Cataract-Cataract
(Metal Blade, 2008)

With their fifth album Cataract have stuck to their guns playing pummeling metallic hardcore, yet have still managed to progress and make this the most diverse album yet from the band. If you have heard in the band in the past, you know what to expect. But I'll warn you this is the most aggressive the band has ever sounded and the song writing has reached lethal perfection with this album.

While I would say that Cataract does have an original sound, the band way to describe what the band plays, on this album particularly, is a combination of Hatebreed and The Haunted. The heavier side of hardcore clashes with thrash metal guitars and charging energy. The riffs are a blistering example of this genre done to perfection. The chugging riffs are ridiculously heavy yet the band inst afraid to employ melody and keep the songs interesting as well as heavy. The addition of a new guitar player has given the band a bit of a boost as the riffing seems a bit more succinct on this album. The performance is razor sharp and overall this feels like a more metal oriented album guitar wise.

The vocal style of the band has pretty much remained unchanged for years, and that is a good thing. Fedi has a distinct roar and manages to really pound the point home. With this album the way the harsh vocals mix with the melodic elements helps give the album a unique feel. Don't worry, there are no clean vocals. Just because the band added a few more melodic elements they didn't feel the need to add clean vocals. While I'm not sure if they would fit or not, I think they might prove too much of a distraction from the bands usually full speed ahead approach.

At one point in time I'm sure Cataract had a hard time being looked at as more than a Hatebreed inspired band. With their last few albums it is quite apparent that Cataract is a much better band than Hatebreed in pretty much every way possible. This album shows Cataract full realizing the potential that they have always had. If you like metallic hardcore, press play and quickly find something to hold onto.

http://www.myspace.com/cataract

Neaera-Armamentarium
(Metal Blade, 2008)

Neaera are a band that I have followed for their first two albums and while I was a fan I've never been overly blown away by what the band does. Third times the charm as they say as Armamentarium is the third album from the band and it is a fucking monster. The melodic death metal sound has basically been raped and bastardized to the point of being a sound almost as widespread as nu-metal. Few bands manage to take the blueprints laid by the early Swedish bands and do anything unique with it. While I wouldnt say Nearea is original, they bring an intensity to the music that is sorely missing from similar styled bands. Think vintage Dark Tranquility mixed with vicious European metalcore and you have an idea of what to expect from this band.

What I really like about this album is the fact that the band doesn't mess around with long intros or adding lengthy sweep picking exercises. This is a balls to the walls metal album that will rattle your brain around violently before the last note it hit. Chugging melodic riffs are used to great effect and the band isnt afraid to let things get to the scorching point with some very fast blast beat driven sections. Rapid fire thrash style riffs are quite common as well. But all of the viciousness is wrapped in an intoxicating layer of melody. There is no denying that this is a heavy album, but the heaviness walks hand in hand with the melody.

The production on this album is thunderously heavy yet still very natural. There certainly is a lot of layering and studio sheen, but the album still remains quite heavy and tight. The sound of the album is a bit cold I guess you could say which makes the guitar sound a bit harsh at times. The guitar sound is indeed powerful though and has a nice chunky sound particularly during the more groove oriented riffs. I would say that a warmer production might be a bit more fitting for the band, but this is a great sounding album none the less.

If you enjoyed the previous two albums from Neaera, this new album will have you banging your head in no time. It's a monstrously heavy yet catchy and melodic album that shows the there is still life in the melodic death metal genre. This is the fastest and most violent the band has been yet and all fans of rapid fire metal should enjoy this bad boy.

http://www.myspace.com/neaera

Soilent Green-Inevitable Collapse In the Presence of Conviction
(Metal Blade, 2008)

Ever since Pussysoul first raped eardrums in 1994, the world has never been quite the same. You can't say it much these days, but there really isn't another band on earth that sounds quite like Soilent Green. That signature sound is in fine form on this latest album, an album that shows the band firing on all cylinders with their pounding sludgy form of blistering metal.

What has always made this band have a lot of impact is just how amazing the band is at changing tempos and feel at the drop of a hat. You'll go from country fried acoustic guitars to blistering blasts in a matter of seconds. This is easily the most focused the band has ever been and these songs manage to be extreme but very memorable at the same time. Blasting insanity keeps things extremes but these guys know how to groove with the best of them. Some of the slower riffs are gargantuan and hit you with enough intensity to make you feel like a mountain had just landed on your chest.

