Winds Of Plague-Decimate the Weak
(Century Media Records, 2008)

While Winds of Plague are somewhat easily associated with the deathcore genre, the varied approach of the band makes comparing them to any band in particular quite difficult. Each element could be traced to particular bands but the way everything is structured and brought together definitely has a unique feel. The band draws from everything from Dying Fetus' subwoofer testing rhythmic chunk to Between the Buried and Me's flair for sweep picking to even riffs that wouldn't sound out of place on a Nile album. Add in metalcore elements and ridiculously heavy breakdown riffs and you have an album that packs a lot of punch without being overly cliche.

Decimate the Weak could be called many things, but boring certainly isn't one of them. The band plays with incredibly energy and while there are fast moments, the band really knows how to pound a groove right into the ground. The speedier moments are certainly well done as well but if you are expecting constant speed Wings of the Plague is not the band to provide it. The music is surprisingly melodic using lead guitar lines and melody lines that wouldn't sound out of place on a power metal album. The band has an excellent grasp on what they want to accomplish with their sound and strike a balance between technicality and ridiculous heaviness. The fleet fingered guitar playing is some of the best I have heard in this genre and while sweep picking has become somewhat typical of the genre, the band uses it much better than the average band in the genre.

Keyboards are used to excellent effect with this album. It seems like every band has a keyboard player these days and typically you cant even hear the keyboards. They keyboards here are quite audible and tend to coat the music with a much different atmosphere than the riff they happen to be used with. It makes the melodic sections even more melodic and adds a unique feel to some of the heavier riffs.

Winds of Plague are a band with a lot to offer fans of the metalcore genre. They have a heavy approach that draws heavily from the death metal genre, but also have the melodic riffs and the soloing that people are beginning to expect from the metalcore genre. Throw Bleeding Through, Suffocation and Between the Buried and Me in a blender and the bloody aftermath would be Winds of Plague.

http://www.myspace.com/windsofplague

Gwen Stacy-The Life I Know
(Ferret Music, 2008)

It seems like Gwen Stacy have a sound that was almost tailor made for Ferret. Something of a cross between Every Time I Die, From Autumn to Ashes and A Static Lullaby, this Indianapolis based hardcore band is a vicious combination of heavy riffs and stunning melodies. While this may not be the most original sound, it is easily enjoyed and is a nice change of pace from the usual death metal being sold as hardcore that is common these days.

The songwriting packs a lot of punch and instead of relying on hooks the songs move forward steadily and rarely adhere to the verse/chorus/verse song structure common to rock music. Heavy rhythmic riffs are quite common, but inflections of melody are quite common as well. Clean vocals are used from time to time with the music underneath changing considerably as well to a much more melodic and restrained sound. The clean vocals are extremely well done, but never become overused. They certainly aren't a crutch that the band needs to fall back on.

What makes this record very easy to get into is an incredible solid and surprisingly warm production for an album of this sort. This is more of a sound you would expect from a more rock based band but it definitely works. Brian Mcternan was involved with the production and if you have heard any of the albums he has worked on you know they have a very natural and warm sound. Despite the fact that this is a heavy album the production definitely works and makes the album stand out sonically.

While it is easy relatively easy to trace the bands influences, the album is enjoyable none the less. If you enjoy your heaviness with a side of melody, Gwen Stacy is a band you will definitely want to look into.

http://www.myspace.com/gwenstacy

Warbringer-War Without End
(Century Media, 2008)

I'm sure few metal fans would disagree that there has been a rise in the number of bands playing thrash metal recently. While some bands do come across as a bit bland, it is a band like Warbringer that makes you glad that thrash is back. With a sound akin to Kill Em All era Metallica meets Bonded by Blood era Exodus, Warbringer is an aggressive beast armed with muscled yet memorable riffs and a vicious energetic edge.

While the members of Warbringer might be young, their approach is certainly polished and destructive. They maintain a perfect balance between clean playing and the break neck speed thrash is known for. The vocals have a harsher edge and the band uses blast beats on occasion, but at the end of the day this is pure old school thrash.

The production is razor sharp, energetic and very much old school in nature. Bill Metoyer, who has worked with Slayer, Dark Angel and DRI, is no stranger to thrash and it certainly shows. What I really like about the album is that it doesnt sound like it has been ruined by being a studio effort. The energy levels are still very high. The drum performance isnt quite perfect and that is such a breath of fresh air right now with drums typically being triggered to the point of sounding like drum machines. This is a natural and very human sounding performance that fits perfectly with the bands old school thrash attack.

