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Friday, August 15, 2003
"'Run For Cover' by Pro-Pain"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 15, 2003 A.D.
Pro-Pain, the last true masters of Powercore Metal, took a little different route for their 2003 opus. "Run For Cover" [Spitfire Records] is a collection of powerfully done covers of acts that inspired or influenced them. (And every one is a winner.)
For the most part, Pro-Pain makes each song their own. Ferocious, growled vocals snarl over the chaotic brilliance. The guitars roar with intense, dynamic brutality. The rhythms have a vibrant, primal urgency that fuses it all together flawlessly. Pro-Pain knows no weakness....
From the Hardcore bombast of "100%" (SPUDMONSTERS) to the Tribal fury of SEPULTURA's "Refuse/Resist," Pro-Pain does them all up right. The best of these killer cuts includes the explosive "Nothing" (NEGATIVE APPROACH), "Circle Of The Tyrants" (CELTIC FROST), a perfect rendition of SLAYER's "South Of Heaven," "The Crowd" (OPERATION IVY), and clean vocal assault of "Weeds" (LIFE OF AGONY). Pro-Pain is one truly amazing band.
In summary, Pro-Pain has created a masterpiece in "Run For Cover." The premise isn't new, but Pro-Pain has easily outdone all of the rest. This is one of the BEST RELEASES of 2003. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Brick Bath, Pantera, Kilgore (a.k.a.
Kilgore Smudge), Drowning Pool,
Exhorder, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 7:11 PM
"'Crimson' by Sentenced"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 15, 2003 A.D.
Greetings. From the cold and desolate North burns the mighty Sentenced with their 2000 opus of melancholic darkness titled "Crimson" [Century Media].
It is an ingenious work, taking their skill to the next level of pure dark mastery. This is their finest creation to date, but not the heaviest. The style used here is a precision form of depressed Dark Swedish Death (little Death remains though) mixed with light touches of Gothic, including use of keyboards, piano, and acoustic guitars.
Brilliant, surreal, and powerful-this CD is Sentenced's best. The killer tracks are "No More Beating As One" [a song about love gone murderous], "Fragile," "Broken" [a song about the trials and woes of existence], and "The River." But every cut rocks though.
Overall, a definite contender for one of the best releases of 2000. This is Dark Metal that should not be missed...so don't. Get it. Stay evil. Farewell sunlight.
Related Bands: Darkseed, Pyogenesis, Aion, Evanescence, Acid Bath,
etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Provided courtesy of Stranger Aeons.
Copyright 2003.
W.B. Vogel III 6:14 PM
"'We Drink For Free' by Leadfoot"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 14, 2003 A.D.
Bluesy, hard-drivin' Metal is what Leadfoot is all about. And their 2003 opus, "We Drink For Free" [Abstract Sounds/Lunasound Records], continues in that great tradition of solid, no-nonsense Southern Metal. But this ain't easy by any means.
Featuring a former member of Corrosion Of Conformity, Leadfoot shares a similar root feel with that band. Clean, powerful vocals hammer thick slabs of Bluesy, slightly Psychedelic guitars. This snarling glimmer is all stitched together by a dragline of pummeling rhythms. Leadfoot is perfectly rudimentary, and solid as a cinder block.
Songs of exceptional note include "Playin' It Cool," the slugging "Got A Lot to Learn," "Never Good Enough," "Before It Was Over," and the roaring "Long Time." Leadfoot has a unique, irresistible quality.
Overall, Leadfoot has another excellent release in "We Drink For Free." This one puts it through the floor. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Corrosion Of Conformity, Backdraft,
Down, Sir Hedgehog, Fu Manchu, Circus
Of Power, Jackyl, Dirty Looks, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 10:46 AM
Tuesday, August 12, 2003
"'Grand Amputation' by Transport League"
by
Bill Vogel III
August 12, 2003 A.D.
It has been ages since any truly great Deathrock has destroyed the status quo. Even the mighty Entombed has dulled a bit. But at last, the glory has returned....
The dynamic, visceral band Transport League has released their 2003 opus, "Grand Amputation" [Crash Inc. Records]. Transport League's style fluidly mixes Deathrock with elements of Hardcore, creating a powerful, churning cataclysm of sublime brutality. It's as pristine as it is primal-saturated with crushing grooves and frantic rhythms.
Clean and growled vocals blast forth interchangeably with flawless transitions. Massive tempo changes occur without loss of momentum. Transport League is a scorched-earth, Act of God phenomenon-amazing, brutal, and enthralling.
The best of these fiery cuts includes "El Gordo," the bipolar aggression of "Disconnect Massconnect," "Safe (Houdini)," the manic roar of "Lobotomico," and the fierce "Slack-Wrist-Smack." Transport League burns it to ground.
In summary, Transport League has released one of the BEST ALBUMS OF 2003. It's as short, sharp, and sweet as a bloody razor. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Konkhra, Dominus, Acid Bath, Entombed,
Grope, How It Ends, Lamb Of God, Burner,
Pro Pain, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 7:09 PM
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