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Friday, February 28, 2003
"'Spiritual Deception' by Eternal Lies"
by
Bill Vogel III
February 28, 2003 A.D.
The Swedish underground produces some amazing, brutal bands. One such act, Eternal Lies, returns Swedish Death Metal to its glorious foundations. Not since the early days of Sentenced has this style been so intricate, pristine, and primal.
Formed by former members of Fatal Embrace and Parazite, this manifestation of primordial radiance is pure ferocity. Their debut, "Spiritual Deception" [Arctic Music Group], shakes the pillars of Heaven. There is no refuge here.
Eternal Lies has an extremely tight, brutal sound. The rhythms are fast, but with plenty of thick, heavy groove. Hook is not sacrificed for speed, which usually is the tragic flaw of Swedish Style Death.
Björn Johansson's guitar playing is intricate, highly skilled in its brutality. This fluidly permeates the precise, powerful rhythms cut by Martin Karlsson (bass) and Conny Pettersson (drums). Tommy Grönberg's vocals are a somewhat shrill, crisp growl that explode inside of this fiery storm of sonic brilliance.
The fiercest of these killer cuts include the raging bombast of "Consecrate Life," "Evaporate," the visceral groove "Winter Breeze," "By The Hands Of The Architect," and the blistering "A Memory Of Lies." Eternal Lies is a savage wonder of epic brutality.
In conclusion, this opus is a bright apocalypse that will a classic for aeons to come. And Eternal Lies is definitely one of the best new bands of 2003. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Sentenced [early], Eucharist, Darkane,
Carcass, Carnal Forge, Shadow, Mental
Horror, Centinex, Soilwork, Night In
Gales, In Flames, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 4:54 PM
Thursday, February 27, 2003
"'Busted Wings And Rusted Halos' by Somehow Hollow"
by
Bill Vogel III
February 25, 2003 A.D.
Hardcore takes many forms today, as artistic evolution has broadened the range of dynamics and facets that a band can implement. Melodic and powerful are the keys to the Somehow Hollow aesthetic. Their 2003 opus, "Busted Wings And Rusted Halos" [Victory Records], sharpens the edges and bludgeons the senses. This is a definitive piece of Pop Hardcore aggression.
Smooth, powerful vocals propel the sound--Mike Casarin's voice hammers through the metallic, melodious maelstrom of Brad Casarin's (GRADE) guitar and massive rhythms. It's an emotional sound, but without losing any of that heavy, powerful forcefulness that makes it great. Somehow Hollow melds these extremes perfectly.
The most killer of these tracks include "Introduction To A Tragic Dream," "Kamloops," "A Lesson In Longing," the angst-driven punch of "How Winter Killed Our Souls," and "Darkest Day." Somehow Hollow draws their intensity from the depths of an emotional abyss, a place where sorrow and anger take refuge.
Overall, "Busted Wings And Rusted Halos" is a brilliant, addictive work. And it makes a solid addition to any Punk, or Metal music collection. Somehow Hollow is a band to watch.... Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Dogwood, Grade, Taking Back Sunday,
Reach The Sky, Box Car Racer, Alien
Ant Farm, TRUSTcompany, Pressure 4-5,
Chavelle, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:17 PM
Wednesday, February 26, 2003
"'Seismic' by Dogwood"
by
Bill Vogel III
February 26, 2003 A.D.
The realm of Hardcore has become tremendously diverse in the past decade. In the melodic subset, one exceptional act is Dogwood. Their 2003 opus, "Seismic" [Tooth & Nail Records], is a thundering display of beautiful Pop aesthetic and Hardcore power.
Intense, bludgeoning instrumentals wash across Josh Kemble's clean, Pop-tinged vocals. Their melodious qualities are not created at the sacrifice of their Hardcore aggression, but as an enhancement of it. Dogwood combines these juxtaposed elements masterfully.
Songs of definitive prowess include the pummeling "Seismic" (a very apt name for this work), "Crushing," "Sunsets Are But Once A Day," "Your Tongue Is The Deadliest Of Arrows," and the powerful "Last Of The Lost." This is a rock solid, Punk masterpiece.
In conclusion, Dogwood's "Seismic" is just that-an epic apocalyptic event of sublime aggression. And that is Dogwood is one of the best at this style of Hardcore. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Somehow Hollow, Taking Back Sunday,
Box Car Racer, Pressure 4-5, Alien
Ant Farm, Grade, Reach The Sky,
Lost Prophets, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 2:37 PM
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