The sonic blitzkrieg of Warbringer is sure to please old school fans as well as those of you new to the genre. Imagine Municipal Waste drawing more from Possessed with the DRI influence still present. Then add in Metallica and Exodus and you'd basically have Warbringer.

http://www.myspace.com/warbringer

Ride the Sky-New Protection
(Nuclear Blast, 2007)

With a name like Ride the Sky you would probably expect this to be Helloween inspired power metal. Surprisingly though, this band would be more appropriately described as melodic hard rock. It certainly will appeal to power metal fans, but if you are expecting fast drums, cheesy lyrics and happy melodies you wont find them here. This is certainly melodic but the pace is much more deliberate.

If proficient playing is something you look for, Ride the Sky more than delivers. The entire band is as tight as humanly possible and the individual performances are all excellent. The guitar playing combines standard rock sensibilities with melodic hooks that really leave an impression. The guitar solos are jaw dropping yet still have a lot of feel. Vocally the band uses what I suppose could be called a power metal styled feel. It is incredibly melodic yet possibly not quite as high in register as you might expect from the genre. The guitar riffs and vocal hooks provide the 1-2 punch that makes the album really hit home.

Calling the production solid would be a vast understatement. The sound is rich and textured allowing every aspect of the band to ring through clearly. This is the clean and polished sound that bands of this nature always strive for. Turn up the volume and youll really appreciate the sound of the album.

Ride the Sky are simply put an awesome band. The performance is spotless and the hooks come frequently. Sure some of the lyrics are a bit on the cheesy side but there is a lot of quality metal music on here to treat your ears to regardless. If you enjoy clean and polished metal with a melodic edge, Ride the Sky will be spending a lot of time in your stereo.

http://www.myspace.com/ridethesky

Grief of War-A Mounting CrisisAs their Fury Got Released
(Prosthetic Records, 2008)

Originally released in 2005, the debut album from Japanese thrashers Grief of War is getting a domestic release courtesy of Prosthetic Records. On behalf of all thrash fans I say thank you for bringing this gem to North American ears. This album is a blistering combination of traditional thrash metal and elements of crust. Its an energetic hard hitting sound that makes some newer thrash albums seem a bit tame in comparison.

Imagine high octane Bay Area thrash mixed with Doom styled crust and heavy Japanese hardcore as well. While the album is speed driven, there are definitely some more mid-tempo songs and riffs that recall the early days of thrash as well. The band also has a unique sense of melody and isnt afraid to inject the riffs with exotic fills and guitar melodies. The vocals are pretty much a standard old school thrash approach with the odd use of a heavier more death metal style at times.

The drum performance is rock solid and while it is slightly bare banes, it never falters. Charging drums are a trademark of the thrash genre and this album doesn't disappoint with its Dave Lombardo meets Lars Ulrich drumming style. While some thrash bands experiment with blast beats this stays true to the old school style of thrash drumming.

Also noteworthy are the guitar solos. The solos might be fast but melody is definitely as big part as well as these solos have more substance than just whammy bar dives and flailing fingers. Picture a cross between early Exodus solos and early Metallica solos and youll have a basic idea of what to expect from the guitar solos.

Prosthetic Records have found a gem with this album. Everything from the performance to the production to the songwriting is top notch. If you are even slightly into the thrash genre this is an album you need to hear.

http://www.myspace.com/griefofwar

Heaven Shall Burn-Iconoclast (Part 1: The Final Resistance)
(Century Media, 2008)

After breaking necks and eardrums with Antigone, Heaven Shall Burn is black with an album even more pummeling and vicious. Iconoclast shows the band continuing with their groove heavy blend of melodic death metal and European metalcore. While it isnt far removed from what the band was doing with Antigone, these songs seem to pack a bit more punch and have more staying power as well. There is no shortage of heaviness yet the riffs are quite memorable this time around and the songs themselves seem to flow a bit better.

Melodic riffs clash with titanic grooves and an almost endless stream of double bass. Bolt Thrower isnt a comparison that gets thrown around much but Heaven Shall Burn share a similar albeit more modern approach. If you are expecting clean vocals and fast Swedish styled melodies, you obviously have not heard Heaven Shall Burn before. While the pace may be more deliberate, this album is still very aggressive in nature. They may not use blast beats but this is vicious none the less.

What I've always liked about Heaven Shall Burn is their unique sense of song structuring. The songs move in a way very different than verse/chorus/verse and tend to be a bit lengthier than most bands in this genre. Black Tears uses a more conventional structure and is possibly the most memorable song on the album because of it. But what I like about the rest of the album is that it takes a bit more effort to fully absorb the songs and the album has more staying power because of it.

