Vader-XXV
(Regain Records, 2008)

Although a greatest hits package would have been easier, Vader has re-recorded a whopping 36 songs spanning the entire history of the band spread out over 2 discs. The songs sound absolutely pummeling and offer a nice blend of new and early material, even a song from the band's Morbid Reich demo has been re-recorded. If you are a fan of Vader this collection is pretty much essential.

Vader has a sound that is pretty much unmistakable. Dark tremolo picked riffs are backed by some of the tightest yet powerful blast beats the death metal genre has ever seen. The vocals are quite distinct and surprisingly understandable for this genre. The same could be said for the band musically. There are few bands that are as tight as Vader. The performance on this album is flawless without sacrificing any of the energy.

Vader have been together for a long time and are still releasing quality music to this day. If you are new to the band this album could definitely be used as a history lesson. If you are already a fan of the band, the fact that the songs have been re-recorded along with the inclusion of rare songs makes this a hard collection to pass up on.

Asrai-Pearls in Dirt
(Season of Mist, 2008)

Asrai are the type of band that can really open your eyes. I'm not normally a fan of gothic metal but Asrai shows a level of songwriting prowess that instantly grabs you. All it took was the chorus to Deliah's Lie and I was hooked.

Haunting yet rocking would be a pretty good way to sum up the band. The songs are built upon gothic atmospher, heavy riffs and passionate female vocals. There is actually a surprising amount of dynamics on display here. The vocals toy with a lot of different ideas throughout while the music itself shifts between metal and rock styled riffs effortlessly. There is certainly an ominous vibe to the music which definitely serves as a fitting contrast to the usually beautiful vocals.

Imagine a more rock infused Type O Negative with female vocals and you'll have a fairly good idea what to expect from Asrai. This Dutch band has a lot to offer and manages to make a gothic style not only beautiful but without the normal depressive gloom that hangs over the genre. This is indeed dark, but there is still that glimmer of hope that comes through in the music.

Keep of Kalessin=Kolossus
(Nuclear Blast, 2008)

While Keep of Kalessin is easily associated with the black metal genre, they are one of the few bands to offer any surprises in the genre. Unlike most bands though, they don't throw in any weird or electronic elements to be unique. Instead the band experiments with tempos to great lengths and it makes a world of difference. Blasting is still here but it is certainly less common than most black metal.

More than a few black metal albums essentially have songs that all sound fairly similar. Kolossus manages to be unique from track to track changing the riffing styles used throughout the album. The bands sound is melodic in nature and uses the minor tones common of the band but the band seems to spend more time making sure each song is built upon unique ideas and musical themes. This definitely isn't an album where if you've heard one song you've heard it all.

While I do respect the primal intensity of lo-fi black metal, it is exciting to see a band like Keep of Kalessin moving the genre forward. If you are looking for unique black metal but want it without the usual industrial elements added, you should definitely check out Kolossus.

The Man From the Moon-Rocket Attack
(Black Mark, 2008)

Black Mark is an odd record label. Though the label has released some of the greatest metal albums ever released by Swedish bands, they also release some odd choices as well. The Man From the Moon would be one of those choices. It's not that Rocket Attack is a particularly bad album, it just doesn't do anything new. The music is rock based and these are riffs that you have pretty much heard before. Add in cliche lyrics and a fairly blas vocal approach and this is an album that pretty much rolls off your back. The songs are catchy at times but is it due to their simplicity or solid songwriting? I'd say more so the former and even though the songs are catchy I'd still have a hard time recommending this album. It is good for what it is but with the increasing number of rock and metal albums being released these days, this one doesn't stand out very much.

Copremesis-Muay Thai Ladyboys
(Paragon Records, 2008)

There's nothing quite like opening a CD booklet and finding pictures of Asian chicks with dicks. Musically I knew I was in for something sick and Copremesis did not disappoint. With a blast driven approach, the band plays a blistering style of death/grind that hardly ever lets up.

The riffing is surprisingly intricate for a band of this nature whipping off flurries of notes accented by pinch harmonics. Think New York style death metal but played as alarming speeds. The vocals are ridiculously guttural and completely undecipherable. The drumming is quite solid and it is nice to hear a band of this nature with an actual drummer as opposed to a drum machine.

Essentially the band isn't doing anything new yet this is a sick slab of death/grind none the less. The intensity on display is hard to ignore and the songs are much more indepth than you might expect, given the out of control nature of the band. If you are a fan of sick and guttural US styled death/grind, this is one slab of noise you won't want to miss.

The CNK-L'Hymne A la Joie
(Season of Mist, 2008)

Lead by the former vocalist of Anorexia Nervosa, The CNK is back with their sophomore album. What exactly does the band sound like you ask? Imagine if John Williams orchestrated a symphony of electronic based metal and you have a rough idea. Ambitious in scope and nailing the execution, this is an epic album built upon heavy guitar, harsh vocals and excellent use of a background choir. Chances are you have never heard anything quite like this and that is indeed a good thing.

If you are looking for black metal influences to pop up you might be a bit disappointing. The vocal style is indeed harsh but that is about the only black metal element to the music. The music moves at a middle of the road tempo and is built on fairly simplistic riffing ideas. The band does employ a lot of layers in the form of keyboard work and massive sounding background vocals. So essentially the band is composed of rather simplistic ideas but how it is layered and intertwined makes the songs much more epic.

In reality you really don't even need to be a fan of electronic based metal to enjoy this album. The band manages to keep the songs accessible and appealing to even casual metal fans. That said, if you are a fan of electronic based metal or industrial you will eat this up.

Deadbird-Twilight Ritual
(At a Loss Recordings, 2008)

Let's face it, sludge isn't exactly known for catchy songs. I guess someone forgot to pass on the message to Deadbird though as this shows the band writing some of the most memorable songs the genre has seen in years. The band still has heavy riffs in spades but clean vocals are much more prominent giving the songs a big shot in the arm. The vicious, desperate screams are still used but the clean vocals bring the band to another level completely.

The riffs are also ridiculously catchy helped further by a very clear yet powerful production. Music of this sort isn't known for crystal clear productions bu the song on this record is phenomenal. The guitar sound is crisp yet still adequatly bottom heavy allowing both the dirges and the melodic riffs to be effective. The drumming is on the simple side but it fits the music perfectly, matching the stripped down nature of the band.

Deadbird are really onto something with Twilight Ritual. This is both ambitious and also true to the beginnings of the genre at the same time. If you have even a passing interest in sludge or doom, this is an essential album. It won't take long to uncover the brialliance in these songs.

20 Bulls Each-The Incompetence to Follow
(Fail Records, 2008)

What if I told you that the first song, Breakthrough, on this album was one of the best metal infused hardcore songs I have ever heard? Then I'd have to tell you that the remaining 4 songs are just as good, at which point you'd ask me who the hell is 20 Bulls Each? The simple answer, 20 Bulls Each is an Irish hardcore band that you need to hear.

In a time when bands are easily defined, 20 Bulls Each definitely stands out. Each song brings in new ideas and unlike most hardcore bands the style does change throughout. New York style hardcore, straight ahead metal riffs, oi and even melodic punk similar to Rise Against combines to form the 20 Bulls Each sound. The band manages to make each style work well and combines them quite effortlessly.

20 Bulls Each are breaking new ground and thankfully they realize that combining metal and hardcore doesn't always need to sound like metalcore. You won't find any breakdowns or Swedish riffs here and that is a good thing. If a combination of Sick of It All, Rancid and Rise Against piques your interest, 20 Bulls Each is definitely a band to look into.