Demon Hunter - Extremist (2014)

After a quite successful released two years ago in True Defiance, Demon Hunter coming fresh again in new album of 2014, Extremist. This is another fifty minutes of metalcore act, straight away from their garage in Seattle. Extremist did not seemingly any different from True Defiance, except they are kind of going even more melodic and put the growling vocal parts slightly lessen compared to their previous-es.

You got that 2 minutes and a half introductionary track of chanting and growling on Death. Artificial Light is the one that acting as the real opener. It takes one minutes to build up, this is a rich in dynamic metalcore song. The whole song enjoyed a well written song structures, dynamically changing from fast - slow - attack and an interlude phases. What I'm Not is start with distinguished guitar fuzz distortion, a full strength of growling voices leads the whole song entirely. This song utilized an awesome guitar effects. On other hand, there is a song that rely on 'normal' voices, such as in the next track The Last One Alive. I Will Fail You is part of their macro dynamic, putting the tempo into doom-ish slow metronome or you may called it a ballad song. One Last Song is back to full forces. On the most groovy track, is Cross To Bear. A true deep throat slaying tunes. In Time comes with interesting guitar riffs in the its brief intro. Beyond Me is another bombastic song with crazy guitar works in the intro. Together with Gasoline, these two songs implemented a good works of machine-like beat. A bit of light mood and straight forward structure falls to the last track, The Heart Of A Graveyard.

Extremist continued Demon Hunter excellency in controlling their metalcore root with tons of creativity. From guitar works, drumming ideas to synthesizer technology. This is definitely an album with a lot of things to dig. Despite their dark images, Demon Hunter is known for their Christianity based theme, but this doesn't have any significant barrier on their music. Awesome album full of actions.

Metal Harem class: ********* eight stars out of ten

Demon Hunter - Extremist (2014)
Buy it Here - Amazon

01. Death
02. Artificial Light
03. What I'm Not
04. The Last One Alive
05. I Will Fail You
06. One Last Song
07. Cross To Bear
08. Hell Don't Need Me
09. In Time
10. Beyond Me
11. Gasoline
12. The Heart Of A Graveyard
13. Waste Me
14. Helpless Hope

Ryan Clark - vocals
Jon Dunn - bass
Timothy "Yogi" Watts - drums
Patrick Judge - guitar
Jeremiah Scott - guitar

Trivium - Vengeance Falls (2013)

Matt Heafy and friends have been transformed to be one of American popular metal band in less than a decade. Their riffs are made 'lesson' everywhere in guitar magazines, and their fame is in prospect to only heading forward. But after 2011's In Waves, the sign of so called musical-interest-changing-syndrome was transpired, that Trivium is going to left behind their epic-technically-riff aspect they used to known, in pursue to lighter and sweeter songs, to straightforward conquering the mainstream metal listener. Who sadly prefer to easier listening stuff. But yet now Trivium is back. Vengeance Falls called out as their sixth studio album. And we listened nervously to see if Trivium is going to transformed, and the result is ... they simply delayed the process.

There a lot of riffs that captured me in this album. Let's started with Brave This Storm, the opener track. The one-stringer alternate picking exercise in the intro is the proponent of simplicity, that successfully developed into a good song. The feel of modernity in the song are audible and show that Trivium top their game in this genre. Let's skip some of track and I just want to listed out the potential magazine's favorite riffs, this include No Way To Heal, Through Blood and Dirt and Bone, and No Hope For the Human Race, all are minor feel that fitted my power metal ears. Of the modern metal stuffs are Vengeance Falls. Which kinda crusade song to reach new listener from the nu-metal / electronic / industrial metal crowd. Same thing with Strife, nice intro composition with dual guitar riffs, and the song is mixing alternative metal and double pedal thrash metal intensity. Only two songs not begin with a bang, At the End of This War is a ballad intro, which again just a camouflage to heavier stuff later. Then Wake (The End is Nigh) begin with pseudo-alternative metal bass intro. A rock n roll stuffs in Incineration: The Broken World, a thrash metal ala Megadeth in As I Am Exploding and Misfits cover Skulls...We Are 138 fitted the end part and to bring more color to this exhausting riff orientated album.

