|
Friday, February 21, 2003
"'Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover' by Closer Than Kin"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 25, 2002 A.D.
Some bands are just killer. One such act is Closer Than Kin. Their new independently released opus, "Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover," is an vicious slab of Dark Metalcore. And 'vicious' is the right word for it...
Combining the D.I.Y. Hardcore ethos, the dark brutality of Metal, and sheer, unbridled aggression is a fueled-charged, fluid roar for Closer Than Kin. Shrieked growls, machine precision rhythms, blasting guitars, and a sublime malevolence are the critical elements of their sound. Closer Than Kin destroys.
This 5 song Mini-CD offers no repose. The best of these cuts includes the forlorn anger of "When Toys Are Traded For Tears," "If Demons Could Weep," and "The Decay Of Autumn." The other two tracks, "A Last Prayer (Intro)" and "Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover," are good as well.
Overall, "Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover" is a quick, concise burst of brilliant, aggressive intensity. If this is a sign of what is to come from Closer Than Kin, then I can't wait for the grim future ahead. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Indecision, Hatebreed, Dim Mak, Overcast, Haste,
Turmoil, Candiria, God Forbid, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Provided courtesy of Stranger Aeons.
Copyright 2002.
W.B. Vogel III 3:53 PM
"'Hellalive' by Machine Head"
by
Bill Vogel III
Thursday, February 20, 2003 A.D.
Brixton Academy, London must have been deaf for weeks after this show. The new live album by Machine Head, aptly titled "Hellalive" [Roadrunner Records], was taped December 8, 2001 at that show. (...All except "None But My Own" and "The Burning Red," both of which were recorded live at the With Full Force Festival in Leipzig, Germany on July 7, 2002 were from the Brixton performance.)
Machine Head plays Power Thrash Metal-brilliantly fusing together intense grooves and sheer ferocity. Raw edged, gravelly yells hammer through devastating waves of blast-beats and snarling guitar roar. The production value is exceptional; this opus has the sound quality of a studio recording.
The most killer of these tracks includes "Take My Scars," "Crashing Around You," the crushing "Ten Ton Hammer," the Rapcore inflection of "The Burning Red," "Old," and my favorite "Davidian."
In summary, Machine Head has released the best live opus of 2003. This one is destined to be a classic. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Slayer, Pantera, Anthrax, Reverend,
Anacrusis, Excel, Motorpsycho (U.S.A.),
D.R.I., Heathen, Dark Angel, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 11:51 AM
Thursday, February 20, 2003
"'Fleshspa' by Acid Ape"
by
Bill Vogel III
February 19, 2003 A.D.
Ever have an Acid Rock flashback? The new opus by the Swedish band Acid Ape, titled "Fleshspa" [Lunasound Records], is a full-on assault on the Retro Rock mind-trip. The Acid Ape vibe is heavy, dense, and primal....
The guitar work is noisy and massive-imagine Blue Cheer crossed with bruising elements of Hardcore and Psychedelic Metal. The vocals are clean, but with a raw, serrated edge. Acid Ape is big, bad, and brutal.
The best tracks include the bludgeoning lilt of "Spunk," "Tetna Shot," "So Beautiful, So Clean," and the crushing "Axle Grease." This is one loud, insane ride straight into the house that Black Sabbath built. And it is killer.
Overall, Acid Ape knows their business and they execute it with style and aggression. This one gives old school Psychedelic Rock the thorough pummeling that it deserves. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Fu Manchu, Blue Cheer, Kyuss, Queens Of
The Stone Age, Acid Bath, Sixty Watt
Shaman, Corrosion Of Conformity, Sally,
Sons Of Otis, Goliath, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:47 PM
Tuesday, February 18, 2003
"'Kali-Yuga Bizarre' by Aborym"
by
Bill Vogel III
Friday, February 14, 2003 A.D.
Darkness has an abysmal beauty that few bands can truly capture. One band that succeeds at this daunting task is the fearsome Aborym. Combining Melodic Black Metal with Black Thrash is the key to Aborym's harsh radiance on their second opus, "Kali-Yuga Bizarre" [World War III Records].
Interlocking Industrial/Gothic, Black Thrash, and Melodic aggression creates a spooky, powerful rampage. Atmospheric keyboards and samples build the mood, and some more avant-garde elements (e.g. choirs) are used at times as well. Vocal shrieks and Gothic howls slither through somber moments, and raw, furious onslaughts of blasting guitar enmity. Aborym is a master of both extremes.
Songs of apocalyptic note include the creepy, Gothic dread of "Hellraiser," "Darka Mysteria," the blistering rage of "Wehrmacht Kali Ma," and "Metal Stricken Terror Action." Aborym is fierce.
Overall, this is superior work of true Black Metal devastation. ...Ask for nothing less in quality or severity. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Emperor, Burzum, Dimmu Borgir, Arcturus,
Dissection, Nokturnal Mortum, Sigh,
Samael, Aeon, Serpent Obscene, Fog,
Acheron, Bathory, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:39 PM
/// ///
|
|
|