|
Thursday, May 15, 2003
"'The Machineries Of Breath' by Closer Than Kin"
by
Bill Vogel III
Thursday, May 15, 2003 A.D.
Closer Than Kin is one of the most amazing Hardcore / Metalcore bands around. Their 2003 opus, "The Machineries Of Breath" [Punktuation/Arctic Music], is one of the best releases of the year. Combining elements of Gothic and Metalcore, Closer Than Kin has created a work that is both vibrant and dark-brutal and sublime.
The Closer Than Kin sound has a truly savage beauty. Goth darkness flows through the Metalcore aggression like an ether. Softly it passes through the stentorian guitar roar, shrill and guttural growled vocals (along with some clean ones as well), and blasting rhythms. Closer Than Kin is furious, fierce, and as flawless as the night.
The greatest of these epic cuts includes the melancholic roar of "When Toys Are Traded For Tears," "The Euphoria Of Strangulation," "Dead Flowers For A Dying Lover," the acoustic sorrow and brutal return of "14 Scars," "If Demons Could Weep," and the intense poetic of "The Decay Of Autumn." It's Hardcore, it's Gothic, it's Metalcore-Closer Than Kin surpasses the pack in both quality and aggression. That's why this opus really shine. Glory doesn't come easy.
Overall, this is a great achievement for Closer Than Kin as well as one of the BEST RELEASES OF 2003. This album is a true epic of brutal beauty. So, get dark. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Atreyu, Hatebreed, Earth Crisis, Hoods,
Bloodlet, Overcast, Dim Mak, Turmoil,
God Forbid, Acid Bath, Scar Culture,
Dead To Fall, Haste, Darkest Hour,
Lungbrush, Nothingface, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. War.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 5:42 PM
Wednesday, May 14, 2003
"'Spend The Night' by The Donnas"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 13, 2003 A.D.
There are some really amazing Female Punk Rock bands out there. One of the best is The Donnas (who run a close second behind Fluffy to be THE BEST). Their 2002 opus, "Spend The Night" [Atlantic Records], is a savvy mixture of 1980's Power Pop, Pop Metal, and modern Pop Punk dynamics into a visceral, catchy barrage.
The Donnas are Pop Punk at its finest. Clean vocals wash over tight, skilled guitar playing and powerful rhythms. The Donnas make it shine.
The best cuts include "Take It Off," "All Messed Up On You," "I Don't Care (So There)," and the volatile, vibrant "Who Invited You." The Donnas make great Pop Punk.
Overall, The Donnas have done it again. Don't miss this one. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Fluffy, L7, Ramones, Misfits, Hole,
Babes In Toyland, Runaways, Blink 182,
NOFX, Offspring, Wheatus, Ataris,
Simple Plan, Sugarcult, SR-71, Green
Day, Wakefield, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 1:39 PM
"'Saturate' by Breaking Benjamin"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 14, 2003 A.D.
Moodcore has recently been a declining genre, but one great new band from this school is Breaking Benjamin. Their 2002 release, "Saturate" [Hollywood Records], is solid slab of powerful, yet very melodic Aggro/Moodcore Metal. And easily surpasses most of this pack.
Breaking Benjamin clean, deep vocals mixed with blasting, acidic growls. The guitars use an alternating, chunky/slow style juxtaposed against faster, tightly played jags of furious power. The rhythms are intense, and catchy. There is also elements of Melodic Hardcore in this bruising mix as well.
The most killer of these cuts include "Wish I May," "Skin," the pummeling "Sugarcoat," "Phase," and the powerful onslaught of "Polyamorous." Breaking Benjamin obliterates.
In summary, Breaking Benjamin has created an outstanding debut. This one breaks the mold. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Cold, Adema, Linkin Park, Sevendust,
Stereomud, Systematic, Taproot, Trapt,
No One, Piston (formerly known as
Pist*On), Pressure 4-5, Alien Ant Farm,
Korn, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. Piece.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 11:53 AM
Tuesday, May 13, 2003
"'Tarantos' by User Ne"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 13, 2003 A.D.
Twisted, talented, and cool-these are the three best words to describe the Spanish band User Ne. Their 2003 opus, "Tarantos" [Xtreem Music], takes Avant-Garde Death/Black Metal to a whole, surreal new level. It's eclectic and killer.
User Ne implements clean, Neo Celtic female vocals as well as shrill, male shrieks and growled, male vocals. The guitars are intricate, a very melodic. There is a huge assortment of other elements in the mix, including flute and bagpipes. This is not brutal, but it beautifully dark. It is somewhat akin in style to Without Face....
The best cuts include "Tras El IV Caos," the bagpipe cacophony of "Corcubión," "...And Ape Ar," "Viola Dobozy," and "Nivel-Um Cix." User Ne pushes the edges of darkness masterfully.
Overall, User Ne has released a solid opus in "Tarantos." It's not for everyone, but for the adventurous it will be a bleak journey full of dreadful sublimity. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Without Face, Nokturnal Mortum, Odes Of
Ecstacy, Arcturus, Emperor, Agalloch,
Love History, Mistigo Varggoth
Darkestra, Green Carnation, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. War.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:49 PM
"'Heart Of Roadrunner' / Various Artists"
by
Bill Vogel III
May 8, 2003 A.D.
Over its history, Roadrunner Records has had an illustrious collection of great and cutting-edge Metal acts. Bands such as Sepultura, Fear Factory, Frontline Assembly, Obituary, Sadus, Cynic, Slipknot, Dry Kill Logic, Nailbomb, Treponem Pal, Soulfly, and Suffocation are just some of that group. And the aggression just keeps on coming.
The 2003 compilation, "Heart Of Roadrunner," is a collection of rarities, covers, and general greatness by some of these bands. There is a pretty wide cross-section here, delving into acts like Life Of Agony, Nailbomb, King Diamond, Killswitch Engage, and Type O Negative. (It would've been nice to see more 1990's Death Metal, but....)
Overall, it's a killer set of songs. Out of 20 tracks, the best cuts include: Chimaira's "Fascination Street" (Cure cover), "In The Unblind" (unreleased), Obituary's "The End Complete," Glassjaw's cover of Youth Of Today's "Modern Love Story," Ill Nino's "Unreal (Reborn Mix)" (unreleased in America), and Nailbomb's "Wasting Away." There are many other excellent ones as well.
In summary, this is a must for anyone who loves new or classic Heavy Metal with an aggressive edge. So get to the heart of the splatter. Stay savage. Farewell.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 12:35 PM
/// ///
|
|
|