Infinite Missiles/Talk Sick Earth-Split CD
(Rusty Axe Records, 2009)

I had a feeling that I was going to like this split CD quite a bit. I had never heard of either band but from the packaging and band names I knew this would be right up my alley. Infinite Missiles kicks off this split CD with 9 tracks of excellent crossover. Perfect amounts of thrash and grindcore combine for a sound that is incredibly fast yet very memorable. The guitar riffs go right for the throat perfectly matched by the rapid fire drum approach and vintage sounding vocals. Think DRI meets Cryptic Slaughter with a little bit of vintage Slayer thrown in for good measure. The band is very tight and there are absolutely no hiccups in the performance department. If you enjoy crossover this is definitely a band to watch out for.

Talk Sick Earth is a bit more punk oriented but still mixing in hints of thrash. This still is very much in the crossover genre but leans much more towards the old school hardcore spectrum of things. There is also a slight New York hardcore feel at time throughout the album particularly the vocal approach which reminds me of early Cause for Alarm at times. I think I may enjoy the rapid fire style of Infinite Missiles a little bit more but the old school and more deliberate sound of Talk Sick Earth honestly stands out like a sore thumb, in a good way. They are a band that sound classic in nature but it doesn't come across as a band trying to sound retro. If a combination of Discharge, Leeway and crossover sounds intriguing to you, definitely check out this band.

Leprous-Tall Poppy Syndrome
(Sensory, 2009)

Putting a stamp on just who Leprous sounds like is pretty much impossible. Hints of Opeth and Porcupine Tree are definitely present and there seems to be a very faint Dream Theater influence that pops in from time to time. That said there is really nothing out there that sounds like this band. It's a moody and progressive take on the metal genre that will leave your jaw on the ground.

One problem I have with a lot of progressive music is the flashy nature of the genre. This is pretty much the exact opposite. The band takes its time and weaves textures and unique sounds throughout each song. There are stabs of heavy guitars and a harsher vocal approach but the majority of the album is actually quite eloquent. It works even further because the band manages to keep things very memorable. The guitar leads bring in a little bit of flash but its done so tastefully that it can hardly be seen in a negative light. The guitar solo in the opening song Passing will give you shivers. As will the creative bass playing that weaves melodically throughout the song. If you needed proof of the brilliance on display here just listen to the first song. The rest of the album is just icing on the cake.

If you are looking for an interesting, well written and completely original metal album, this is it. Everything the band tackles they handle masterfully and there are no misteps throughout the entire album. Fans of Opeth should be able to get into this quite easily. It certainly isn't an Opeth clone by any stretch of the imagination but the similarities are indeed there. Pick this one up immediately.

Eluveitie-Evocation 1- The Arcane Dominion
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

Call it pagan metal, call it folk metal, I call it a genre that can be rather hit or miss. The cream of the crop for the genre can be breathtaking but there are far too many similar bands out there and bands that just miss the mark. This band is good at what they do but it just isn't clicking with me. It would be hard to even really call this metal to be honest. There are no electric guitars throughout the album and the fact that none of the lyrics are in English further adds to the barrier standing between me enjoying the album. I respect the fact that the band uses traditional instruments almost exclusively and there are indeed some solid moments musically throughout. For me I like the counterpoint usually created with the distorted guitars and the folk elements and that is missing here. If you are a huge fan of the folk metal genre you may want to give this a try. I will admit that the band is definitely original but it just isn't sparking much of a reaction out of me.

Edguy-The Singles
(Nuclear Blast Records, 2009)

What I have heard from the band in the past I have definitely liked but I'm far from being an expert. That said this is an excellent collection that brings together singles from the bands career. The album basically consists of the Superheroes EP, Lavatory Love Machine single, and the King of Fools EP. So if you already own these this collection might seem pretty pointless.

However if you don't own the Superheroes EP you should pick up this album for these 6 tracks alone. The song Superheroes is probably one of the best songs the band has ever written. What really stands out about this songs is the energy and fun the band seems to be having with the material. It is a similar feel to classic Helloween and something that is unfortunately missing from the iconic band these days. One funny thing about this collection is the Europe cover. I was always under the impression that The Final Countdown was the only song the band ever released. While I'm joking of course a ballad from Europe seems like a fairly out there pick from the band. The song works though.

