Third Degree-Punk Sugar
(Selfmadegod Records, 2008)

Third Degree is a band that is taking a unique route with their grindcore infused style of metal. This is as blistering as the genre comes, but the band toys around with dissonance and has an odd sense of melody throughout the entire disc. It's like Need to Control era Brutal Truth mixed with Napalm Death but coming from a slightly different angle than both of those bands. It's not all that common to hear an original grindcore album but low and behold here we have one.

If you are under the assumption that all grindcore albums consist of is blast beats, skank beats and dual vocals, this is definitely an album that will prove you very wrong. Sure there are blast beats, but Third Degree explores a lot of different rhythms and even throws in some odd melody from time to time. It brings to mind Need to Control era Brutal Truth who were definitely one of the earliest bands to explore some different ideas in the grindcore genre. There is definitely no shortage of energy though. Quite a large chunk of the album has a hardcore feel and a few sections even use melody in a way that somewhat reminds me of the Dead Kennedys albeit not soaked in reverb. Basically if you think grindcore albums are cut and dry and lacking in dynamics, Punk Sugar points strongly in the opposite direction.

Along with Antigama, Third Degree are one of the most unique yet blistering grindcore bands around right now. There is enough classic grindcore on display in the sound to please even the most devout follower of the genre, but the band definitely moves in unique directions and this is very far from being a typical grindcore album in any way shape or form.

http://www.myspace.com/thirddegreewarmia

Battalion-Welcome to the Warzone
(Shiver Records, 2008)

Welcome to the Warzone is my first time hearing this Belgium based death metal band and this is the type of release that makes me proud to consider myself a death metal fan. Combining the monstrous stomp of Bolt Thrower with old school Swedish death metal, the band has a sound that fluctuates between lighting quick riffs and pounding rhythmic brutality. While never sacrificing the heaviness, the band manages to keep the songs razor sharp structure wise and as a result this is an incredibly memorable album.

Any fan of the genre that has been into the style for a number of years knows that the genre has certainly changed a lot over the years, not always for the better either. There was a time when death metal wasn't about arpeggios and being as fast as humanly possible. Battalion is definitely a band that brings to mind the glory days of death metal. Elements of Bolt Thrower, Autopsy and Grave come together to form a sound that doesn't quite sound dated, yet has very little in common with most of the current bands in the genre. If you are expecting sweep picking and excessive blast beats you certainly won't find them here. What you will find here however is memorable riffs, powerful and clear vocals and energy to spare. This is what death metal is meant to sound like, end of story.

I hate to play the role of the jaded music fan, but there is a lot about the current death metal scene that leaves a foul taste in my mouth. A band like Battalion gives me hope for the genre. This is as heavy as the genre comes and the songwriting chops are there to make sure that the songs have a lasting impact. If you are a fan of old school death metal it's a fairly sure bet that youll dig the sound of Battalion on this album.

http://www.myspace.com/battalionsquadcamp

Distorted-Voices from Within
(Candlelight Records, 2008)

There are numerous times throughout the year when an album will land in my mailbox and proceed to blow me away. This sophomore album from Distorted is definitely one such album. Blending equal parts melody and progressive metal, this Israel based band has an exotic yet hard hitting approach that manages to be unique while still maintaining an adequate amount of catchiness. Imagine a more straight forward To-Mera and youd have something of an idea of what to expect from Distorted.

I really enjoy the fact that the band never lets the progressive side of the band become overbearing. The guitar solos are quite note heavy and there are a few riffs that bring in a slightly more intricate feel, but for the most part the band uses more straight forward melodic patterns to build their riffs. These riffs arent what I would call simple, yet they are a bit more reserved and allow the vocal lines to really shine. The title track is a perfect example of the bands sound. It has beautiful vocals, a memorable guitar solo and a pounding yet melodic style throughout. It would be tough to pigeonhole the entire album as being a similar style, yet there is definitely a consistent feel stylistically throughout the album. Harsh vocals are also used from time to time adding a very interest clashing of styles with the usually serene vocal approach of the band.

