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Friday, November 07, 2003
"'River Runs Again' by Life Of Agony"
by
Bill Vogel III
November 7, 2003 A.D.
Spawned from the unique NYHC scene, Life Of Agony was a beast all to its own. The live 2003 opus, "River Runs Again" [Steamhammer Records], is a double-disc collection of classic Doomcore Metal. Life Of Agony was as massive as a black hole.
Their style was totally individualistic-fusing the immense power of Doom with the aggression of Hardcore. Deep, clean vocals slither across vast, weighty guitars. The rhythms are dense, giving their style an even more abyss quality. Life Of Agony is like a chasm-dark, immeasurable, and epic.
There are 21 tracks in this set. The best of these include "Through And Through," the primal "My Eyes," "Tangerine," the catchy stomp of "Weeds," "River Runs Red," and the oppressive glory of "This Time." Life Of Agony crushes....
In summary, Life Of Agony still tears it up. This one is a must for any Life Of Agony fanatic. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Pro Pain, Carnivore, Sixty Watt Shaman,
Supermassiv, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 4:08 PM
"'When The Kite String Pops' by Acid Bath"
by
Bill Vogel III
Friday, November 07, 2003 A.D.
One of the truly greatest Metal bands ever has to be the Kenner, Louisiana outfit Acid Bath. Sadly, they are no more. But the genius and legend of Acid Bath lives on.
Their 1994 debut, "When The Kite String Pops" [Rotten Records], is a true masterpiece. So why do a review so many years later? Because greatness never gets old, it transcends the oblivion fated to the trendwhores.
Acid Bath changed my life forever, making my darkness sublime. Combining darkly poetic, aggressive lyrics with a multitude of musical styles-including Death Metal, Gothic, Doom, Grind, Hardcore, and Swampcore-they were masters of metallic dirge.
Dax Riggs vocals could fluidly shift between a mournful Gothic drone and a harsh, shrill Death growl. Dax's voice was incredible, having a subtle brilliance twisting between dark power a soulful imperfection. And lyrics were intensely poetic.
All of the songs are chaotic marvels. "The Blue" is a Psychedelic/Doom Death monster. The groove is fierce. The lyrics state, "The sun burns on, it reminds me of you, the slit wrists of the sky, bleeding into the blue, we twist beneath forever."
Another one of my favorites is "Scream Of The Butterfly." It's an extremely bleak Gothic piece that uses sorrowful, somewhat discordant acoustical instruments along with the electric abysm. Dax's voice in a clean, deep howl sings, "A tear spills down her cheek, stillborn songs of a dead dreamer, hymns of the needle freak, with sunlight in her hair she smiles like she don't care, her dreams are liquid blue."
Acid Bath's lyrics are beautiful, grotesque, horrific, and savage.
Other great songs here include the woeful, yet psychotic "Finger Paintings Of The Insane," "Jezebel," "Cassie Eats Cockroaches," and "The Bones Of Baby Dolls." (Many of these tracks are featured on their 2003 DVD, "Double Live Bootleg" [Rotten Records], in various live and rare versions.)
In summary, Acid Bath is not for the timid. Clarity, and beauty, often demand brutality. ...As the sky bleeds into the blue. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Agents Of Oblivion, Blood Duster, Goatwhore,
Sourvein, Grief, Atreyu, Closer Than Kin,
Godflesh, Iron Monkey, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION. War.
Copyright 2003.
W.B. Vogel III 12:32 PM
"'Rise Of Brutality' by Hatebreed"
by
Bill Vogel III
November 6, 2003 A.D.
In the genre of Metalcore, there is one band that is lightyears ahead of the rest. That band is the fiery Hatebreed, whose graceful brutality pulverizes without mercy. Their aptly titled 2003 release, "Rise Of Brutality" [Universal Records], harkens back to Hatebreed's earlier masterpieces. And there is no peace here.
Harsh, guttural growls hammer through solid waves of savage, frenetic guitar roar. The rhythms are tight and intense; their lyrical rage carries a philosophical onslaught of fierce, powerful thought. Hatebreed stands alone in their harsh quality.
The best of these explosive cuts includes the anger anthem "Straight To Your Face," "Another Day, Another Vendetta," the primal assault of "This Is Now," "A Lesson Lived Is A Lesson Learned," and "Voice Of Contention." But every track kills. Hatebreed has few equals, but lots of followers.
Overall, Hatebreed has made one of the BEST RELEASES of 2003. This one should not be missed. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: All Out War, Indecision, Hoods, A18,
Atreyu, Acid Bath, Silverstein, Freya,
How It Ends, Thursday, As I Lay Dying,
December, Sworn Enemy, Hate Theory,
Haste, Poison The Well, Scar Culture,
Dim Mak, Luddite Clone, Candiria,
Buried Alive, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Email at: StrangeAeons[at]hatebox.net
LifeEraser[at]aol.com
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 9:41 AM
Thursday, November 06, 2003
"'Collective Demise' by Salem"
by
Bill Vogel III
Friday, October 31, 2003 A.D.