The amount of riffs this album throws at you is staggering but the band manages to make it work and it never sounds forced. I don't think there is a band out there that can go from a rhythmic groove to rapid fire blasting better than Soilent Green. The drum performance really helps keep things together as the drummer never gets excessive with his fills. This is a straight forward drum performance that impresses by being ridiculously tight and bridging between the grooves and blasts seamlessly.

Confrontation was a great album, but this shows the Soilent Green sound perfected. If you have enjoyed the sonic onslaught of the band in the past, this is essential ear damage. Soilent Green are one of the best bands around right now in extreme music and if you dont agree one listen to this album should have you singing a new tune quite quickly.

http://www.myspace.com/soilentgreen

Lafcadio-Kibosh
(Joyful Noise, 2008)

I definitely was not ready for the barrage of sound on display with this album. Lafcadio is a downright odd band that somewhat belongs to the metal genre, but is very left of center. Think Deadguy meets Mr. Bungle with a whole lot of quirkiness and mammoth heavy riffs added.

What I really like about Lafcadio is the fact that the weirdness seems very natural. When most bands try to experiment while maintaining a heavy sound you end up with bands that sound similar to The Dillinger Escape Plan. This is much more organic sounding and quite original. Hints of melody cut through the heaviness occasionally, for example melodic bass lines add a contrast to the heavy and noisy guitars at times throughout the album.

This is the type of album that makes me glad I have a good stereo. The recording is very natural and nuanced having an analog feel not heard much these days. I would say that aside from some vocal layering, this must be pretty close to what the band sounds like live. With natural sounding guitars, and drums, the album manages to pack a wallop and provide a crystal clear reproduction of the Lafcadio sound.

Who exactly would this album appeal to? Fans of original and quirky music for one. Fans of everything from Deadguy to Jesus Lizard could find something here to dig into. Lafcadio are an original and odd metal band that couldnt have released this album at a better time. If you are sick of all of the sound-alike bands around right now, give this a try.

http://www.myspace.com/lafcadiomusic

At Dawn-Demo
(Self-released, 2007)

It's a very exciting thing to hear a demo from a band that you know is destined for great things in the future. Despite this demo being a bit rough around the edges at times, At Dawn is a band with a ridiculous amount of potential. Take the manic energy and melodic riffing of The Black Dahlia Murder and mix in the more shred oriented aspects of Between the Buried and Me and you have At Dawn. Its a fast and furious approach with a lead guitar approach that mixes sweep picking and melodic sections to damn near perfection. This is definitely a band to watch out for.

What really drive the songs are unique layering ideas. The riffs themselves have a charging Iron Maiden meets Black Dahlia Murder feel, but there is almost always a layer of lead guitar added on top of the riff. Sometimes it is just playing something similar only higher, while other times it is adding a completely different feel. Anyway you slice it the songs are well put together and the band manages to keep the songs interested yet still very hard hitting.

The vocals snarl and rasp and add a venomous coat to the melodic brand of metal At Dawn play. From time to time the band uses almost hardcore like gang vocals as well which adds a unique twist to the vocal approach of the band. The harsh vocals don't really change much throughout but this is a powerful snarl and it fits the music perfectly. Don't expect clean vocals as this is filled with paint peeling harsh vocals and that is fine by me.

Like I said earlier the demo is a bit rough at times, but put these guys in a good studio and the result is going to be monstrous. At Dawn is a band that certainly deserves your attention, particular if you enjoy fast and melodic metal with harsh vocal snarls and shredding lead guitar work.

http://www.myspace.com/atdawn

Battletorn-Terminal Dawn
(Mad at the World Records, 2007)

Forget about fancy descriptions, this fucking rips. Battletorn are a dirty and violent beast of a band that feeds on the remains of old school thrash and hardcore. Imagine DRI and Hellhammer armed with spiked bats fighting to the death and youd have Battletorn. This is simple and brutal, two things that metal used to be but havent been for a very long time.

The songs are charging and very short. It's quite rare that a song breaks the 1 minute mark. The songs still feel fleshed out though. They may be short but they still feel complete. They are long enough to at least have substance and have something to latch onto. These aren't just A.C. styled bursts of noise. The guitars riffs are hardcore in nature yet have a dark quality to them that makes this similar to early Celtic Frost or Hellhammer. To give you an idea of just how fast the band is, the album is 17 minutes logo and there are 22 songs. They don't waste time with filler, each song is a full speed ahead charge of flailing drums, shouted vocals and simple guitar riffs.