Not much to brag in more. If you like riffs, Vengeance Falls still going to pleased you. The songs comprise more clean vocal lead, but still a couple moment of growling to accelerated the intensity. Categorical almost no metalcore in sight. Vengeance Falls is simply heavy metal in modern and unique Trivium version. The cheeky futuristic sci-fi album artwork also confirmed that the band heading to teenage crowd. Which is a stepdown compared to 'mature' In Wave album artwork style. Compared to old stuffs as in Ascendency (2005) and The Crusade (2007), Vengeance Falls is a compromise to younger listeners, but at least they put a lot of effort to maintained original fans with enough, well, riffs!

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Trivium - Vengeance Falls (2013)
BUY IT HERE - AMAZON

1. Brave This Storm
2. Vengeance Falls
3. Strife
4. No Way To Heal
5. To Believe
6. At the End of This War
7. Through Blood and Dirt and Bone
8. Villainy Thrives
9. Incineration: The Broken World
10. Wake (The End is Nigh)
Bonuses
11. No Hope For the Human Race
12. As I Am Exploding
13. Skulls...We Are 138 ( Misfits cover)
14. Losing My Religion (R.E.M. cover)

Lineup:
Matt Heafy - Guitar, Lead Vocals
Corey Beaulieu - Guitar, Vocals
Paolo Gregoletto - Bass, Vocals
Nick Augusto – Drums
Record Label: Roadrunner Records

Trivium Vengeance Falls album review

Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals - Walk Through Exits Only (2013)

The 'H' is for Hansen, if you wonder. Ah yes, finally a true solo from Pantera frontman, Phil Anselmo. Walk Through Exits Only come to public in July 2013 and it is a container to eight tracks of heavy metal, which we can say closest to Pantera among Phil's many projects. He is joined by guitarist Marzi Montazeri whom also historically close friend to Dimebag.

After a rather industrial-core opening Music Media Is My Whore, we got to introduced to many Pantera-like elements on the rest of album. Phil stated the album will be sounds as angriest as possible, Battalion Of Zero make sure we got that picture clear. Guitar riffs is aggressive as in Vulgar Display of Power era and the solos are brutal. Most close resembling of that perhaps found in Usurper Bastard's Rant, with that staccato pattern beat and octave shift guitar licks. Still we got Walk Through Exits Only comes as most aggressive in tempo, vocals and showering the guitar with shred notes. There is no resting point here, Bedroom Destroyer continue the fury with its awesome drum groove, then fast word screaming choruses. Then Phil make it simple by putting in all in one lengthy final tracks called Irrelevant Walls And Computer Screens.

Play attention to Marzi for all his hard works on this album. Persian by blood, he confessed for being friend to Dimebag a long time ago and shared memories such as jamming with Dimebag. His riffs surely got some influence on his late friends. As for the vocal works no doubt on Phil's signature growling. As stated in the beginning, Pantera fans will found this a nice incarnation of the band, although this is much metalcore, much industrial than Pantera. Still if you got nerve to hold 40 minutes of blasting guitars, Walk Through Exits Only will up your challenge.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals - Walk Through Exits Only (2013)
Buy It Here at Amazon

01. Music Media Is My Whore (1:55)
02. Battalion Of Zero (4:20)
03. Betrayed (5:28)
04. Usurper Bastard's Rant (3:57)
05. Walk Through Exits Only (5:34)
06. Bedroom Destroyer (5:03)
07. Bedridden (2:25)
08. Irrelevant Walls And Computer Screens (12:01)

Philip H. Anselmo - Vocals
Marzi Montazeri - Guitars
Joey Gonzalez - Drums
Stephen Taylor - Bass

Philip H. Anselmo & The Illegals Walk Through Exits Only album review

Darkane - The Sinister Supremacy (2013)

Darkane was a melodic death band actively pushing out albums yearly since 1999 to 2008. With five albums up to that years, Darkane success in getting attention from the crowd of death fans. It's only takes five more years before the band from Helsinborg Sweden, managed to recorded a new material, that is our June 2013 new Darkane album called The Sinister Supremacy. A quick summary, the album did not differed much from the rest. The vibes from past album such as Expending Senses and song as Violence from Within still dominated the styles in The Sinister Supremacy.