From the abyss depths of epic Darkness rises the monumental band Salem. This Israeli act's 2003 opus, "Collective Demise" [The End/System Shock Records], is an epic of Black/Doomdeath Metal genius. And it easily smashes and slashes its to the top of the cadaverous heap, making it one of the BEST RELEASES of 2003.
Salem fusing the best elements of both styles-slow, powerful Doomdeath with Black Metal fury. Shrill, rabid shrieks crown massive, guttural growls. Deep, intense Doom grooves are sharpened by fiercely hellish onslaughts. Salem brilliantly incorporates lightly used acoustic and symphonic elements as well. They also incorporate oriental influences, ethnic instruments (e.g. timbales, etc.), and angelic female backing vocals. It's ferocious, and atmospheric darkness in glorious desolation.
Their lyrics have a dark, poetic nature as well. (Yet another rare characteristic that makes Salem truly shine.)
The most amazing of these epic cuts includes dread bleeding "Decadence In Solitude," "Coming End Of Reason," the rampaging "Slave," "Act Of War," and the stunning "Dead Eyes." Salem puts almost all other Black Metal bands to shame-the uniqueness and quality of their art is unsurpassed.
Overall, the powerful Salem is an eclectic wonder worth savoring. The darkness they bleed is incredible to behold. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Cemetary, Seibenburgen, Dimmu Borgir,
Evoken, Sourvein, Acid Bath, Penance,
Aeon, Serpent Obscene, Nokturnal Mortum,
Arcturus, Marduk, Cradle Of Filth, Aion,
Borknagar, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 7:05 PM
"Element Eighty (Self-Titled)"
by
Bill Vogel III
November 6, 2003 A.D.
The best new Melodic Hardcore band to come around in ages has to be Element Eighty. Their 2003 self-titled opus, out on Universal Records, is an incredible fusion of smashing Moodcore massiveness and Hardcore dynamics. Element Eighty holds nothing back-they're full-on and ferocious.
This Texas outfit mixes stomp-and-kick blast-beat power with melodious caterwaul. Clean, melodic vocals slam into hellish growls, hammering in deeply and exploding for maximum effect. The rhythms are infectious, and primal as chaos itself.
The best of these burning tracks includes "Bloodshot," the beautiful agony of "Broken Promises," "Dummy Block," "Flatline," and the intense rumble of "Goodbye." Element Eighty is sublimely fierce.
Overall, Element Eighty is amazing. And some say anger can't beautiful! Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Pressure 4-5, Onesidezero, Reach 454,
Alien Ant Farm, Trapt, Chevelle, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 10:16 AM
Wednesday, November 05, 2003
"'Engage' by Stretch Arm Strong"
by
Bill Vogel III
November 5, 2003 A.D.
In the exploding Metalcore scene, a few exemplary names standout amongst the hellish maelstrom for extreme excellence. One of those hallowed names is Stretch Arm Strong. Their 2003 opus, "Engage" [Solid State Records], is their finest effort yet. It's a shrapnel burst of pure, violent intensity.
Stretch Arm Strong creates a visceral brand of Metalcore / Aggressive Hardcore that combines shrill, slightly growled vocals with powerful, blasting guitars. Dense hooks and skillful use of syncopation add to their fierce, accessible edge. This is Stretch Arm Strong-harsh, dynamic, and ferociously unique.
The best of these primal, killer cuts include "Black Clouds," the massive groove of "We Bleed," "Perception Of Energy," "Devil Shoots Devil," and "Express Yourself." Stretch Arm Strong is relentless....
Overall, Stretch Arm Strong has achieved another milestone in "Engage." This is their best one yet. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Hatebreed, Agony Scene, Zao, A18,
Atreyu, Norma Jean, All Out War,
Buried Alive, December, Dillinger
Escape Plan, Luddite Clone, Freya,
Acid Bath, Closer Than Kin, All
Else Failed, Haste, Scar Culture,
Dead Horse, God Forbid, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 11:46 AM
Tuesday, November 04, 2003
"'The Mourning After' by 40 Below Summer"
by
Bill Vogel III
November 4, 2003 A.D.
Even greatness evolves. The 2003 opus by 40 Below Summer, entitled "The Mourning After" [Universal/Razor & Tie Records], is their next level of progression. 40 Below Summer masterfully plays a unique, powerful brand of Melodic Aggro Metal that is both aggressive and beautiful.
Dark, melodic passages are juxtaposed against fiery intensity. Clean, woeful vocals combine with pristine harmonies and punishing growls. Sorrowful heaviness crashes into chunky, visceral guitar blasts. It's dynamic and moody; 40 Below Summer is sublimely ferocious.
The best of these vicious cuts include "Breathless," the mournful radiance of "Monday Song," "Better Life," "A Season In Hell," "Self Medicated," and melancholic roar of "Rain." 40 Below Summer brutalizes with style.
In conclusion, 40 Below Summer has an excellent release in "The Mourning After." This one is a bleak revelation. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Slipknot, Flaw, No One, Lifer, Stone
Sour, Ill Nino, 36 Crazyfists, Simon
Says, Mudvayne, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2003.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 2:36 PM
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