Lost Soul-Chaostream
(Wicked World Records, 2004)

Without even the slightest warning, Lost Soul blast into the opening track with the intensity of a train derailing. Combining elements of Morbid Angel and Vader, the band plays ferocious death metal that isn’t without thought. They are certainly fast, but there is a lot more to this band then just blast upon blast. The band slows down and has many slower riffs that have an almost haunting quality to them. This is definitely where I hear the most Morbid Angel influence the most.

Death metal sometimes tends to go in one ear and right out of the other, but Lost Soul manage to interject nuances and subtleties that allow the songs to be remembered. Whether it’s a slower riff with a catchy guitar line, or just an interesting drum or cymbal pattern, the band covers a lot of ground and never loses sight of keeping the songs structured and memorable. The structures definitely aren’t simplified, as you would have to struggle endlessly to find a chorus and still wouldn’t find one. But the structures are fast moving and without much repetition. Even if they do repeat a riff they usually do something just a bit different each time they play it. It adds a lot to the bands sound and also really helps them stand out from the vast number of death metal bands around today.

This is an album that really manages to do everything right. It is catchy without being simple, technical without being mind numbing and fast without being constant blasts. It’s the perfect combination of Morbid Angel’s songwriting and Decapitated’s technicality. All fans of death metal will definitely want to check out Chaostream!

Requiem Aeternum-Philosopher
(I-Corp Records, 2004)

After listening to this album all I really have to say is wow. This band is one of the most interesting bands I have heard in a very long time and really manage to create their own niche within the metal scene. Take black metal, add a bit of Opeth, death metal, and quite possibly a bit of System of a Down, and you have Requiem Aeternum. The music is fast, technical, full of amazing riffs and has so many ideas that at times it honestly could make your head spin right off.

You can pretty much say that all conventions of any of the genres they take influence from are thrown right on their heads. The black metal riffs have a unique feel while still being identifiable with that genre. Many of the riffs are just strange, while the vocal approach can basically be summed up as maniacal. Clean vocals are also used quite often and that is where I hear the System of a Down comparison. It’s mainly due to the similarities in vocal tone then the phrasing or the context in which the clean vocals are used. Simply put, this isn’t conventional music and it won’t be for everyone.

The production is a bit different then what you might expect. It has a very simple style which is pretty surprising; especially when you consider how much there is going on within the music. There are layers of guitars, but they never go overboard and it never gets to the point where it doesn’t sound like a band playing live. They play with a lot of energy, and really manage to make that come across with the recording.

Chances are most of you haven’t even heard of this band, let alone heard their musical output. That will change though I am sure. This is one of the most interesting, and unique metal albums of all time.

Shackled Down-The Crew
(Selfmadegod Records, 2005)

Sometimes albums take a few listens to get into. That sure isn’t the case with The Crew. Shackled Down plows through 14 songs in 17 minutes and really manages to cram as much intensity onto this little piece of plastic as humanly possible.

The easiest comparison might be What Happens Next. But stylistically you can say that the band is a cross between old school hardcore, crossover and just a hint of NYHC. They are extremely fast, but never metal. The riffs are always power chord based playing simple yet incredibly fast progressions. It’s not what you’d consider groundbreaking, but damn if this isn’t one of the best hardcore albums I’ve heard in quite sometime. The intensity is there, so is the speed, and they manage to stay clear of anything remotely resembling metalcore.

Fans of What Happens Next, DRI, Cryptic Slaughter, or Excel will definitely be able to get into what these guys are playing. It wouldn’t be hard to convince someone that this band might have been around during the 80’s. They play the style so convincingly that this could have easily been around many years ago. 14 songs of ripping hardcore in the form of The Crew definitely make for an amazing listen.

Children of Bodom-Trashed, Lost and Strung Out
(Century Media Records, 2005)

Children of Bodom are one of the few bands that have really crafted their own style in recent memory. Taking elements from black metal, thrash, power metal, and even a hint of metalcore on these new songs, Children of Bodom are playing the heaviest material of their careers and sounding amazing doing it.

The meat and potatoes of this teaser EP are the two new tracks, Trashed, Lost and Strung Out and Knuckleduster. Both songs are extremely catchy, melodic but also show the band being a bit more aggressive and using a much more powerful vocal approach. It still sounds like classic COB they just managed to get a lot more oomph behind it this time around. These two songs don’t really burn up the fret boards with speed, traveling at a mid paced tempo. But all of the bands patented technicality, keyboard flurries, and amazing guitar solos are still intact. I’m sure they’ll explore more tempos on the new disc, especially when you consider this is only two of their newest songs.