We have a death metal styles of orchestral intro there in Sounds Of Pre-Existence, sounds cold, with some dissonances to make this intro not sound power metal alike. The Sinister Supremacy seems to be the album's highlight and it is. Dynamic structures, catchy chorus and fast double pedal drumming on that. Well, actually a blasting tempo is the album's default template. Mechanically Divine continued what left in the first opener. In my descriptions, I think Darkane is somewhat like a Sweden / Europe version of metalcore, they are best listened while skate boarding, rather than as horror movie soundtrack, as in case of death metal mood. As another interesting track out of about 12 tracks here are: The Decline, which comes with short orchestration intro. Insurrection Is Imminent which is in a second just sounds like a doom metal song. Humanity Defiled with drum solo intro and a good guitar riffing. Hate Repentance State is obviously the most contrast song here, it's a piano composition with dark aura in its. Existence Is Just A State Of Mind offered a rather different drum beat compared to the rest. If you get the limited edition, two more tunes as a bonus.

As now, Darkane most popular personnel can be the drummer Peter Wildoer. He is of the fame of Seven Dream Theater Auditioners. Well, the truth is he also actively sold his drum beat to soloist such as James LaBrie (as the time of writing, James LaBrie is about to released his 2013 solo album) and CJ Grimmark. His drumming of course defined Darkane a lot. Lawrence Mackrory sounds more like an US metalcore style, which as I mentioned make Darkane somewhat a line between death metal and metalcore. Chugging guitars from duo Malmstrom and Ideberg bring enough aggressiveness for the style. Not much differences from Darkane's past portfolio, The Sinister Supremacy has nothing to avoid being keep by Darkane fans or wider death metaller.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten (8/10)

Darkane - The Sinister Supremacy (2013) 
Buy it HERE - AMAZON

1. Sounds Of Pre-Existence
2. The Sinister Supremacy
3. Mechanically Divine
4. Ostracized
5. The Decline
6. Insurrection Is Imminent
7. In The Absence Of Pain
8. Humanity Defiled
9. Hate Repentance State
10. Collapse Of Illusions
11. By Darkness Designed
12. Existence Is Just A State Of Mind
13. I, Author Of Despair (Digipak Bonus Track)
14. Malicious Strain (Digipak Bonus Track)

Jörgen Löfberg - Bass
Peter Wildoer - Drums
Klas Ideberg - Guitars
Christofer Malmström - Guitars
Lawrence Mackrory - Vocals
Carlos Holmberg (ex-Soilwork) , cover art
Label: Prosthetic Records
Europe Release via Massacre Records on June 28, 2013
Release date: July 2nd, 2013

Darkane The Sinister Supremacy album review

Amaranthe - The Nexus 2013

Elize Ryd fame is now quite known for her worked with Dragonland (Under the Grey Banner album), Kamelot (Silverthorn) even as Nightwish's one night singer in replacing Olzen when she was sick. These events surely rise curiosity on her actual band, called Amaranthe. This is a six pieces band playing music something like a combination of Within Temptation, Lacuna Coil and metalcore harsh growl. That is, their formation bring in as many as three singers to executed their unique combination of clean vocals (female and male) and harsh growling. The Nexus is their second studio album, after their debut in 2006.

On the track by track hearing, the production is top notch. Implementation of multiple layers singing is supported with awesome composition, usually powered with good keyboard programming rhythm. Making this a fresh and rich bombastic trio vocals group. All beginning four tracks Afterlife, Invincible, The Nexus and Theory of Everything, flow with great pace and the song seems connected without a lost in momentum. The other variation on their bombastic core-gothic-modern metal song, is a mellow tempo Burn With Me. If you afraid on Amaranthe absence of guitar solos, then this is not your case. Olof Morck the guitarist put in a few spin of guitar solos to make Amaranthe a legitimate metal album into everybody's collection. Check also Razorblade with a good aggresive singing by Elize. But, be sure not to shock with a No Doubt / Lady Gaga near disco beat song in Electroheart. The album closed with two acoustic songs version that can diverse completely the mood.

Not a bad album at all from Elize and her companions. The Nexus smartly approach the market of metalcore, gothic metal and modern metal audiences. The trio singing is prove a powerful setup. Leaving little room to find lacking elements, only that some song gone too simple and scream for extra song development. If Amaranthe can quickly grow their own sounds, leaving influences of their other female fronted band, it is of a great future they are.

