Voetsek-Infernal Command
(Selfmadegod Records, 2008)

Voetsek are a band that reminds me of a time when thrash and fastcore went hand in hand. Think early Municipal Waste mixed with hints of Capitalist Casualties and more than a hint of classic bay area thrash. The result is a metallic whirlwind that comes across as a perfect combination of punk attitude and speed and metallic riffing.

The album packs in 17 songs in 21 minutes so you know the band doesn't waste any time with filler. Each song goes for the throat right from the start and the album never lets up. Many of the songs do have a fairly similar sound but here are songs that throw in a bit of a different approach. Strange Fruit throws in a different approach in the riffing as does Five Years in Iraq. That said even the songs with a similar approach are far from boring. The energy makes it very easy to look past similar sounding riffs.

Fans of fast music will undoubtedly enjoy this one. Whether you are a fan of thrash, hardcore or even grindcore there are elements here that you should find appealing.

Driver Side Impact-Lion
(Victory Records, 2008)

Being a big fan of the debut album from Driver Side Impact I was definitely looking forward to giving this album a listen. Initially the album seems a bit more rock based and also seems a bit more direct than the debut album in a lot of ways. It's missing that subtle ambiance and the keyboards are also pretty much non existent. That said the album still shows the band having a knack for penning memorable tunes and is an excellent listen through and through.

Technical music is well and good but a hook is not to be overlooked. Driver Side Impact bring out their big guns with Patience (Give Up) and The Lion with both showcasing a ridiculous amount of memorable melodies musically as well as vocally. Guitar wise the band has interjected a lot more layers into the mix and the overall sound is a bit less typical than the debut album. At the end of the day the band might not be playing anything you haven't heard before but they are quite good none the less.

While Lion is indeed a good album I think I still prefer the debut album in a lot of ways. It may just be that I listened to The Very Air We Breath countless times and this latest album is still somewhat fresh in my ears. I respect that the band hasn't just rewritten the debut and is trying some new ideas. If you enjoyed the debut you'll like this, but don't expect The Very Air We Breath part 2.

Bishop-Drugs
(Dead Truth Recordings, 2008)

Bishop are an angry group of young men and the sincerity and anguish that comes across in the band's heavy bulldozing sound is quite remarkable. Sound wise the band is a hardcore powerhouse but the overall style of the band isn't anything new. What then makes the album stand out is the ferocity and the conviction in which the vocals are spat. Simply put, this is what hardcore should sound like.

I like the fact that the band never lets the metallic aspects of the band overshadow the fact that Bishop is indeed a hardcore band. That said the inclusion of blast beats in Meet Me in Montauk was a huge surprise and handled extremely well. If you like your hardcore fast this album definitely does not disappoint. The overall sound of the band is something of a combination of Hatebreed, Terror and American Nightmare which makes for a lightning quick sound never lacking in heaviness. Listen to Big Business and tell me that hardcore isn't alive and well.

Hardcore lyrics started out with having a lot to say and then somewhere along the way they became cliche riddled muscle flexes. This album shows just how powerful hardcore lyrics can be with just enough social commentary and self-loathing to keep things dangerous. Also hidden after a large chunk of silence is a very surprising cover. The band tackles You Vandal by Saves the Day and does it quite well. If you are a fan of hardcore this should be considered a mandatory purchase.

Alghazanth-Wreath of Thevetat
(Woodcut Records, 2008)

Finnish black metallers Alghazanth offer a potent mix of blitzkrieg and melody with their latest album Wreath of Thevetat. The band has been together since 1995 and the years of experience comes through in the somewhat typical yet solid black metal the band produces.

Opener Moving Mountains is a rapid fire example of just what the band has to offer. Melodic guitars riffs, scalding vocals and tight drum work set the stage as the band plays with a vigor that is definitely comparable to classic Dissection. The follow up song, The Kings to Come, shows the band slowing down things to more of a mid- tempo yet the riffing stays similar with the song also boasting a much more audible keyboard approach. Make no mistake though if you are craving speed it is here and in abundance.

While this band is certainly good at what they do you can't go into the album expecting the band to take black metal to any new places really. The songwriting is above average and the band is quite polished but at the end of the day it is somewhat just another black metal album. I did enjoy the album as will most black metal fans. Solid but not groundbreaking describes the album perfectly.

Adrenicide-Natural Born Thrashers
(Thrashard Records, 2008)

There are bands that have lengthy voids in between albums but UK thrashers Adrenicide might just be the most prolific thrash band around right now. In three years the band has released three full length albums all of which kick ass and show the band progressing with each new album. Natural Born Thrashers is the perfect album name for this assault of crossover inspired by the likes of DRI and Venom.

On this album in particular I really get a DRI meets Venom vibe from the music. It's fast and powerful with just enough rawness and a similar feel to early Venom. It really doesn't bring anything new to the thrash genre but that isn't what Adrenicide is about. The band wants to thrash, plain and simple, and they do it much better than most of the more well known bands associated with the so called thrash revival happening right now.

With the leaps the band is making with each album I hope the band keeps the inspiration high and brings out a new album each year. This is a band that understands that recycled At the Gates riffs and black metal vocals are not thrash. If you are a fan of the old style of thrash and crossover this is an album that was written specifically for you. Break out the denim vest, crack open a beer and press play.