The two cover songs are interesting, but possibly not the best song selection for the band. Maybe I’m just not familiar with Alice Cooper but I have never even heard the song Bed of Nails. The band manages to turn it into its own though, with keyboard melodies and of course a lot of added heaviness. The also speed it up into blast beat territory at the end moving away from the original tempo of the song. The next cover is Andrew Wk’s She is Beautiful and to say it’s odd to hear COB covering this song would be an understatement. They do an amazing version of the song, but something about the song is just a bit too happy for the band.

It definitely is cool to hear the band having fun and playing songs they enjoy, but the two new tracks are definitely what make this EP worth picking up.

The Mighty Nimbus-s/t
(Candlelight USA, 2004)

The music that Mighty Nimbus plays is definitely mighty. Thick guitar riffs bend their way into your brain with their combination of doom, stoner rock and more then a hint of metallic aggression. Don’t be surprised by the cowbell or the blues riffs either, because these guys definitely don’t want to be one dimensional and are by far one of the most memorable bands the genre has seen since Acid Bath. It’s the perfect combination of Sabbath like dirge, and upbeat stoner rock.

There is even a surprising amount of melody to be found here. While the vast majority of the riffs are fuzzed out rock riffs or thick power chords, melody rises to the surface much more then you’d think. Even the vocals bring in melody from time to time. The usual approach is a bit throatier, but from time to time a somewhat clean vocal approach comes into use. At times it’s haunting similar to Acid Bath, while at other times it’s along the lines of Kyuss or quite possibly even Down. The comparisons are mainly just for reference points though really, because while the style isn’t new, they definitely have a unique twist on it.

Fans of the greats of the genre will definitely find a lot here to enjoy. Black Sabbath is definitely a main influence, but the band also appeals to the newer style as well. Fans of Acid Bath, Down, or possibly even newer Entombed will also have a pretty easy time getting into the rocking metal of The Mighty Nimbus.

Genghis Tron-Cloak of Love
(Crucial Blast Records, 2005)

If you ever expected grindcore and synth pop to be combined then you must have psychic abilities. I never saw this one coming and it has totally leveled me. Genghis Tron are either completely insane or complete geniuses. The band goes from blasting insanity, to some of the softest sections you’ve ever heard in your life. I’m talking drum machines and airy synths. Basically going from screaming, harsh guitars and blast beats to new wave inspired melody.

Does it work? Strangely it flows perfectly and never seems the least bit forced. There are even a few beats from time to time that seem a bit hip hop influenced, but they are only short lived before going back into blasting insanity. You could almost sum it up like this: Brutal Truth mixed with The Dillinger Escape Plan and Depeche Mode. Don’t take that at face value though, because before you hear this band you’ll have no idea what to expect. Even with a description I guarantee your jaw will hit the floor.

This definitely wouldn’t be for anyone, but to my ears this is thirteen minutes of some of the most innovative music the grindcore genre has seen in, well, forever. It’s definitely a good thing when bands feel like they can basically do anything with their music and not worry about alienating people. Close minded people make for boring music, it’s that simple. Crucial Blast needs to give these guys a full-length because I couldn’t even imagine how much they could do with a half an hour.

Dead Hearts-s/t
(State of Mind Recordings, 2004)

Dead Hearts play a style of hardcore that is becoming a bit more common these days. They take hardcore aggression, but have a much more rocking approach bringing in elements of classic rock n’ roll. It’s like a steamrolling amount of energy mixed with hardcore vocals and some of the best riffs this particular subgenre has seen so far.

Dead Hearts keep things short, simple and to the point. The longest song on this disc is just over 2 minutes and thirty second. So don’t expect much experimentation or any subtleties. This hardly ever lets up and the energy level the band plays with rivals any other band within the genre.

One thing I really like about this band is that they don’t leave out any speed. They aren’t constantly playing fast, but the speed is there to remind you that this is indeed a hardcore band. A hardcore band that likes to throw in rock n’ roll influence to help keep things interesting.

At just under fifteen minutes this is a short cd, but it will still leave you exhausted. This is a band that I definitely expect to hear a lot more about in the future.