Metal Harem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

Amaranthe - The Nexus 2013

buy it here at Amazon

1. Afterlife 03:14
2. Invincible 03:11
3. The Nexus 03:16
4. Theory of Everything 03:34
5. Stardust 03:08
6. Burn With Me 04:00
7. Mechanical Illusion 04:01
8. Razorblade 03:05
9. Future On Hold 03:17
10. Electroheart 03:48
11. Transhuman 03:55
12. Infinity 03:05
13. Hunger (Remix and Acoustic version iTunes Bonus track) 03:17
14. Burn With Me (acoustic)

Olof Mörck Guitars, Keyboards
Morten Løwe Sørensen Drums
Jake E Berg Vocals (clean)
Elize Ryd Vocals (female)
Andy Solveström Vocals (harsh)
Johan Andreassen Bass

Amaranthe The Nexus album review

Demon Hunter - True Defiance 2012

Hail from Seattle is band Demon Hunter. Doing a metalcore act, and inspired their music mostly on Christian believe, the band released their latest album in around April 2012. If you are into metalcore I safe to speak that this album is a great addition to your collections. It is quite diverse in sounds. In this album called True Defiance Demon Hunter throwing tons of headbanging riff and groove to spend sixty minutes of your time sick. The key word is strong melodic driven metalcore in each song. Singing style is powerful but not that too over harsh.

The album begin with Crucifix. The old-tape intro then followed by metalcore riff, the singing is something old school thrash metal sounds. The second song is their best in term of melodic writting. God Forsaken is so much tricks inside. Tight groove, multiple melodic chorus, and a cooling breakdown before the guitar solos. Then My Destiny is going even heavier, the intro riff with a slightly minor thing make this feel epic. Singing style is again heavier than before, remind me of Kreator. The lyric about founding a life goal and life destiny. The next song Wake come in more drumming madness by their drummer, Yogi Watts. Tomorrow Never Comes is a mellow ballad adding dynamic to the album. It comes with melancholy melody intro ala '80s ballad metal. Something with Means To An End which is a cooling down acoustic instrumental after two thrashy groovy songs in Someone To Hate and This I Know. Dead Flowers is last recommend, a mid tempo song full develop into emotional ending track.

There are enough groove to make the live audience shake in constant motion by each songs. Surely Demon Hunter combined many best part of thrash, hardcore and metalcore. Guitar tones are round and clear, leading solos are melodious and rhythm are chugging. Singer Ryan Clark is very versatile in giving the song the dynamic their required, can go into heavier and harsh type then switch to clean voice. Enjoyable album for this genre, especially if you are also into Christian metal act.

Demon Hunter - True Defiance 2012

buy it here at Amazon

1. Crucifix

2. God Forsaken

3. My Destiny

4. Wake

5. Tomorrow Never Comes

6. Someone To Hate

7. This I Know

8. Means To An End

9. We Don’t Care

10. Resistance

11. Dead Flowers

12. What Is Left

13. I Am A Stone

Ryan Clark - Vocals 

Patrick Judge - Lead Guitar 

Jeremiah Scott - Rhythm Guitar 

Jonathan Dunn - Bass 

Yogi Watts - Drums 

As I Lay Dying - Awakened 2012

Bahasa Indonesia review available right after the English review - Resensi album Awakened dari As I Lay Dying dalam bahasa Indonesia ada di bawah

Member of American mainstream metal band, As I Lay Dying (AILD) do not let the year 2012 slip away. They join the wagon of other mainstream bands in releasing studio album for the world. As we already received this year, Lamb of God (Resolation) and Shadows Fall (Fire From the Sky) come earlier. All three has something in similarity, playing in the metalcore and groovemetal genre, and all Grammy nominee. As I Lay Dying continued their decade long of career with a release of Awakened as their 6th studio album this September 2012. The band had gone some adjustment in their music direction as happening in The Powerless Rise, to the fans of earlier era, this album can be a relief as AILD return to a more basic metalcore essential. To serve this San Diego based team, is producer Bill Stevenson (drummer of Descendents band).