Adding even further to the bands sound are the excellent guitar solos. They definitely have a progressive feel and at times are a bit note heavy, but when they are played this well it definitely doesn't hurt the music at all. The lead guitar also never overstays its welcome and this isn't a look at me type of guitar player. In fact the entire band has a fairly easy going approach to their progressive side. It comes out when needed but the band is more than happy to lay down a rhythmic riff with melodic accents. Distorted is a band with a firm grasp on what they want to do musically with each of the 11 songs on display here proving that point. If you enjoy female fronted metal with a slight progressive edge this is definitely an album to check out.

http://www.myspace.com/distortedband

Kataklysm-Prevail
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2008)

While I think Sorcery will always remain my favorite album from Kataklysm, I still find myself enjoying each new album from the long running death metal band. It's no surprise that this album isn't quite as extreme as the early days and with this album in particular the band seems to be embracing a bit more of an accessible sound. Don't just scream sell out just yet, this is still a crushingly heavy album; the band just seems to be exploring their slower side a bit more and offering crunchy rhythmic riffs in spades. The blasting is still here and there are still enough speed driven tracks to please fans of the blistering side of the band. It's safe to say that if you enjoyed the last few albums from the band youll enjoy this.

The main draw to the current Kataklysm sound is the fact that they manage to interject melody into the music but do it in a way that is very different than what most people would consider melodic death metal. This is more so death metal with melody rather than melodic death metal. The heaviness is definitely the main component to the bands sound and the melody adds a contrasting layer to the music. I definitely hear a lot of black metal in the music particularly the blast beat driven sections that utilize tremolo picked melodic guitar lines. But like I said earlier this is a bit slower than previous albums. So if you are expecting a speed driven album this definitely isn't it. A song like The Chains of Power has a more thrash based feel and is definitely the most energetic song on the album, aside from this song though the speed is fairly spread out throughout the album.

While this is a strong album from the band, it still feels like just another album from the band. It's somewhat missing the spark that makes an extreme metal album hit with more impact. The scathing The Vultures Are Watching and the aforementioned The Chains of Power are sure to go over quite well in a live setting and I have a feeling the rhythmic approach will go over well with fans of the newer styles of metal. Being a long time fan of the band I can't help but be slightly disappointed. I do enjoy the album, but I certainly think it would have benefited from a bit more speed and a slightly more varied approach.

http://www.myspace.com/kataklysm

Farmakon-Robin
(Candlelight Records, 2008)

Yet another band from Finland playing metal, but holy shit is this band blowing my mind. This is the type of find that you could compare to finding a $100 bill in your couch cushions. You weren't expecting it and it leaves an ear to ear grin on your face. Farmakon plays a forward thinking and progressive form of metal that brings in a ridiculous amount of sounds but manages to make it work perfectly. The opener for instance brings together black metal styled riffing, death metal tremolo picking, a 70's rock styled guitar solo, odd rhythmic trickery and god knows what else. Yet the band manages to keep it all together and cohesive which is no small feat.

While a lot of progressive music tends to feel like musical exercises, Farmakon keeps things very musically and the vast majority of the riffs are actually quite memorable. The best way to look at the album is a musical journey. You really don't know what to expect next and chances are you'll be blown away by whatever curve the band decides to take. Wah wah drench leads and somber sections are just as common as full throttle metal riffing and the band can switch between the two with little effort. At the very basest of descriptions, you could say that Farmakon sounds like a combination of black/death and a jam band. But this is the type of album that is best heard firsthand so you can fully absorb just how much originality and musical proficiency is on display. What until you hear the song Recondite, you wont even know what to think.

Considering the debut album was released by the now defunct Elitist Records, chances are you have never heard of Farmakon before. Such was the case with me and this is easily one of the most interesting metal albums I have heard in quite sometime. It's progressive yet still concise and with energy to spare. If you like your metal eclectic and with a progressive edge it doesn't get much better than this.

http://www.myspace.com/farmakon

Fetid Zombie-Pleasures of the Scalpel
(Metalhit.com, 2008)

Fetid Zombie is the brainchild of long time underground artist Mark Riddick. Chances are you probably own at least one t-shirt that he did the artwork for. Musically the man also delivers, although this album has a few rough spots along the way. The best way to describe the album would be simplistic brutality. The riffs are to the point, but still have a slightly unique and off kilter feel to them. It gives the music a very unique feel and it's nice to see someone trying to do something unique with the genre.