The original version of Terminal Dawn was only 16 songs, but this limited re-release features the 6 track Burn Fast EP as bonus tracks. The bonus tracks are pretty much identical in sound to the album and blend in seamlessly. Like I mentioned this is a limited release of 500 copies, so if this sounds like something youd be into act fast and pick up a copy while you still can.

This is the type of album that is essential for those of us who can't get enough of the hardcore/thrash sound that used to be much more common a few years ago. Throw Dropdead, DRI, and Celtic Frost together and you'd basically have Battletorn. If that combination of bands doesn't get your ears excited, something must be wrong with you.

http://www.myspace.com/battletorn

Deadsea-Self-titled
(Chrome Leaf Records, 2007)

Where the hell has this band been hiding? Deadsea is a band that is just ridiculously good at what they do. Melody and heaviness collide in a way that is quite unique and the band is not afraid to let their prog colors fly with mind melting guitar leads and odd rhythmic ideas. There is so much going on within these songs that putting a stamp on what they do is actually quite difficult. Let's just call it metal because that is the easiest way to describe what the band plays.

The number of influences on display would contain more names than most people's entire CD collection. This is not a metal band that likes to play it safe and that alone makes this album worthwhile. The album draws on blistering thrash, doom styled dirges, progressive note heavy sections and chunky old school flavored metal riffs making a sound that is all over the place yet still concise. There are few bands around these days that mange to be unpredictable, but this band certainly is. Each song brings in new elements and with each song probably new fans.

A unique aspect of the album is the fact that the first five songs are more aggressive while the final two songs are much lengthier and quite different than the rest of the album. Frozen Rivers is 16 minutes long and very atmospheric. It has a creepy almost horror movie score vibe to it before coming in with a melodic guitar theme. These songs have a completely different feel going for a more progressive doom style. The band is just as good at this style as they are with the more aggressive songs that start off the disc with a bang. The final song The Morning Frost shows the band bringing out a bit of their Black Sabbath influence with an acoustic opening that is similar in nature to Planet Caravan, the rest of the song is pure Deadsea though.

If you enjoy original and challenging metal music this one is definitely for you. I'd also say if you have a hard time enjoying progressive music due to it being a bit too flashy, this is a more natural sounding form of progressive metal. It definitely has flash at times, but this is much heavier and more aggressive than what you would expect from progressive metal.

http://www.myspace.com/deadsea

Hooded Menace-The Eyeless Horde
(Self-released, 2008)

With a crushing combination of doom metal dirges and early 90s death metal intensity, Hooded Menace is like a slow moving zombie horde. The pace is deliberate but the intensity of the attack goes right for the throat. Crushing doom riffs are littered with hints of melody hitting on a style of doom that is almost non-existent these days. This is slow and brooding yet still very memorable. If you cut your teeth on Asphyx, and Autopsy this is right up your alley.

The problem with a lot of doom is that the riffing just isn't very catchy. Sure its dark and slow moving but it just doesnt have much staying power. Hooded Menace certainly doesnt have that problem. Possibly because the entire sound is filtered through early 90's death metal, the songs manage to be very memorable just like the bands of that time period. The two songs here are incredibly dark and heavy yet you will actually remember the riffs after the songs are done playing. The almost Paradise Lost or Candlemass melodic elements also help the music have a memorable edge as well. I see the band as more of an homage to the days of when doom metal was just as excited and was more closely related to the death metal genre.

One standout element of the two tracks is the excellent melodic guitar lead in The Eyeless Horde. Unfortunately there are only two songs on here, so here's hoping that the band has more of this in store for us when the full length is released later this year. The vocals are another amazing element to this band. They have a sick and disgusting feel similar to Autopsy that fits the music perfectly. It makes a nice contrast to the melodic riffs but fits perfectly with the dark dirges as well.

If you are a fan of early 90's doom and death metal, Hooded Menace is a band that will have you reveling in their sickness in no time. This is a dark and brooding slab of metal that does more in two songs than most doom metal bands do with entire albums these days.

http://www.myspace.com/hoodedmenace