Come and enjoy Cauterize and A Greater Foundation, the first two tracks from the album. We are presented an high end form of metalcore, with furious vocal lining above an ultra catchy riff and speed drumming. When come to Resilience we get a slow and epic intro before returning to blistering guitar riff mixed with overwhelming screaming. Guitar solos also great up to this point. One of nice point in this album is the ability of the band to convert a minor and epic feel ala power metal into metalcore piece, just with a pause in some cases, as happening in Whispering Silence on track five. Also what important in metalcore is the connection between screaming verses and "melodious" chorus, which is happening nicely in a song like Overcome. And talking about groovy, there is a song like No Lungs to Breathe which is a good play in tempo and groove. What else, the bass orientated track? Then we have Defender, where singer and bassist Josh Gilbert enjoy a front highlight with his dictating bass line. In the end part, left us with two "suspected filler" songs, My Only Home and Tear Out My Eyes, both serving as nice ending tracks to good bye with this solid album.

Awakened come with high expectation from fans, and I think As I Lay Dying done the job quite good in this album. This is a fun listening experience for non metalcore fans like me, with I understand can also meaning as too generic for solid fans of the genre. Guitar solos done briefly in each song but at least they are dominant and important, mostly done in simply blues pentatonic scale. Lyrically, the band stated they were faith devoted members and the lyric inspired mostly with this feature, but they are not "too preachy" and never was I think. And in some cases the lyric even heard as an autocritic to the belief system, as in Defender,

Fighting so hard to be heard 
Yet having nothing to say 
You talk about changing masses 
But forget those close to you 
Most of us have given up 
On these words that all sound the same 
But i am still willing to believe 
If you have done all that you can

 I also like the structurally lyric as in Overcome which connected well with the song. A straight "likes" to this album, come and listen to yourself.

As I Lay Dying dengan album teranyar Awakened, review.

Band mainstream beraliran metalcore, As I Lay Dying tidak melewatkan tahun 2012 tanpa buah tangan buat para penggemar musik cadas. Band asal San Diego ini turun serta meluncurkan album baru Awakened untuk menyemarakkan menyusul beberapa rekan band lain sealiran yang terlebih dahulu turun gunung. Seperti yang sudah di-review sebelumnya (dalam bahasa Inggris), Shadows Fall dan Lamb of God terlebih dahulu merilis album baru di tahun 2012. Ketiga band ini cukup mirip, setidaknya bagi saya, sama-sama berada di teritori metalcore dengan groove-metal yang kental, dan sama-sama sudah ada di arus utama / mainstream, dan sama-sama pesaing dalam memperebutkan Grammy di cabang metal. Melalui album ke-enamnya, Awakened, As I Lay Dying meneruskan karir mereka yang sudah ada sejak tahun 2000. Walaupun sempat mengalami perubahan seperti di album sebelumnya Powerless Rise, tampaknya album Awakened beranjak kembali ke akar metalcore mereka, di mana akan lebih bersahabat dengan fans-fans awal. Untuk memproduksi album ini, drummer Descendent, Bill Stevenson bertugas mengawal di balik papan mixer.

Dua nomer pertama Cauterize dan A Greater Foundation membawa kita ke riff cadas dengan lagu yang dinyanyikan dengan serak dan keras. Intro dari A Greater Foundation yang dimainkan dengan drum tempo stacatto/putus-putus langsung disambung dengan vocal dari Tim Lambesis yang cadas. Resilience masuk dengan rumus standard, melody chordal yang disambung dengan iringan drum bergaya 'pembukaan'.  Wasted Words juga lagu yang tidak banyak basa-basi dan langsung disambar oleh band dengan penuh semangat. Satu point mantap di album ini adalah, AILD bisa menggubah tempo dari metalcore ke gaya power metal hanya dengan pause sejenak, seperti yang dibawakan di lagu Whispering Silence. Di lagu Overcome, koneksi antara verse dan chorus bertaut dengan indah. Lalu di No Lungs to Breathe, adalah permainan groove yang kental dan apik. Sementara di lagu Defender, sang bassist menikmati momentnya memetik bass dengan penuh perhatian. Dua lagu terakhir masih tetap dengan nuansa yang sama, walaupun sedikit lebih umum , namun cocok sebagai tembang penghabisan di album ini. (metalharem.blogspot.com)