Like I mentioned earlier the songs are built around simplistic ideas but there is actually a fair amount of layering on display. The bass guitar is also very prominent which isn't all that surprising as Mark plays bass in the long running underground death band Unburied. The songs are also fairly short and dont really waste any time getting right to business. There is a slight technical aspect of the band that is something of a rough spot for some parts of the album. Certain parts of the guitar layering just dont seem to work to my ears and there are few sour notes in a few sections. Its a small complaint though, because for the majority of the album the riffs are performed perfectly. Im not normally a huge fan of drum machine use in death metal, but the drums are programmed quite well and thankfully this isnt just an endless blast beat.

Fetid Zombie is a unique yet somewhat flawed death metal band that I truly enjoy despite the few flaws that are present. Its nice to see an album that tries to do something different while still having both feet still firmly planted in the death metal genre. If you are a fan of underground death metal and you are looking for something a bit different, Fetid Zombie will more than satisfy your cravings.

http://www.myspace.com/fetidzombie

Gama Bomb-Citizen Brain
(Earache Records, 2008)

While it is debatable to say that thrash is having a revival, I would say that it never really went away to be honest, there is no denying that there are some truly amazing bands around right now playing vintage thrash metal. One of the better bands of the bunch is definitely Gama Bomb, an energetic whiplash of vintage riffs, kamikaze guitar solos and shouted vocals. It's as far from original as you can get but I love every second of it. How can you go wrong with an album that has a song about OCP from Robocop?

Reinforced by a slick yet still energetic production, Citizen Brain is a fast paced and catchy as all hell thrash metal album. The riffs are fairly simple and offer a nice update on the Bonded by Blood sound from Exodus. Don't expect anything out of the style here as this is pure thrash through and through. I like the fact that the band has opted for a more classic vocal style instead of using a harsher approach. It definitely adds to the fun of the band and a high pitched scream is even used from time to time that would give vintage Tom Araya a run for his money. The vocal patterns are concise and stick like glue which basically means they fit the music perfectly. Also of note are the guitar solos. They combine an old school feel with hints of modern elements like sweep picking to create a unique style for the leads. The sweep picking isnt overused and serves as a nice addition to the whammy bar dives and melodic tremolo picking also used.

I suppose similarities could be made to Municipal Waste, but I would definitely say that this has much less hardcore influence and the songs are a bit more varied I would say. Chances are however that fans of Municipal Waste would have little trouble getting into this album. At the end of the day this is a fun album, plain and simple. Bang your head, have a few laughs and before you know it you'll be reaching for the play button to repeat the process a few more times.

http://www.myspace.com/gamabomb

Unleashed-Hammer Battalion
(SPV USA, 2008)

I definitely wasnt expecting Hammer Battalion to be as solid of an album as it is. Truth be told, this album shows the long running Swedish band writing some of their most vicious yet memorable songs yet. War marches and melodic speed riffs collide into a sound that is instantly recognizable as Unleashed. This album even tops the latest album from Dismember which many have been calling a return to form.

For a death metal album this is ridiculously memorable. The riffs are concise, melodic and habit forming. Each song is pummeling with even the more mid-tempo songs hitting with bruising intensity. Unleashed have always been known for their mid-tempo riffs and these are some of the best the band has ever written. The fast riffs seem to be a combination of thrash styled riffs and riffs with an almost black metal like flair. The Viking-esque use of melody in on display and to great lengths and the band does a good job of making the riffs melodic yet still muscular. The guitar solos are also very note worthy. They bring the songs to new places and have a blistering yet melodic feel that matches the songs perfectly. I like the fact that even the guitar solos are very memorable. These are integral parts of the songs and far from being masturbatory.

