Harlots-Betrayer
(Lifeforce Records, 2007)

Hitting with a ridiculous amount of force, Harlots are a dissonant slap in the face of musical conventions. With a noisy and off the wall sound, the band manages to be heavy and extremely raw simultaneously. The band borrows elements from mathcore, death metal and sludge giving them a sound similar to a combination of The Dillinger Escape Plan, Converge and Isis.

I think some people confuse speed for intensity when they say that a band is intense. However Harlots definitely fit being called intense. The playing is ridiculously energetic seemingly jumping from the speakers and delivering a solid kick to the groin. The band is fast which does add to the intensity somewhat, but even the slower sections have a sound that makes you feel like the band is at the breaking point. Just when you think you have the band figured out though theyll throw you a curveball. The melodic sections definitely come out of nowhere as do some of the more atmospheric moments. There is no shortage of craziness but the songs definitely have a depth missing from similar bands out there.

Simply put, the production is perfect. The thick and noisy guitar sound matches the haphazard feel of the riffs perfectly and keeps the heavier moments extremely heavy. The overall feel of the album is very natural. This is not an album with your standard Mesa Boogie guitar sound and triggered drums. There is a raw intensity to the album that gives the album a live feeling that fits perfectly.

Well written chaos would be a good way to describe the Harlots sound. If you enjoy the music of The Dillinger Escape Plan, See You Next Tuesday or Converge at their most metallic, Betrayer is an album you will want to introduce to your ears as soon as possible.

http://www.myspace.com/harlots

Wuthering Heights-The Shadow Cabinet
(Sensory, 2007)

Not trying to pigeonhole the Sensory roster but Wuthering Heights have a sound that fits in perfectly with what the label releases. Keyboard runs meet with rhythmic yet melodic guitar lines forming a progressive metal sound that is completed with energetic drumming and powerful vocals. Like I said before, it is what you would expect from the label and that is a good thing.

An interesting combination of somewhat standard guitar runs and almost quirky pirate like melodies gives the band a unique feel. The melodies help to make the music a bit more memorable than your average progressive metal album. The band definitely seems more concerned with writing memorable songs instead of technical exercises disguised as music. There is of course a great deal of musicality on display and the Yngwie Malmsteen inspired guitar solos are nothing short of amazing. But instead of 5 minute guitar solos you get actual songs to listen to.

I would also say that the band is a definitely a bit darker lyrically than many similar bands. The lyrics are poetic at times and always interesting. Truth be told I rarely even pay attention to lyrics in bands of this style and this is one of the few albums that I felt the need to read along with the lyrics while listening. Not only are the lyrics well written, the vocal patterns are also very well put together. There are some extremely memorable choruses to be found here that give the music a power metal feel at times.

Wuthering Heights are one hell of a band. Armed with extremely memorable guitar lines, a tight polished sound and a classic vocal approach, this is a band that has a lot to offer not just progressive metal fans but fans of European power metal as well.

http://www.myspace.com/wutheringheightsband

Sol-Let There Be a Massacre
(Van Records, 2007)

Slow and mammothly heavy doom hits your ears when you press play on Let There Be A Massacre. The music is slow placed but quite interesting with flairs of originality and quirkiness. Call it progressive funeral doom if you want, but hearing Sol for yourself is the easiest way to decide just how to describe the unique and twists metal pouring from the speakers.

Calling a doom metal album slow almost seems redundant as fans of the genre already know it usually moves at a snails pace. Sol is indeed slow, but I certainly wouldnt call it plodding. The riffing has a layered approach that keeps things interesting with a nice balance between melody and sinister doom riffs. There is definitely an original feel fo the album even though it is still easily traced to the doom genre.

Vocally the album is interesting and surprisingly diverse. Guttural vocals and a harsher style are used but effects give the vocals a unique feel at times and result in some truly evil sounding vocals. These are some of the sickest sounding vocals ever heard in the doom metal genre sounding like a more death metal oriented version of Killjoy from Necrophagia at times.

Dark and foreboding only begins to describe the music created by Sol. If you like your doom evil and epic this is definitely for you. Add in an experimental edge and this is an album that all diehard doom fans need to hear.

Verdunkeln-Einblick in den Qualenfall
(Van Records, 2007)

Dark and melodic certainly are slightly typical ways to describe black metal, but in the case of Verdunkeln it only scratches the surface of what the band has to offer. With an eerie melodic edge the band plays a unique hybrid of doom and black metal.

The songs are lengthy creating a lot of atmosphere and avoiding the clichs of both genre they draw influence from. The riffing draws greatly from the black metal genre but is coated with a layer of atmospheric melody and odd noises. It is an experimental brew that is quite unique and much more dynamic than you might expect.