Walaupun album Awakened penuh dengan 'tekanan' untuk lebih baik dari penggemar, tapi As I Lay Dying tampaknya berhasil keluar dari kondisi under pressure dan menerbitkan satu lagu piringan berbobot yang bisa bertahan di telinga penggemar. Memang masih ada momen di mana lagu-lagu terlalu 'umum' tapi ini adalah album yang enak untuk dinikmati. Gitaris Nick dan Phil bermain cukup habis-habisan di sini. Lagu yang patutu diperhatikan adalah solo di Defender, di mana drummer Jordan juga cukup kreatif memasukkan beberapa pola yang indah untuk kebutuhan per lagu. Secara lirik, kita tahu As I Lay Dying adalah band yang dekat dengan keyakinan keTuhanan, di mana mempengaruhi lirik yang disajikan. Jika anda membaca review ini di tahun 2013, selamat menikmati penampilan mereka di festival Metal Hammersonic, Ancol Jakarta. (di sadur bebas 2013, metalharem.blogspot.com )

As I Lay Dying - Awakened 2012

buy it here @ Amazon

01. Cauterize

02. A Greater Foundation

03. Resilience

04. Wasted Words

05. Whispering Silence

06. Overcome

07. No Lungs to Breathe

08. Defender

09. Washed Away

10. My Only Home

11. Tear Out My Eyes

Tim Lambesis– Vocals

Jordan Mancino – Drums

Nick Hipa – Guitar

Phil Sgrosso – Guitar

Josh Gilbert – Bass

an Hellenistic influence artwork? the cover album for As I Lay Dying:

For All Eternity - Beyond the Gates 2012

For All Eternity is Australian premiere metal act, precisely a Christian Metal band in metalcore community. In this first studio album debut, the band seems immediately jump into the fire of Australian metal scenes and perhaps a bit further to the rest of the world in a short coming. Their social network official site is hits by 40k likes which mean this band is hot. The album titled Beyond the Gates is packed with twelve metalcore offerings. Mostly in the standard formula of groove metal rhythm + growling vocal + leading melodic line + clean vocal chorus.

Born is the introduction here leading to song Vacant Room. A short groove and panning guitar riff intro bring in the song. The chorus is done nicely in answering the growling verse with the “My mind, an empty room with no windows to see through…..”. Broken Hands is start with awesome acoustic guitar, give the song a memorable introduction. Layered leading guitar runs side by side within the verses and choruses. The song’s structure are well developed especially in the clean vocal break in “..What could I do, what could I say, that could make this pain go away…”. The Wide Path is the song best demonstrated the usage of guitar line as backed up melody to the growling vocal. Solid Ground comes with close resembling of (early) Avenged Sevenfold things, with lead vocalist and drummer sing a duet right from the beginning and with such thunderous outcome, understandable their top song in chart so far. The song flow slightly altered with coming up tracks, Renewer, which is start with wet chorus guitar licks and creative drumming. Then the real round up was done by instrumental track Bright Eyes. Once again the guitar didn’t go beyond shredding area but simply just done the leading melody line in ambient metal feel. In the second round of disc, Beyond the Gates is total worship ballad piano song, done in clear vocal. And the finale Victory end the album in great feel, concluded well thematical and musical with its closing chorus and piano epilogue.

For All Eternity sure success in bringing triumphant smile to the genre, more to come the metalcore is now a step closer to the believer crowd. For those who didn’t mind, actually in this genre , the themed sung is rarely an obstacle to enjoy the music, so why matter. Singer Shane Carroll performed the song in powerful voice , break in all necessary shattering screams layered by drummer Michael Buckley wet reverb soaring clean voice. Guitars doing fantastic groove riff in places with guitar melody back the vocal line. No pure guitar solos in this album, which defined their metalcore style. Finale words, of course this is another worthy album to pick for metalcore fans, especially for fans of connected faith.

Metalharem class: ******** eight stars out of ten

For All Eternity Beyond the Gates 2012
Buy it here

1.Born
2.Vacant Room
3.Broken Hands
4.The Wide Path
5.Solid Ground
6.Renewer
7.Bright Eyes (Instrumental)
8.Awake To The Sound
9.Strength
10.All That Awaits
11.Beyond The Gates
12.Victory

Shane Carroll - Vocals
Michael Buckley - Drums/Vocals
Jeremy Mosiejczuk - Guitar
Nicholas Page - Guitar

Album cover artworks

Clocks - The Dividing Line 2012

Clocks is young band coming from central IL, they are now on the path seeking fortune to attracted wider attention to their music. Clocks played in the progressive and technical deathcore area. They are loud and optimistic in music, as quickly evidence in their newest release, The Dividing Line. On this half hours package we presented tight and powerful progressive metal with killer growling vocal all over it.