Like I said earlier if you already own these singles, you don't need this. But if you are unfamiliar with the Superheroes EP pick this up ASAP. The other tunes are pretty damned good as well, but the first 6 songs are in a league of their own.

Wolves in the Throne Room-Black Cascade
(Southern Lord, 2009)

Bleak, desolate, and rapid fire all describe Wolves in the Throne Room and I can't get enough. With each album the band just keeps getting better. The songwriting this time around is a bit more straightforward and much more atmospheric while still retaining the rawness the band is known for. I'm not sure if I've mentioned this before in previous reviews of this band but they have a very natural style. A lot of black metal to me just feels forced but this just flows and weaves in a very natural way. You feel the disparity and the desolation in the music.

What works so well for the band is the fact that they don't really fit into any of the molds of the genre. They do have a raw more old school approach to recording but the music itself is very original and the band never falls into any of the cliches of the genre. The songs are epic and feel like journeys. There is never a time when you feel the running time start to drag. This is probably due to the bands willingness to experiment. Doom like elements come into play as well as more mid paced melodic sections. All the while the band manages to keep things cohesive and very memorable. Memorable to describe black metal can be a bit misleading. Memorable to some people seems to go hand in hand with simple and that is not the case here. There is a lot of depth and you can tell that a lot of effort went into crafting these songs. But there is no denying that the riffs themselves do stick with you.

If you were a fan of previous albums from Wolves in the Throne Room prepare to be utterly devastated. This is an epic black journey that surpasses the previous albums in pretty much every way possible.

Dodsferd-Suicide and the Rest of Your Kind Will Follow
(Moribund Records, 2009)

There aren't many albums that come close to black metal perfection and this album is certainly one of them. Meticulously paced, dark and utterly demented this album showcases just how desolate and scary black metal can be when done right. The album is two songs and runs for 37 minutes. The title track is up first and with a somewhat slow pace and cold yet melodic riffs. The song showcases some of the most desperate scathing vocals ever committed to tape. There is a lot of pain on display here and it can be downright scary at times.

This is more of an experience than it is music. You feel this and it is somewhat entrancing. The songs don't change a great deal throughout the first song repeats riffs for quite sometime. This isn't an album about tempo changes or being blistering fast. It is a desolate soundscape that while firmly planted in the black metal genre, this album definitely stands out from the norm of the genre right now. The second song His Veins Colored the Room is a much noisier song with an even more desolate feel to it. It might be quite easy to assume that this music is created by a troubled mind or at the very least someone with a lot of demons. If you are depressed or ever had any suicidal thoughts, this album is the soundtrack to what was going through your mind.

Possibly the only drawback to this album is that it certainly isn't going to be an album you put on all of the time. It is a draining and very visceral experience. As good as it is though is is definitely an album that you'd need to be in a specific mindset to enjoy. If you are a fan of suicidal and desolate black metal, this comes highly recommended. Razors sold separately.

Horde of Hel-Blodskam
(Moribund Records, 2009)

I wasn't sure what to expect from this album and I am pleasantly surprised by the bands methodical and unique take on the black metal genre. What I am noticing more and more about black metal these days is that a lot of bands are moving away from the blast beat and are using much more straight forward rhythms. This band has an almost mechanical feel at times. It isn't quite industrial but there are huge overtones now and again. It adds to the dreary feel of the band perfectly.

This is an epic and noisy style of black metal that is actually quite heavy on samples and uses an excellent distorted vocal style. Overall the band reminds me a little bit of Satyricon with hints of Dimmu Borgir at times. That said the overall feel of the album is quite unique and this is an album that if very hard to pigeonhole. The guitar riffs are fairly simplistic in nature but very catchy. The raw tone matches the feel of the band perfectly. One small complaint might be that the album is just too long. The sound is definitely interesting but by the 14 song the band does start to lose a bit of steam.

I like the tried and true formula for black metal but it is nice to see a band trying new things and making a record that really doesn't fit nicely into the genre at all. Horde of Hel have created a noisy and unique slab of black metal with quirky electronic elements, cold memorable riffs and scathing vocals. Skinny Puppy meets Mayhem anyone?