Blood Freak-Multiplex Massacre
(Razorback Records, 2007)

There are metal bands paying homage to the glory days of death and thrash metal and then there is Blood Freak, a whirlwind of kick ass riffs, melodic solos and some downright bowels of hell styled vocals. Riff after riff Multiplex Massacre kicks you in the throat, with hardly any let down throughout. This album shows the Blood Freak sound reaching a surgical precision yet keeping the deranged lunacy that has always made the band so amazing.

It's fairly easy to hear that Blood Freak is a combination of old school death metal, thrash metal and even old school hardcore punk in a few parts. The band is always ridiculously energetic and the riffs hit with the destructive force of a bulldozer. Unlike many bands in this genre though, these are some of the most memorable riffs I have ever heard. Even the fastest moments are still built around catchy vocals and riffs. Maniac Neil has certainly brought his A game to this album and the sheer amount of killer riffs this guy can come with is almost unfair.

Despite this being a very underground release, this has one hell of a beefy production. The guitar tone is thick, clear and incredibly heavy. The clarity really helps during the thrash riffs giving them a lot of bite and gives the more death metal oriented riffs the oomph they need to really pound the point home. The guitar leads are also crystal clear and incredibly cool. The solos are surprisingly melodic and offer a nice contrast to the usual fast approach of the band.

It is very easy to see why Blood Freak is the flagship band for Razorback Records right now. Few bands manage to write songs this concise and utterly devastating, but this album has 12 songs that run pretty much all of the current death metal bands right through the mud. This is a fast, fun and heavy album with horror overtones that doesnt disappoint. The guitar riffs alone make this album worthwhile, so when you add in the killer dual vocals and melodic guitar leads this is an album that all metal fans should consider mandatory.

http://www.myspace.com/bloodfreakband

Fondlecorpse-Blood and Popcorn
(Razorback Records, 2007)

With Critters inspired artwork, horror movie based lyrics and an old school death metal approach, Fondlecorpse will pound your ears into submission with their unique style of twisted metal. Its easy to see what era the band draws influence from, but the actual sound of the band isn't easily associated with any band in particular. Impetigo crossed with Rigor Mortis might give you a basic idea of what to expect, but that cuts the band short I would say as they definitely have their own sound.

The songs are built around a combination of rapid fire thrash inspired riffs and mid-paced chugging death metal riffs. The band does a good job of making sure the riffs are memorable first and foremost and if you are looking for technicality this is certainly not where to find it. The riffing is rather simplistic in nature, but is no less vicious as a result. The vocal lines are also concise and incredibly memorable. A guttural roar is used extensively throughout and it more than does the job. This is a sick and twisted style of death metal that doesn't rely on speed to be effective.

The lyrics are all horror based and the band certainly picks some classic films to draw from lyrically. The Hills Have Eyes, Halloween, Basket Case, and Chopping Mall are all used for lyrical inspiration to great effect. With the song Halloween, The Night He Came Home the band brings in a bit more of a horror movie feel adding in the classic theme of the film to the song. The song is just as heavy as the rest but the use of the Halloween theme throughout gives the song a unique feel when compared to the rest of the MCD.

Fondlecorpse remind me of a time when I couldnt get enough death metal to satisfy my inner gorehound. A time when Abscess, Embalmer and Impetigo were in constant rotation in my stereo and if this band would have existed back then they would have been played to death, no pun intended. If you like old school death metal with a sick thrashy feel, I can't recommend this MCD highly enough.

http://www.myspace.com/fondlecorpse

Anima Morte-Face the Sea of Darkness
(Dead Beat Media, 2007)

While I'm sure there are some who may not agree, but to my ears the rock based scores from the golden age of Italian splatter are among some of the most hauntingly beautiful moments in music history. Goblin, Fabio Frizzi and a few more artists help create a sound that was rooted in 70s rock but still ominous and foreboding. Anima Morte is a band that pays homage to this style and does a fantastic job at that.

On one hand the band does an incredibly job of being a continuation of the classic Italian rock sound, yet at the same time the band experiments and isnt without flashes of more 70s based rock. It's almost like Goblin meets Rush at times and truth be told it is remarkably written and performed. This is the type of record that will undoubtedly appeal to fans of Italian horror films yet at the same time it isn't exclusive to those fans. Fans of 70's rock that have absolutely no idea of Lucio Fulci was can enjoy this as well. It has the technical proficiency and flash of some of the more experimental 70's rock bands and it gives the album a bit more of a universal appeal.

Certain songs definitely can be linked to certain directors I would say. Rise Again is a fairly obvious nod to Zombie and has a similar yet different feel to the original Zombie score. A Decay of Mind and Flesh wouldn't have sounded out of place in a classic Dario Argento film. It has the throbbing bass lines, massive synth lines and distorted guitars that made the Goblin sound so distinct. A few of the songs even have a creepy almost lullaby like quality to them, almost having the type of melody that would come out a slightly broken music box.

This is the first release by Dead Beat Media, a new label started by the folks at Razorback Records to showcase horror themed music. They couldn't have picked a better band for their first release either if you ask me. This is a layered and nuanced album that manages to do everything you would expect and so much more. If you are a fan of the band Zombi, or have watched far too many Italian splatter and giallo films, this will be right up your alley.

http://www.myspace.com/animamorte