Crypticus-They Called Me Mad
(Razorback Records, 2008)

Crypticus have taken a slightly different approach with their sophomore album. Taking on a much more vintage death metal sound and adding some surprising blackened death metal and thrash moments, the album packs a number of surprises while maintaining a raw horrific edge.

If you are looking for catchy and simple song structures you aren't going to find them here. While I wouldn't consider Crypticus to be technical, the songs move in a very direct manner and while there are indeed catchy parts the songs definitely do not follow the verse/chorus/verse pattern. The album actually feels like one big piece of music rather than individual songs. The songs flow very well into one another with no break in between.

One small blemish would be the production. I like the raw edge that the album has, but a bit more clarity would have been nice. Also the drums has a tendency to become slightly buried and the vocals sometimes get lost in the mix as well. I like the raw and classic feel but a bit more clarity in the guitars would have made a big difference I think.

Crypticus have given us a filthy and crust covered slab of death metal that takes a classic feel and does new things with it. If you think death metal is predictable this album definitely proves otherwise.

Acid Witch-Witchtanic Hallucinations
(Razorback Records, 2008)

When I first learned of Acid Witch through their Myspace page I honestly was still on the fence about the band. The early songs were very raw but it just didn't really sink in with me. Their debut full length however is a completely different story. The band has written a record that introduces the world to what could best described as witch doom. Mammothly heavy riffs are coated in horrific atmosphere and just enough campy appeal to keep it fun. Add in the guttural roars and you have an album that is both unique and incredibly infectious.

The band takes a combination of Trouble, Black Sabbath and Winter and filters it through a more classic death metal style but leaving out the speed aspect. The album never plods yet at the same time it is never incredibly fast either. Guitar leads and excellent use of wah wah is spread throughout the disc adding a number of memory melodies to the already memorable riffing. There is definitely a bit of a psychedelic edge as well, mostly through the aforementioned guitar leads as well as a few parts which are a bit more atmospheric.

One aspect of the band that I absolutely love is the use of keyboards during some of the moments. I'm not sure if the band would agree with me or not but these moments for some reason totally remind me of the music from Troll 2. It has the horror movie feel but with just a bit of camp thrown in.

If you like doom this is a no brainer. The band takes vintage doom and funnels it through vintage horror with amazing results. Fans of Winter, Trouble, Hellhammer and of course death metal fans with an open mind will instantly be drawn to the bands heavy yet memorable style.

Trap Them-Seizures in Barren Praise
(Deathwish Records, 2008)

I definitely missed the boat on this band and hearing this band for the first time all I can say is wow. Trap Them combines rapid fire hardcore with early Swedish death metal and hints of Converge and grindcore. In other words the band plays a fast and maniacal form of music that kicks a whole lot of ass.

For as pissed off the band is, the music is surprisingly memorable. The riffing is concise and a perfect blend of more typical hardcore chording and death metal sections. The guitar tone is vintage Swedish death metal through and through and it sounds phenomenal with a band of this style. Instead of going for the typical Mesa Boogie tone so common these days, the slightly rawer sound with mids added for crunch sound phenomenal. It adds a completely different feel to the band and really lets the Swedish death metal influences come out in the music.

If the thought of a cross between Extreme Noise Terror, Entombed and Converge sounds appealing to your ears this is definitely one of the few bands that could live up to that description. This is a 25 minute whirlwind that will leave you bloodied and you'll love every single punishing note.

Snatch Club-True Kids Super Brawl
(Bastardized Recordings, 2008)

I have to admit that the cover art somewhat had me expecting this to be old school hardcore but was I ever off the mark. The band plays an absolutely blistering style of death metal that mixes rapid fire blasting with absolutely crushing slower sections. There is a definite modern feel to the album yet the band manages to be much more creative than the bands that are playing similar music.

The band is similar to a band like Jow For a Cowboy but basically better in every way shape or form. The energy level is high and even when the band lets their fingers fly to show off their technical side the music still stays memorable. The groove aspect of the band somewhat links the band to the New York style of death metal but they still have a slightly unique edge to their rhythmic side. Some of the riffs are more typical but the band also adds a bit of dark melody to some of the rhythmic riffs giving them an almost black metal feel which also comes through in some of the faster moments as well.

This is a band that definitely does not waste any time. The songs are all pretty much around the two minute mark and filler is definitely not something the band believe in. The songs go for the throat and even the slower sections showcase a tremendous amount of energy. This German band definitely has a lot going for it and if you like what Job For a Cowboy is striving for musical but think they miss the mark, then check these guys out.

Kill the Client-Cleptocracy
(Willowtip Records, 2008)

Kill the Client might just be the musical equivalent of using a chainsaw to clean your ears out. Noisy and out of control, this band plays a style of grindcore that is as explosive as it is dangerous. Think Assuck and Discordance Axis in a wrestling match that ends in a draw.

Rapid fire guitar riffs and drums pummel the listener with the distorted guttural roars supplying the knock out punch. Calling this band fast would definitely be an understatment. The band plays with incredibly vigor but surprisingly enough there are a number of slower sections littered throughout the album. But when the album packs in 18 songs in 22 minutes you know that the band had the pedal to the floor most of the time, and that is exactly what you want from a grindcore album.

I find with an album like this it is better digested as a whole than as individual songs. That's not to say that the songs are lacking in terms of their staying power, it just feels like one big chunk of music rather than a showcase for individual songs. If you like grindcore, you'll like this. It really is that simple.