The album warns us with a minutes and fifty second intro. Then the song Aeon of Horus catch the spirit with its intense riff, and sliding riff, ushered in the first verse of the album. This is an intense technical music with enough changes of tempo and riff , will not let easily fall to your comfort zone. The second song, Progress has some nice drumming phrase in the beginning. The title track, The Dividing Line played something with the staccato drumming. There is no sign of slowdown and the band still burning in track Arbiters, the song still play in complex variation of heavy and slow tempo. Transit of Man is something transitional to the last song, Invisible A Conscious Disconnect. 

So this is a nice progressive deathcore album from the quintet talents. It is the nature of their music that this album required several listening. Guitars and rhythm section team works in good vibes, but need more idea to fit in a straightforward guitar solos, as this is rather hard to found. Singer sounds great although the sign of less polished is listenable. As a DIY album, this one has a quality. For enthusiast of the genre do not missed this young band and it's good idea to bookmark their social network for upcoming news.

CLOCKS - The Dividing Line 2012

visit the social network to obtain the album

1. Flying Undiscovered (1:49)

2. Aeon of Horus (5:03)

3. Progress (6:28)

4. The Dividing Line (4:18)

5. Arbiters (3:51)

6. Transit of Man (5:04)

7. Invisible; A Conscious Disconnect (5:03)

Ian Sheridan - Drums

Alex Poole - Guitar

Dakota Roberts - Guitar

Nick Mullins - Vocals

Dustin Mathews - Bass

Ihsahn Eremita 2012

Been said as one of most upfront composer and instrumentalist in black metal scenes nowdays, Ihsahn continue his journey of music with forth solo album release, Eremita. If you like stuff in black and extreme metal, this awesome waiting time has over. There is a “catchy” stuff as in Arrival which is a clean vocal song by guest Einar Solberg in the thrash metal platform but also an Ihsahn specialist The Paranoid that demonstrated a cutting edge song composition. This is back to extreme metal with growling vocals. Many intrigue and experimental moments here and there. Song Recollection and The Grave give a blueprint on how to use saxophone in extreme metal song.

Emerita or Eremita gives you 60 minutes of extreme black metal right from the kitchen of best practitioner in the scene. Guest musicians Jeff Loomis and Tobias Andersen in drum. 

Ihsahn Eremita 2012

buy it here

1.Arrival    5:40
2.The Paranoid    4:43
3.Introspection  5:37
4.The Eagle and the Snake    8:47
5.Catharsis    4:50
6.Something Out There    5:09
7.Grief  2:21
8.The Grave   8:18
9.Departure    7:07
Deluxe edition bonus track
10.Recollection    5:39

    Ihsahn – vocals, guitar, bass, keyboard
    Tobias Ørnes Andersen – drums
    Jorgen Munkeby – saxophone
    Jeff Loomis – guitar
    Devin Townsend – vocals
    Einar Solberg – vocals
    Heidi Tveitan – vocals
    Ihsahn – production
    Jens Bogren – mixing at Fascination Street Studios in Örebro, Sweden
    Ritxi Ostariz – album artwork and packaging

Shadows Fall - Fire From the Sky 2012

From the Grammy award nominee, Shadows Fall released their 7th studio album last week, Fire From the Sky. As expected, this is another metal tunes fired to our hearing without compromise. Fire From the Sky take the apocalyptic theme and its one of classic theme we can have in metal, isn't it?

After a brief intro that served as an adjustment to our ear, The Unknown is straight forward delivered. As mainstream metal band, this is a manifest of the New Wave of American Heavy Metal in playing. The music label should also be in metalcore and thrash metal vocabulary. Divide and Conquer set the template running over this album. A catchy guitar riff intro and the song that need only to last between 3-4 minutes to achieved its glory. It's a lot more a fine guitar work such as in the third tracks Weight of the World. Fire From the Sky still the same templates running, slightly slower tempo but its somehow didn't give special attention to be the title bearer song. Unlike the next, Save Your Soul, this is the minor-ish metal that will served disguise to power metal fans, my favorite in natural. Blind Faith is also interesting, with clean guitar opening, the song developed nicely, this is also the longest song with more song structure inside.