The production is ridiculously clear only further solidifying the power of the songwriting. Its rare that a band together for 20 years still has an album this powerful in them. Each of the 13 songs is an anthem sure to please long time fans as well as introduce new fans to the powerhouse that is Unleashed.

http://www.myspace.com/666unleashed

Gnaw Their Tongues-An Epiphanic Vomiting of Blood
(Crucial Blast Records, 2008)

There are some albums that are just downright scary and this album from Gnaw Their Tongues definitely falls into that category. Bleak and noisy with a horrific atmosphere would be an ideal way to describe the sound of this album. This is what doom metal would sound like filtered through the ears of a zombie. This album is a nihilistic slab of ear damage sure to cause speaker damage if played at high volume.

It certainly would be hard to pigeonhole a band of this nature. There are elements of avant-garde black metal, doom and atmospheric horror movie score elements. There is a lot of tension created through the music and certain sections will definitely get under your skin. Samples are used occasionally and to great effect. The vocals are definitely not traditional in any way. Distorted and harsh the vocals serve more as an additional instrument. There are numerous times when the vocals are hardly audible amongst the cacophony while on some of the more sparse songs they stand out much more.

Like most releases on Crucial Blast, this album definitely isn't for everyone. It's a tense and sick album of noise the likes of which you have never heard. This would appeal to two types of people really. Fans of the more experimental side of doom and fans of horrific atmosphere, I happen to be a fan of both so I am really enjoying this album. This will leave your ears reeling, but youll enjoy every second of it.

http://www.myspace.com/gnawtheirtongues

Abrasive-Awakening of Lust
(Semen Demon Productions, 2007)

With death metal the lyrics tend to be graphic especially when they are sexual in nature. Abrasive seems to be the softcore equivalent. The lyrics are all about sex but they are surprisingly safe. It doesn't hurt the album but given the album artwork and the photos in the booklet you will probably be expecting something a bit more dirty.

Musically I'm having a hard time getting into this one. The band has a mid-tempo style of death metal that brings in the odd melodic moment as well. The sound works well when the band is playing slower, but the fast moments tend to fall apart and be a bit sloppy. Even when the riffs seem to bring in more notes it gets a bit haphazard. The mid-tempo riffs are quite cool and some of the straight forward blasting sections work well. As a whole I think the band could be a bit tighter, though that could possibly be a problem with the production.

Essentially this is nothing new and reminds me of a slower Cock and Ball Torture but without the processed vocals. If the band tightened up their sound they would definitely be onto something. As it stands some of the faster moments leave a lot to be desired. Despite the flaws though, its nice to hear death metal that leaves out the flash and clichs of the genre. I'll definitely be interested to see how the band progresses with the next album.

http://www.myspace.com/testamentlegions

Reinventing Yesterday-Some May Not Make It Out Alive
(Veritas Et Aequitas Records, 2007)

Pardon the pun, while Reinventing Yesterday may not be reinventing their genre of choice this six song EP manages to do a lot of things right but isnt without a few blemishes. What the band does well is combining heavy riffs with hardcore riffs creating a sound that truly deserves the metalcore tag.

There are some elements on display that are fairly common in style. The breakdowns are somewhat clich yet still powerful. The melodic riffing is also fairly common but the band uses it quite well and the diverse nature of the songs never lets the songwriting become stale. The vocals alternate between quite a few different styles. Growling and screaming are the most common, but spoken bits and gang vocals are quite common as well. Performance wise the band is pretty much spot on although there seems to be a few sour notes during a melodic riff in Brothers in Arms.

One big difference between Reinventing Yesterday and similar bands is the fact that this band actually writes memorable songs. A lot of similar sounding bands only write songs as a vehicle for the breakdowns and forget about the rest of the song. This is almost the opposite as the breakdowns seem to be the least memorable riffs on the album. I'm definitely looking forward to seeing where the band goes next. Hopefully a few of the more typical elements are lessened but as it stands the band is definitely well on their way to becoming a crushingly heavy and diverse band.

http://www.myspace.com/reinventingyesterday

My Shameful-Descend
(Firebox Records, 2008)

My Shameful seem to have graduated from the My Dying Bride school of doom metal. To my ears they must have passed with flying colors as well. Descend is an anguished yet beautiful trip into the dark corners of your mind. Crushing yet introspective, My Shameful is far from being just another doom metal band.