Hitting somewhere in between hardcore and death metal, Heaven Shall Burn have a dynamic sound built on a solid foundation of grooves and melodic flourishes. If you enjoyed Antigone be prepared to be blown away.

http://www.myspace.com/officialheavenshallburn

Agnostic Front-Warriors
(Nuclear Blast, 2007)

While calling some albums typical might be considered negative, when calling Warriors an album typical of Agnostic Front it certainly isn't a bad thing. Continuing to play the metal tinged hardcore sound the band helped create, Warriors may have a modern feel but it is pure hardcore through and through. It may not take the crown from the early records, but it is a damn find album nonetheless.

The album has an intimacy and to the point feel that is lacking in most new hardcore bands. Each song is memorable but stays true to the New York styled hardcore sound. Each song seems tailor made for a live setting complete with sing-along choruses and countless riffs destined to cause havoc in the pit. When you get right down to it there really isnt anything here you havent heard before. But I'll take this over another band playing death metal riffs and the same tired breakdowns and trying to pass it off as hardcore.

There is no denying that Agnostic Front was and still is one of the best hardcore bands to ever grace the hardcore scene. Warriors continues the bands tradition of releasing passionate hardcore. There are no surprises here and I wouldn't want it any other way.

http://www.myspace.com/agnosticfront

Exodus-The Atrocity Exhibition-Exhibit A
(Nuclear Blast, 2007)

While the albums released since Exodus reformed have been solid, The Atrocity Exhibition not only blows them right out of the water but would fit in nicely right beside Bonded by Blood in terms of quality. Granted this is a much more modern sounding Exodus but just as Bonded by Blood helped to shape early thrash, The Atrocity Exhibition sets the standard for modern thrash metal and it sets the bar pretty damn high.

After an intro fittingly called Call to Arms, Riot Act starts the album off with a bang. The riffing is quick and intense mixing classic Exodus with a modern biting edge. This is a much darker and intense version of Exodus than you might expect. Catchy riffs are abundant as are moments that are trademark showcase the trademark Gary Holt Exodus style. If you were into the last album, this continues in similar waters but as a whole is a much better and more dynamic album.

The production courtesy of Andy Sneap is razor sharp and it shows why he is such a sought after producer. The guitar sound is sharp and powerful giving the album a lot of oomph in the guitar department. The drums are definitely triggered and while I prefer a more natural sound it does match the biting guitar tone perfectly. The bass guitar doesn't seem to stand out much but if you listen closely you can hear it. Having the bass a bit louder in the mix might have taken a bit of the bite out of the guitar sound but that is nitpicking on my part because at the end of the day this is a phenomenal sounding album.

If you think that classic bands reforming are a waste of your time you probably haven't heard what the reformed Exodus has to offer. This is an updated and vicious take on the thrash metal genre, a genre that Exodus has contributed to greatly in either of their incarnations. If you are a thrash fan, pick up this album and make your ears happy campers.

http://www.myspace.com/exodus

Nuclear Blast Allstars-Out of the Dark
(Nuclear Blast, 2007)

This disc is an interesting idea. Peter Wichers, formerly of Soilwork, has written ten dynamic metal songs and contributing vocals are various vocalists from the Nuclear Blast roster. Its similar to what Dave Grohl did with the Probot album and the various vocal styles help the album stay interesting throughout.

Not surprising is the fact that a lot of the music does sound like newer Soilwork. The songs have a consistent feel although certain songs are a bit more aggressive to make the harsher vocalists feel more at home. For instance the song with the vocalist from Wintersun is a blistering slab of melodic black metal while the song with Anders from In Flames is much more rhythmic and melodic. Whether or not the songs were written for particular vocalists I don't know, but I do know that the vocal performances fit like a glove. One definite standout track is The Overshadowing with a Motorhead meets melodic death metal approach complete with a dynamic vocal performance courtesy of Christian Alvestam of Scar Symmetry.

The song with John Bush is quite different than the rest of the album but is still quite good. It makes you realize what he can do as a vocalist and also makes you realize just how little the guys in Anthrax gave him to work with. The song with former band mate Bjorn Strid is pretty much amazing and surprisingly melodic leaving out the vocalists trademark harsh vocals and emphasizing his clean approach.

The album is rounded out with tracks with the vocalists of Kataklysm, Death Angel, Sonic Syndicate, Mnemic and Peter Tatgren of Hypocrisy. This is certainly a diverse and ridiculously well written album. Peter could write a full album with any one of the vocalists and no doubt it would be amazing from start to finish.

http://www.myspace.com/peterwichersmusic