Divide the Day-Pretty Girls With Ugly Boys
(Pluto Records, 2005)

Divide the Day are easiest described as a rock band. Some emo leanings are present, but this is mainly rocking, coming across like psychotic blues influenced rock. The vocals are surprisingly harsh for the style at times, yet the screaming works well. It adds a lot of energy, and the vocal performance is dynamic enough that it never becomes stale. While not completely removed from current popular styles, the band manages to be original and this is an album that is definitely worth picking up.

The Jonbenet.-The Plot Thickens
(Pluto Records, 2005)

This CD collects the two demos that The Jonbenet recorded in the past year. Odd would be a good description of this band. They are heavy at times, yet they have more rock based moments, and this is all over the place. Raging double bass give way to jangly chords and clean vocals. Emo/metal/jazz/rock basically sums it all up, but you need to hear it to fully understand it. This is what I like to see, bands trying new things and making unique music in the process.

Redemption-The Fullness of Time
(Sensory, 2005)

Progressive metal can be a bit much at times, but Redemption has a good hold of writing songs and not just using them as vehicles for guitar solos. These guys can play, but the songs are memorable and quite creative. The band has a tight, rhythmic sound, but memorable melodies are littered throughout the songs keeping the layering dense but never overpowering. Every layer makes sense and is crucial to the overall song. This is honestly the best progressive metal cd I’ve ever heard. It’s heavy, memorable, and full of technical shine and never forgets that it is a metal record.

Thou Art Lord-Orgia Daemomicum
(Black Lotus Records, 2005)


This album has one of the weakest guitar tones ever. It has as much balls as a netured dog. I know it probably was on purpose to make the album old school sounding, but it rids the album of a lot of impact. The band is fast and blistering playing thrash influenced death metal, but the recording doesn’t convey much energy. It should be fast, and ripping but it’s just kind of there. This is ruined by a crappy production.

Angel-Don’t Wanna Run
(Black Lotus Records, 2005)


I’m not sure if this band is usually more metallic then this because this EP is fairly mellow. The main instruments are piano and vocals, which makes these songs fairly stripped down. But honestly this is boring for what it is, and what the hell is up with this Darkness song. It’s one of the strangest things I’ve ever heard in my life. This is forgettable at best.

Visceral Bleeding-Remnants Revived
(Neurotic Records, 2005)

You could almost call this a special edition of the band’s debut full length. The album has been remastered, repackaged, and 3 bonus tracks have been added. Also added is a video clip and some live videos. If you are new to the band, basically think Suffocation meets newer Cannibal Corpse. It’s energetic, full of creative riffs, and fast as fuck. So basically a perfect death metal album.

Corpus Mortale-With Lewd Demenour
(Neurotic Records, 2005)

Pure death metal played with gusto and a flair for memorable songwriting is what you can expect from this album. Old school in approach, the band isn’t overly complicated, bringing to mind a cross of Bolt Thrower, Morbid Angel and Florida death metal. I like the fact that there is actual structure to the guitar solos. Too many death metal bands have guitar solos that sound like swarming bumblebees. This is a focused and memorable death metal album that never loses any of its ferocity.

Midnight-Sakoda
(Black Lotus, 2005)


This is a downright awful sounding album that lacks any cohesion. Why do they consider this guy such a legend in the bio that came with this? The guy can’t even sing. Words can’t even describe how bad this is, cool artwork though.