If you expect blast beats because this is associated with the black metal genre you will be disappointed. The tempo is much more deliberate and usually stays around the middle of the road with sporadic usage of double bass. The songs use clean guitars soaked in reverb quite regularly before pushing on the distortion becoming heavier but no less melodic. Nature sounds are also quite common as it the sound of either running or dripping water. It certainly adds atmosphere and makes the album even more diverse.

This is a lengthy and challenging album that combines doom and black metal but never sways towards either genre more than the other. If you liked your metal artistic and atmospheric this is an album you will most definitely wan to experience. Put on your headphones, turn off the lights and prepare for quite the journey.

Plain White T's-Stop
(Fearless Records, 2007)

Plain White T's are a band that I am not at all familiar with. Sure I have heard the name but never happened to hear their music. What we have here is a re-release of their debut album Stop which was originally released in 2002 I believe. So what did I think after hearing the band for the first time? I definitely like what the ban is playing on the album although there is a strong Jimmy Eat World influence running through some of the songs. The chorus for the song Stop for instance could have been lifted straight from a Jimmy Eat World album.

That aside, the album has a raw intensity sorely missing from similar albums released today. Sure its melodic and easy on the ears musically but the recording is natural and isnt processed to the point of sterility. Immediacy is important for any style of music to have impact and this album makes you feel like you are right beside the band when they were recording. You cant get any more immediate than that Id say.

It's pretty easy to see why this band has made quite a name for themselves. The songs are catchy, but with lyrics that draw you in with substance along with the hooks. If you are a fan of the band but havent heard this album youll definitely want to pick up this re-release.

V:28-Violution
(Vendulus Records, 2007)

When bands have combined death metal and industrial the results have always been a bit hit or miss. V;28 have done it fairly close to perfectly creating a sound that is driven by metallic guitars and vicious vocals but isnt afraid to explore different tempos and textures. Samples, odd vocals and rapid fire drumming gives the band a very unique sound that is nuanced and incredibly layered.

If you find death metal to be far too one dimensional this may just be the album to change your mind, although calling this a death metal album certainly is cutting the band short. The songs explore different sounds to great lengths and some of the best clean vocals to grace a metal album of this type are on display for all to hear. The guitar riffs are all over the board using everything from tremolo picked fast riffs to spacey melodies. Diverse doesnt even begin to describe the musical output of V:28.

If you are a death metal purist you may have to change your outlook on the genre. This is as heavy as anything in the genre yet isnt afraid to embrace outside influences and create something so much more than just another death metal album. I don't care which subgenre of metal you are most familiar with; Violution is such as interesting album that fans of any style of metal should consider it mandatory listening. If you think the well for creativity in metal has run dry, this album definitely proves otherwise.

Orthodox-Amanecer En Puerta Oscura
(Southern Lord Recordings, 2007)

Music can be an amazing thing when done right. This latest album from Orthodox is a haunting yet serene musical journey similar in sound to a drum induced hallucination clashing with spaghetti western soundtracks than filtered through doom metal.

The songs are lengthy and can be described as everything from sparse to monstrously heavy. Melodic one song and than paying tribute to Tony Iommi the next, the album is diverse and experimental yet never self indulgent. This is most easily linked to the doom metal genre but if you are expecting typical doom, think again. This is an odd and drug raddled and is about as far from being typical as you can get.

Fretless bass, clarinet and trumpet all help to make the album even more creative although the clarinet and trumpet are not used to great lengths. It actually sounds like an upright bas was used which gives the album a very cool almost beatnik approach to doom metal.

This is what you would call an experimental doom metal album. The band explores a number of different sounds and a surprising amount of the album explores strange sounds and clean guitar tones. There is no lack of incredibly heavy doom riffs, but there certainly is so much more to dig into with this album.

The Maine-The Way We Talk
(Fearless Records, 2007)

There are bands that you just can't help but like. Catchiness can be infectious and songs can work their way into your head and occupy the space for a very long time. The Maine are the type of band that write ridiculously catchy songs with vocal hooks that you swear youve known all of your life. Add in well written lyrics and a hook filled rock approach and you have a band that is sure to cause quite a stir.

I'd say the easiest band to compare The Maine to would be The All American Rejects although this band is a bit less obvious if that makes any sense. They are catchy but dont have the written to be a radio hit feel to them. Thats not to say that these songs arent catchy enough because Id much rather hear this on the radio than most of the crap they play. If you like melodic rock you might as well not even fight it, just consider The Maine to be one of your new favorite bands.

For a debut EP this is a rock solid 5 song album. Some bands go their entire career without writing songs this catchy and these guys managed to write 5 songs that knock it out of the park. Fans of somewhat jangly upbeat rock should definitely be into this band. Personally I cant wait for a full length because the songs here are, simply put, awesome.

