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Friday, August 30, 2002
"'Is This It' by The Strokes"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 30, 2002 A.D.
I honestly don't get it. One of the most seriously over-hyped albums of 2001 has to be "Is This It" [RCA Records] by The Strokes. Part of the exploding Retro Punk subgenre (mixing Classic 60's and 70's Rock with Punk), The Strokes are the least impressive of the lot.
The Punk influence is weak, leaving sort of a sterile feel to a poorly aped Hard Rock version of the Beach Boys (who were lame anyway). To be a progeny of the NY Punk scene, they sure didn't learn much. The guitar is too conventional, and vocals are unmoving, overly syrupy drivel.
The best (least awful) cut is "Hard To Explain." And "Someday" as well as "Last Nite" just suck. This is just pretty much pointless. No wonder MTV and Rolling Stone Magazine love it so much.
In summary, avoid this. For some good Retro Punk though, try the Hives, the Vines, or the White Stripes. After hearing the Strokes it makes me wonder, "Is This It?" Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Hives, Vines, White Stripes, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:11 PM
"'Mondo Medicale' by Impaled"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 29, 2002 A.D.
Like it gory? How about brutal as well? Then the Impaled is just the bloody fix you've been craving. Their new opus, "Mondo Medicale" [Necropolis Records], is a splatter-gore freak's dead dream. It's Death Metal for the guts-'n'-grooves crew.
Chunky, crushing rhythms pound with a dull vibrancy that has a bludgeoning charm. The vocals are a ballistic growl-drilling the graphic ghastliness into your skull. And it is gruesomely good.
The gross gems here include "Carpe Mortem," the bludgeoning "Choke On It," "We Belong Dead," "The Worms Crawl In," and the blistering "Dead Inside." Impaled is a sickening delight.
Overall, the Impaled make truly killer Deathgore Metal. So grit your
teeth and dare it. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Mortician, Cannibal Corpse, Gorerotted, Carcass,
Disgorge, Exhumed, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 9:53 AM
Thursday, August 29, 2002
"'Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls' by Murderdolls"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 29, 2002 A.D.
From the darker side of Aggro Metal comes the Murderdolls (a Slipknot side-project). Their debut opus, "Beyond The Valley Of The Murderdolls" [Roadrunner Records], is a Horror/Gothic Aggro Metal assault on the senses. And it is ghastly good mayhem.
Murderdolls have a style that combines Gothic keyboards, brutal Thrash elements, Aggro Metal, and Horror movie inspired lyrics ala the Misfits. The vocals are a shrill growl that impales the Thrash/Aggro rhythms, blistering leads, and minimally used keyboards. It's dark, heavy, and mesmerizing in effect.
The best cuts include the total psychosis of "Dead In Hollywood," "Let's Go To War," "197666," the pummeling "Slit My Wrist," "Grave Robbing U.S.A.," and "People Hate Me." It has an ugly genius about it that I really like.
Overall, the Murderdolls know their business. And this is a killing spree that works gruesomely well. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Slipknot, Stone Sour, Lifer, Flaw, Dragpipe, Skrape,
Dry Kill Logic, Spineshank, 36 Crazyfists, Simon
Says, Coal Chamber, Mushroomhead, Factory 81, Sinch,
Mundane, Hotwire, Headstrong, Killswitch Engage,
Face Down, Substance D, Kittie, My Ruin, Otep,
American Head Charge, Lollipop Lust Kill, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 3:34 PM
"'Blasphemy' by Incantation"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 28, 2002 A.D.
When it comes to sheer, soul-crushing brutality few can equal the force of Incantation. Their latest slab, "Blasphemy" [Necropolis Records], continues this great tradition of sonic oppression. Incantation is the sound of pure, apocalyptic oblivion.
The Incantation sound is as forward as it gets-bestial Blackened Brutal Death Metal that is absolutely massive. Guttural growls crown an abysmally heavy dirge of gut-shredding rhythms and hellish guitar blasts. This is BRUTAL.
The best cuts include "The Fallen," the blasting "Seraphic Irreverence," "Misanthropic Indulgence," and "Uprising Heresy." Incantation is not for the easily offended, or the Trend Deathers either.
Overall, it's a worthwhile slugfest. Incantation is brutality unleashed. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Oppressor, Illdisposed, Occult, Avulsed, Dominus,
Nile, Impaled, Usurper, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:17 PM
"'Descension' by Serberus"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 28, 2002 A.D.
