some of the longest the band has ever played. You don't really expect 7 minute songs from Marduk but there are a few on this album. The band keeps the music intense throughout though, playing with an energy few black metal bands can replicate.

In the grand scheme of all things Marduk, I'm not quite sure where I would put Opus Nocturne. It is a great album but it doesnt stand out as much as the first few albums in the songwriting department. Its a solid albeit fairly by the books album from Marduk. Does it deserve a place in your collection? Absolutely, as even if this is typical by Marduk standards it is still one hell of a black metal album.

Marduk-Heaven Shall BurnWhen We Are Gathered
(Regain Records, 2007)

This is one of the albums that showed Marduk to be one of the elite bands of the black metal genre. The album attacks with razor sharp riffing, blasting galore and vicious vocals courtesy of Legion, who is arguably the best vocalist Marduk has ever had in their ranks.

While the album still very much sounds like the albums before it, the songwriting is a bit more concise and the attack is even more frenzied. Up until this album was released this has been the fastest the band had ever been and still today this is a very fast album. The blistering speed is incredibly tight as well which isnt always the case with black metal bands. This album is most definitely not sloppy as this may just be one of the best drum performances ever recorded for the black metal genre.

This is an album that shows a band firing on all cylinders and creating a fucking masterpiece in the process. This album almost knocks Dark Endless out of place as my favorite Marduk album. As far as the modern sound of Marduk goes, it doesnt get much better than this. If you like fast black metal and you don't own this album you are sorely missing out.

Saxon-The Inner Sanctum
(SPV USA, 2007)

Considering Saxon have been together longer than I have been alive, it is not surprising that this album is a well written album in a classic style of heavy metal. It sounds like Saxon and any heavy metal fan knows that is a good thing.

The album starts out with three back to back heavy metal scorchers before slowing down for a more moody and dynamic song that isn't quite a ballad yet is slower than most of the album. There are a number of songs that would fit nicely into the hard rock genre with more of a stomp tempo and a different riffing style. Through and through this is a memorable album with a diverse approach from track to track with each style being pulled off impeccably.

If you are a Saxon fan, The Inner Sanctum is a welcome addition to your collection. It shows the band doing what they do best and that is playing classic heavy metal with booming vocals and memorable guitar riffs. This is evidence that Saxon is still very much alive and well.

Nikki Puppet-Militant Mother
(Armageddon Music, 2007)

Perhaps it is only because I'm Canadian but the music of Nikki Puppet reminds me quite a bit of a beefed up and more metallic version of Bif Naked. Its heavy rock based with female vocals and a fairly catchy approach.

Originality isnt what I would consider this bands strong suit. A lot of the riffs have a heard it before feel to them and the band itself seems a bit rough around the edges at times. That said I can definitely enjoy the music for what it is, tried and true heavy rock with slight punk influences at times.

What really surprises me is the lack of power in the production. It is stripped down but to the point of sounding thin. A little more oomph would have helped quite a bit. You can definitely enjoy the album but the production could have been improved. It even seems a bit muddy at times and the guitar lacks clarity which is never good with a rock based album.

Sure there are cliche moments and the songwriting is a bit simple at times, but fans of hard rock should enjoy this none the less. Despite a flat production, the songs manage to have a lot of staying power.

Odd Project-Lovers Fighters Sinners Saints
(Indianola Records, 2007)

Odd Project at first seem like they could be easily lumped into the screamo genre, but if you pay close attention youd see that the band is all over the board with their sound. You have rock riffs, melodic sections, breakdowns and even some downright metallic moments.

But ultimately what makes this band more than just another screamo band is the songwriting itself. The songs are filled with creative ideas and polished guitar playing that shows a proficiency lacking from some bands in this genre. They are also catchy without being overly simple. The songs cover a lot of ground and don't exist just to be filler in between the choruses. The band has a lot of unique ideas and isn't afraid to explore them.

There are elements here that would make this appeal to fans of screamo but there is so much more to dig into with the album. Sure the clean vocals will draw people in, but what about the guitar solos and precise attack of the band? There are numerous reasons why this is worth a listen. Listen with an open mind and you are sure to be rewarded.

Unfortunately the band has decided to call it quits, so hopefully the creative forces behind this band find a new band and continue to write interesting music.

Driver Side Impact-The Very Air We Breathe
(Victory Records, 2007)

In a time with so many bands its tough for a band to stand out. Driver Side Impact are a band that certainly stand out. With an approach that almost seems like a more experimental combination of Taking Back Sunday and Hawthorne Heights, the band is memorable but interesting throwing in unique ideas for a genre overrun with clones.

It would be easiest to associate Driver Side Impact with the melodic rock genre although they toy around with heavier riffs and delay much more than most bands in the genre. So you have a sound that is melodic, heavy at times and spacey when needed. Keyboards are used but there are only a few spots where they really stand out. They are mainly used for atmosphere and to double the guitar melodies, although the sections where they are allowed to noodle are quite cool. The band also uses programming and electronic noises occasionally helping the band to have a sound that is very fleshed out and surprisingly diverse. There are moments that are a bit typical but these moments are not overly common.

This is a genre where lyrics can either be really good or really lame. Thankfully this band fits into the really good category. Instead of throwing a bunch of clichs at the listener, the lyrics are well written and personal yet still cryptic enough to leave it up to your imagination. Add in the fact that the vocal lines are catchy and the delivery is incredibly solid and you have an album that succeeds in both the vocal and music departments.

It takes something special to stand out right now in this genre, and Driver Side Impact not only stand out but have written one of the best albums the melodic rock genre has seen in a long time. Fans of everything from Thursday to Coheed and Cambria should enjoy the music of this band. It is engaging and interesting and one of the best melodic albums Victory has ever released.

Souvenir's Young America-An Ocean Without Water
(Crucial Blast, 2007)

Instrumental music can be some of the most soothing music ever recorded. If done right music can create something that goes beyond being tones and turns into something that can change your moods and swallow your attention. While rock based, this band has a sound that draws you in with serene melodies and unique guitar sounds.

The pace is somewhat sluggish but it adds to the oddly beautiful feel of the music. It almost reaches the level of being soundtrack like. If you envisioned a spacier rock oriented version of a Western soundtrack it would, in part, describe what the band sounds like. The album has a sound that brings to mind vast emptiness or possibly deserts which fits in well with the Western comparison.

The hard part of reviewing an instrumental album is putting into words exactly what the album sounds like. It is even harder when the album is more so experienced than listened to. If you like soundscapes or soundtrack like instrumental music, this is definitely an album youll want to experience. If you are fan of Western soundtracks in particular this is definitely something youll want to check out. The only thing missing are the tumble weeds.

Skullflower-IIIRD Gatekeeper
(Crucial Blast, 2007)

Skullflower is one of those bands that has just never clicked with me. This album is a re-release of an album that was originally released in 1992 and while this is an album I enjoy more than the newer albums from Skullfolwer it still fails to leave much of an impression.

People always say that parents don't understand the music their kids listen to. I don't have kids but this is a style that doesnt make sense to me. Its noisy feedback soaked music that is sort of like a tripped out version of Godflesh. The songs revolve around sparse drumbeats, excessive feedback and plodding bass guitar. The album is definitely heavy but in a fairly unconventional way.

While I respect that the band does, this is just one of those bands that just isn't for me. If you enjoy the noisier side of industrial or feedback experimentation you will enjoy this. Ill keep giving it a chance and who knows maybe one day this style will finally click with my brain.