Fire From the Sky is needed only couple of listening to enjoy its catchy-ness. As usual the guitar works are on top notch, courtesy of duet between Jonathan Donais and Matt Bachand. Jason Bittner drumming sounds very controlled and precised. The singer combo between epic clean chorus and growling are American trademark, most are well suit into the song writing. This album will easily bring new fans to Shadows Fall and metalcore crowd.

Metal Harem class: ******* 7 stars out of 10

Shadows Fall - Fire From the Sky 2012
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 1. "The Unknown"   4:54
 2. "Divide and Conquer"   3:05
 3. "Weight of the World"   3:55
 4. "Nothing Remains"   3:20
 5. "Fire From the Sky"   4:55
 6. "Save Your Soul"   3:53
 7. "Blind Faith"   6:27
 8. "Lost Within"   3:31
 9. "Walk the Edge"   3:32
 10. "The Wasteland"   4:05

Shadows Fall

• Brian Fair – vocals
• Jonathan Donais – lead guitar, vocals
• Matt Bachand – guitar, vocals
• Paul Romanko – bass
• Jason Bittner – drums

Production

• Produced and engineered by Adam Dutkiewicz
• Assistant engineering by Jim Fogarty
• Mixed by Brian Virtue at Modernist Movement Studios
• Album artwork and design by Aaron Marsh

Medius Burns Going Down 2012

I was researching about Medius, a young metalcore / groove metal band from San Diego. Their social network campaign has reaching me and that’s how I ended up spinning their music. Their build up image are great so far and site is informative.

Having less listen to the genre, my lucky experience was with '90s Pantera, and this album sounding quickly remind me of them. The first song Abscess started with more thrashy riff, but soon the vocal dictate their metal orientation. Fans of Biohazard or Lamb of God will also welcome this menu. Big Stick is the second offering, a heavier and more death metal feel keep coming. Filicide start with rather heavy metal in a second but then switch more Pantera-ish this time. All good menu so far till In Visions ushered in the next track, Neo Surgery, a fast and even brutal piece to take. Spine is also need to mentioned for its interesting slightly complex intro and groove.

Then the whole album is basically a completed metal experience what we needed. The genre’s elements, groove, thrash and metal core, best represented on this debut album with bit of spice here and there. Colourful guitar work and mostly a great vocal introduced here. For fans of Pantera, Biohazard and Lamb of God, this is a great album to be recognize by this great newcomer.

Medius Burns Going Down 2012

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01. Abscess 03:38
02. Big Stick 04:27
03. Filicide 04:54
04. In Visions 00:58
05. Neurosurgery 03:38
06. Outthrust 03:38
07. Spine 04:25
08. War Cry 02:51
09. Wrecking Crew 04:36
10. The Way 02:51

personil

Spencer Blair - vocals

Trevor "Natty" Blair - guitars

Mike Cook - bass

Chris Dunlea - drums

Medius official banner and album cover art design

Lamb Of God Resolution (2012)

Another big dog of Groove Thrash Metal , Lamb Of God just released their latest works, Resolution. This is a quietly released by a Virginia's home band who just promote Groove metal into Grammy territory. The album started with a signature growling in Straight for the Sun, a slow tempi followed by groovy drum intro to Desolution (youtube sample URL link). The vocal is still the biggest weapon on the rest of album, very reminiscent to Pantera. I will also recommend To The End, a rather heavy metal riff opening tracks, or a straight forward Cheated. And man, they're so many of them since this is ... a double album to catch.

Buy Lamb of God, a great groovy released early this year. It set a ball high for the rest of year.

Lamb of God - Resolution

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Disc I
01. Straight For The Sun
02. Desolation
03. Ghost Walking
04. Guilty
05. The Undertow
06. The Number Six
07. Barbarosa
08. Invictus
09. Cheated
10. Insurrection
11. Terminally Unique
12. To The End
13. Visitation
14. King Me

Disc II [Wrath - Tour 2009-2010] [Limited pre-order bonus]
01. The Passing
02. In Your Words
03. Set To Fail
04. Walk With Me In Hell
05. Hourglass
06. Now You've Got Something To Die For
07. Ruin
08. As The Palaces Burn
09. Blacken The Cursed Sun
10. Laid To Rest
11. Redneck
12. Black Label


Line-up
David Randall "Randy" Blythe - vocals
William M. "Willie" Adler - rhythm guitar
Mark "Duane" Morton - lead guitar
Christopher James "Chris" Adler - drums
John Steven Campbell - bass