There's a new powerhouse in the world of Melodic Death Metal, and it is the band Serberus. Their new opus "Descension" [Crash Inc. Records] is a precision level assault on consciousness. It's devastating, tight, and intricate.
Speed driven grooves permeate the Serberus sound. Fierce growls carry their lyrical rampage forth, drilling deeply into the listener's skull and exploding. Serberus piles the fury up like corpses at a slaughterhouse.
The most killer cuts include "Creed Of War," the fiery "Falling Into The Abyss," "Dark Dream," and "In Eternity." It's an insane journey into the darkness.
In final respects, Serberus has created an epic truly worthy of the abyss. Ferocity doesn't need a reason. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Dark Tranquillity, Godgory, Opeth, Malediction,
Crypt Of Kerberus, Disincarnate, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:16 PM
"'Damage Done' by Dark Tranquillity"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 23, 2002 A.D.
The masters of Melodic Death Metal have returned... Dark Tranquillity's latest release, "Damage Done" [Century Media Records], is the next evolution in their aggression. And the fire only burns more brightly.
Their sound is as sharp as ever. Spates of fierce, melodic guitars wash across visceral vocal barrages. It's intricate, intense, and insane.
The best tracks include "Hours Passed In Exile," the powerful "Cathode Ray Sunshine," "Single Part Of Two," "Ex Nihilo," and "White Noise - Black Silence." Dark Tranquillity makes the darkness shine.
In summary, Dark Tranquillity has created another epic work. And the
damage is done. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: In Flames, Godgory, At The Gates, Serberus,
Sentenced, Hypocrisy, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:15 PM
"'Conceived In Fire' by Living Sacrifice"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 22, 2002 A.D.
One really overlooked Death Metal act is Living Sacrifice. Beginning as a Death/Thrash band, they've evolved over the years into a powerful force. Their style has taken on a slight Hardcore/Metalcore tinge, but they are still 100 percent Death Metal. And it is tried and true.
Living Sacrifice's latest, "Conceived In Fire" [Solid State Records], is a brutal slab of excellence. Guttural growls permeate the din of crushing rhythms and blasting guitar slag. It's fierce and relentless in its assault.
The noteworthy cuts are "Ignite," "Black Seed," "Into Again," and the crushing "Send Your Regrets." Living Sacrifice explodes.
Overall, it's another great opus from Living Sacrifice. But we wouldn't expect anything less. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Sinister, Mortification, Believer, Sadus, Hexx,
Obituary, Tourniquet, Sepultura, Soulfly, Konkhra,
Pestilence, Altar, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:13 PM
"'Disclaimer' by Seether"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 22, 2002 A.D.
The best art is born of sorrow and/or rage. Seether (formerly known as Saron Gas) is a South African band that draws deeply, and brilliantly, from this well. Their American debut, "Disclaimer" [Wind-Up Records], is one of the best of the year. Displaying a virulent and explosive sound that fuses Aggro and Moodcore Metal into a stunning, and accessible style.
Shaun Morgan's vocals switch between a deep, soulful howl and a rumbling, shrieking growl. The guitars are melodic at moments, then chunky and furious the next. This juxtaposition works well, creating an emotive, powerful sound.
The best songs include the aggression of "Needles," "Fade Away," "Broken," and "Gasoline." My favorite though is mid-tempo, melancholic cut "Fine Again." Seether does it all well.
Overall, Seether has the steel to be great. And this opus alone is proof enough. (They're one of the best new bands of 2002.) Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: 12 Stones, Cold, Adema, Creed, Korn, Seventh Dawn,
Drowning Pool, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:12 PM
"'Nihility' by Decapitated"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 22, 2002 A.D.
The band Decapitated has something going for them-technically precise brutality. Their new opus, "Nihility" [Wicked World/Earache Records] is a precision campaign of musical destruction. There is no refuge here.
The style implemented by the Decapitated is a very tight, blistering form of Technical Death Metal. Intense growls, pulverizing rhythms, and intricate guitar work is the blood that greases the Decapitated war engine. And it is a fierce display of clockwork aggression.
The most killer cuts include "Mother War," the ferocious "Symmetry Of Zero," "Spheres Of Madness," "Babylon's Pride," and the malicious beauty of "Eternity Too Short." The Decapitated are a sheer, unhinged roar that smothers the cosmic glow. And it is glorious.
Overall, the Decapitated are a tight, visceral Death Metal with an epic quality. Tomorrow is never certain, but nihility is. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Aurora Borealis, Centinex, Godgory, The Deep,
Serberus, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Email at: StrangeAeons@compuserve.com
Copyright 2002.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:11 PM
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