The band style is simple yet effective. The guitars tend to be throbbing power chords, single note doom excursions or clean toned arpeggios or melodies. Granted the band does a lot within their confines but the album doesnt pack many surprises. The vocals are somewhat atmospheric and even the harshest vocals still seem somewhat subdued. Vocal effects are used extensively and it adds quite a unique feel to the vocals. The drumming is surprisingly energetic for a band of this nature. Don't expect blast beats, yet he does a good job of making even the slowest moments seem interesting rhythmically.

While it isn't necessary to be depressed to full enjoy this album, it couldn't hurt. The album is a slow and anguished slab of metal with glimpses of hope coming in the form of melody. Fans of My Dying Bride, Swallow the Sun and possibly even Amorphis should have little trouble enjoying this album.

http://www.myspace.com/myshameful

Hail of Bullets-Of Frost and War
(Metal Blade Records, 2008)

Hail of Bullets is what you consider something of a super group. Martin the vocalist from Pestilence and Asphyx joins forces with members of Houwitzer, Gorefest and Thanatos for an album of death metal that is undeniably old school in nature yet just as vicious as anything being releases today. This is a blistering album of full throttle speed riffs and crushing doom set against a backdrop of military themes. It amazes me that an old school styled album can be a breath of fresh air but that is definitely how I feel about this album. You can keep your sweep picking and gravity blasts, this is what real death metal sounds like.

The easiest way to describe the band would be early Swedish death metal mixed with Bolt Thrower but filtered through the dirty feel of Autopsy. The band does both the doom riffs and the speed driven riffs equally well. These are some of the darkest and slimiest doom riffs I have heard in some time and they match the throaty vocal style perfectly. This is far from being an Autopsy clone but the influence is definitely recognizable and commendable. The fast riffs are pure Swedish death metal through and through conjuring images of vintage Entombed and Carnage with little effort. To me this is what death metal should embody. I think blasting has its place, but for me the thrash styled drum beat just feels more energetic and aggressive. This is an album that shows that death metal was a continuation of the thrash genre and while it has come to embody a much larger sound, far too many bands seem to forget that death metal grew out of thrash.

Despite the war theme being slightly boring, there is absolutely nothing boring about the music on display here. This is just under an hour of full throttle metal that pays tribute to the masters of the genre, but also shows that you can have an old school approach and still make it sound modern. The production is beefy and the band is incredibly tight yet they still play with an incredible intensity. The fact that this band is made up of who it is should be enough to make you want to pick up this album. Add in the fact that this is one of the most energetic and for lack of a better word, pure, death metal albums released in years this is an album that all fans of death metal should consider mandatory.

http://www.myspace.com/hailoffuckenbullets

Hatchet-Awaiting Evil
(Metal Blade Records, 2008)

This debut album from Hatchet really isn't doing all that much for me. It seems like Metal Blade might have jumped the gun a bit and the band possibly wasnt quite ready for a full length album just yet. Also the sound of the album is really nothing spectacular and while Im sure the band was going for an old school sound it really lets the rough spots ring through quite clearly.

That's not to say that there isn't anything good on display here. The band does indeed write some killer riffs, but the songs seem a bit forced and some of the guitar leads are just a bit sour. For instance the album opens with an instrumental track that is just acoustic guitar and lead guitar. The lead guitar tone is thin and weak and in turn the solo sounds sloppy. It's not really a good way to start off an album and leaves a bad taste in your mouth right from the start. If they had skipped this song and just kicked ass right from the get go, this would have probably made a bit more impact on me. The drumming is another sour spot really. His playing just isn't as tight as it needs to be and oddly enough some of the slower moments on the album seem the roughest.

Hatchet isn't a bad band, but there are much better bands out there playing thrash right now. The songs are a bit too long and the rough spots certainly don't help the band much. I think the deal with Metal Blade might have been a bit premature although a beefier production might have helped me enjoy this a bit more. As is, in good conscience, I really couldn't recommend this album at all.

http://www.myspace.com/hatchet2006

Dismata-Understand
(Disastrous Records, 2008)

Easily one of the best new Canadian bands I have heard in quite sometime, Dismata is the musical equivalent of being run over by a bulldozer. You have no idea what hit you and there is pretty much nothing left after the accident. Combining a discordant attack with a rhythmic crunch, the band has a sound that hits somewhere in between The Dillinger Escape Plan, Premonitions of War and Meshuggah.