Long Distance Calling-Satellite Baby
(Viva Hate Records, 2007)

If you wanted to be clever you could call the music played by Long Distance Calling instrumetal or experimetal. Get it? Sure it's a bad joke but experimental instrumental metal is a good starting point when describing the bands sound. The album runs the gamut from airy melodies to savage heaviness. Few riffs leave out the melodic nature of the bands but flashes of dissonance do show up from time to time.

While there are heavy moments the overall feel of the album is quite mellow using clean guitars for most of the album. The melodies are engrossing and the songs, while lengthy, feel shorter than the song lengths would lead you to believe. There is something almost serene and relaxing about the music. With headphones and a dark room this is an album that could easily serve as a stress reliever.

The band has turned a blind eye to the normal structures of music and play in a much more linear fashion. The songs take on a life of their own and really have a lot of air to breathe. If you are looking for an aggressive album you will have to look elsewhere. This album is about musical exploration, not an outlet for anger.

At over an hour in length there is indeed a lot of music to enjoy with this album. Tool meets Isis meets Godspeed You! Black Emperor only begins to give you an idea as to what to expect from Long Distance Calling.

Year of No Light-Nord
(Crucial Blast, 2007)

While it is easy to lump Year of No Light in with the likes of Cult of Luna and Mouth of the Architect, the bands sludgy post-rock sound isnt without original qualities. The sound is layered, heavy and nuanced, hitting the mark as being both bleak and beautiful.

The album is largely instrumental although there are stabs of vocals occasionally that utilize a harsh scream to great effect. The main focus is typically the music as this isnt a vocal driven album. The dirges and melodies weave together and create a sound that is almost intoxicating. It is gloomy yet extremely melodic almost like a cross between Sup Pop bands likes Sebadoh and Dinosaur Jr. and Neurosis.

The songs are definitely longer than your average songs but still manage to stay interesting. Like many bands in the genre the riffing tends to stay the same for quite sometime but never becomes boring. The band is dynamic and makes two minutes of the same riff interesting by adding layering and slight differences in the attack. If you are expecting quick time changes this is definitely not the band you are looking for.

This French band is certainly a welcome addition to the artistic metal genre. Its heavy yet melodic and while it is easy to associate the band with Isis and Neurosis, they have a vicious vocal style that helps the band have a unique edge.

Electric Wizard-Witchcult Today
(Candlelight Records, 2007)

Witchcult Today features some of the best Black Sabbath riffs not written by Black Sabbath. Sinister dirges meet with simplistic drum beats creating a sound that is best described as vintage. This is raw doom metal played with an old school flair sure to please fans of Pentagram and Black Sabbath.

Truth be told, while I do enjoy the music of Electric Wizard it really isnt anything new and is a bit plodding at times. The riffs are definitely catchy but they have a heard it before feel most of the time. When you consider that the band is going for more of a retro sound, you can look past the lack of originality in the songwriting department though. As an homage to early doom metal the album definitely succeeds.

The production is raw which fits the sound of the band perfectly. The guitar sound is very fuzzy but also very heavy. It has a speaker on the verge of blowing out type of sound which first the old school feel of the band. I'm not really a fan of the sound of the vocals though. They always seem a bit low in the mix and seem to be overly coated with effects. Overall this is a rough and tumble production that matches the bands sound and has a unique sonic stamp helping the band stand out from the pack.

Electric Wizard are far from being a new band and it certainly shows. The riffs are vintage doom and 70s rock through and through and more than do the classic bands justice. If you enjoy classic doom metal or stoner rock this one is definitely for you.

Polkadot Cadaver-Purgatory Dance Party
(Rotten Records, 2007)

While I'm not incredibly familiar with the now defunct Dog Fashion Disco, this just as oddly named band is a continuation with former members of Dog Fashion Disco and a bizarre approach sure to please fans of the former band. This is an odd and eclectic album that would surely get the stamp of approval from Mike Patton.

Schizophrenic would be a good way to describe the band. If Frank Zappa had been a member of The Beatles and joined forces with Mike Patton it much have sounded like Polkadot Cadaver. Part industrial, part metal and part pop, the band has a ridiculously varied approach that is flawlessly executed and memorable. Sharp turns and curveballs are common and keep the songs interesting. If you dig creative and over the top music, this is definitely for you.

Lyrically the album is interesting to say the least. Demented poetry would be a good way to describe the bands approach to lyrics. They manage to be funny but still have substance unlike say a band like Gwar which is pretty much always silly. The lyrics are a perfect match for the spastic nature of the music and the vocals themselves.

Trying to sum up this album in a review is pretty much impossible as the disc takes influences from everything from rap to thrash metal. You can call this album many things but boring it certainly isnt. I can guarantee you haven't heard anything quite like this before.