The main difference between Dismata and similar bands is that these guys know how to write songs and even the heaviest moments seem natural and not forced in the least. Even the noisy edge of the sound seems very natural. It doesn't sound like a group of guys trying to be weird, the chaotic nature of the music rings through but the riffs are much more memorable than most attempts at this style. There are still a few moments on the disc that will make your head spin, but isn't that part of the appeal of this type of music? It's the curveballs and oddball moments that make the band seem unique. It doesnt hurt that the band is incredibly tight either making the rhythmic sections hit with a tremendous amount of force. Another aspect of the band that makes the attack so vicious is the downright mammoth sounding vocals. The vocalist is a big guy and his voice is even bigger. This is one of the most ferocious vocal attacks I have heard in sometime and I think the roaring vocals fit over the chaotic style quite well.

If I don't read something soon about Dismata being picked up by a bigger label there is definitely something wrong with the world. This is so much better than what we are seeing coming from some of the bigger names in the genre. The fact that a band this good is unknown is truly a shame. If you like your metal rhythmic and chaotic but still extremely tight and with roaring vocals this is definitely a band to look into.

http://www.myspace.com/dismata

Klone-All Seeing Eye
(Season of Mist, 2008)

Klone are a band that certainly never paints themselves into a corner and always surprises. The first song makes you think that this might be a slightly different take on the metalcore genre, but later on in the song and with each following song it becomes clear that the band is definitely not a metalcore band. This French band encompasses many different genres and styles with metal of course being the most prominent style used by the band. There are a lot of bands that try to experiment and fall flat on their face. Fortunately Klone do a fairly good job keeping things cohesive.

You would think that it would be the inclusion of the exotic instruments that makes this original, but in all honesty it is the riffs and songwriting itself. Its not very often that the band will play what you could consider a typical metal riff. There is usually a unique type of melody being used in conjunction with unique rhythmic ideas. There are hooks to spare here as well. Promises is so damn catchy it could be on the radio, of course the ending is a bit noisier but the chorus is as powerful as they come. What makes the band work is the combination of different styles. You have everything from death metal to hard rock to even pop coming through at times and it makes for an unpredictable and mind opening listen.

This is the type of metallic brilliance you would expect the name Dan Swano attached to. There are few bands capable of combining so many different feels and making them work. If you are open minded and like your metal albums to explore melodic routes that arent all that common, All Seeing Eye definitely fits the bill. Chances are you havent heard anything quite like this before.

http://www.myspace.com/klone

Dead Shape Figure-The Grand Karoshi
(Season of Mist, 2008)

Dead Shape Figure is yet another metal band to come from Finland, but what makes this band just a bit different is the fact that they play all out thrash metal. After a short melodic intro, the song Blades proceeds to tear your face off in a fashion that really reminds me of the ferocity of Defleshed. Parallels could be drawn to The Haunted and The Crown as well, but as a whole Id say the band has a somewhat unique approach. The band plays with a ferocity that is hard to top and it amazes me how many notes they can fit into a riff while still maintaining a thrash speed.

The two best words to describe the bands riffing style would be melodic and fast. That is about it really. When the band is playing fast they are flying by the seat of their pants and it is very rare that the band will slow down all that much. The riffs also have a maturity that is missing from a lot of similar bands out there. Whatever the band tries, they nail. Whether it is a melodic riff using single notes, or a more power chord based riffs, the band is flawless and that is no small feat when you consider how fast the band tends to play. Blast beats rear their head occasionally throughout the album, but never extensively. This is an angry band but the riffs are always musical. There is a lot going on within the songs and if you enjoy intricate melodies during rapid fire thrash riffing this is for you.

You could argue that Dead Shape Figure really isn't doing anything new with their music. I could see that point, yet at the same time there arent many bands in the genre playing as potently as this. Hell, this is even faster and more on fire than The Haunted are these days. So yea this is another melodic death metal album, but it is an amazing one at that. If you enjoy The Haunted, Hatesphere, and The Crown this one is definitely for you.

http://www.myspace.com/deadshapefigure