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Friday, April 22, 2005
"Hoods/Freya (Split CD)"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 21, 2005 A.D.
Out of the maelstrom of Metalcore bands that are tearing things up out there, two of the very best are Hoods and Freya. Their 2005 self-titled split opus, out on Victory Records, is a brutal masterpiece. Fierce, relentless, and utterly killer-it is as catchy as it is crushing. This is what Metalcore strives to be, perfect brutality.
Freya, formed from the ashes of the legendary Earth Crisis, is a solid onslaught of brilliant aggression. No frills, no pretensions: Freya is caustic genius. Deep, growled vocals thunder over blasting waves of chunky guitar roar and massive rhythms. "Immortal Beloved" is fierce and addictive. Other remarkable tracks include "Prey To The Gods Of War" and "Ashes Of Troy." Freya is amazing....
Southern California's own Hoods are an equally monumental act of God. Brutal Metalcore with elements of Power Grindcore, Hoods is phenomenal. Utter growls over blasting, rhythmic instrumentals of apocalyptic fury. Best cuts include the fiery crawl of "I Own You," "Once Again 2004," and the harsh glory of "Guilty." Hoods is intense, and incredibly killer.
In conclusion, this is an instant Metal classic. Any release by either Hoods or Freya is excellent, and together they are unbeatable. That is undisputable. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Hatebreed, All That Remains, Zao,
As I Lay Dying, Earth Crisis, A18,
Acid Bath, Atreyu, Buried Alive,
Still Remains, Agony Scene, Haste,
Valume Nob, Summer's End, If Hope
Dies, Dead To Fall, Lungbrush, All
Else Failed, Sinai Beach, Martyr A.D.,
Killswitch Engage, A Perfect Murder,
Turmoil, Cannae, Bury Your Dead, Scar
Culture, Candiria, Darkest Hour, It
Dies Today, Bleeding Through, Throwdown,
Every Time I Die, Negative Creeps,
Rotten Sound, Luddite Clone, Crisis,
Today Is The Day, Closer Than Kin,
Trivium, 36 Crazyfists, How It Ends,
Stretch Arm Strong, Bloodsimple, The
Chariot, Norma Jean, He Is Legend,
Lamb Of God, Vision Of Disorder,
Nothingface, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:32 PM
"'So Pale Is The Light' by Cadacross"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 22, 2005 A.D.
Just when you thought they had driven a rod-iron spike through the heart of the Melodic Black Metal movement, a band comes along and rejuvenates it. One such band is Cadacross. Their 2005 release, "So Pale Is The Light" [Crash Music, Inc.], is ultra Melodic Black Metal to the extreme.
Tons of keyboards, and ravenous Black Thrash frenzy fuse here. Shrill growls and clean vocals starkly contrast in a symphony of tenebrous severity. Dark, wild, and serene in its bleak beauty, Cadacross has an otherworldly, furious sublimity.
Songs of exceptional note include the organ-drenched angst of "Twilight," "So Pale Is The Light," "Dawn Breaks Behind My Eyes," and the melodious Gothic/Neo Classical instrumental "Lit The Heart Of Night." Cadacross is incredible and bleak....
Overall, Cadacross has breathed life into the Melodic Black Metal corpse. And it is alive.... Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Emperor, Marduk, Cadaver Inc., Aeon,
Serpent Obscene, Darkthrone, Viking
Crown, Sigh, Beherit, Borknagar, Mayhem,
Acheron, Venom, The Abyss, Tartharnia,
Kult Ov Azazel, Order From Chaos, Cradle
Of Filth, I.C.E., Mystic Circle, Angel
Corpse, Dark Funeral, Arcturus, Salem,
Khold, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 4:16 PM
Thursday, April 21, 2005
"'Out To Every Nation' by Jorn"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 21, 2005 A.D.
Call it classic, old school style Heavy Metal with some modern aggressive crunch. That is what Jorn is about. Their 2005 release, "Out To Every Nation" [Crucial Blast Records], is an edgy homage to powerful and classic Metal.
Sometimes Bluesy, sometimes crunchy: the guitars flash with a blazing, eccentric style. Clean vocals with a smooth intensity carve a groove for DIO-esque lyrics. This is Blues Power Metal for a new era.
Songs of note include the gritty progression of "Through Day And Night," "Out To Every Nation," "Living With Wolves," and the trippy stomp of "Forever Young." Jorn has that classic 1980's feel with a little more fire.
In summary, Jorn is an interesting twist on today's Heavy Rock dynamic. They're not a brutal act, but Classic Metal fanatics will be well pleased. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Nevermore, Iron Maiden, Dio, Demons &
Wizards, Galactic Cowboys, King's X,
Judas Priest, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 6:29 PM
Tuesday, April 19, 2005
"'Exordium' by After Forever"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 19, 2005 A.D.
A longstanding act in the Gothic Metal scene is After Forever, whose Neo-Classical tinged style has secured them a unique cadre of loyal devotees. Their 2004 opus, "Exordium" [The End Records], is an EP/DVD combination set with six remarkable tracks. At times a little overly operatic, it is still amazing.
Floor Jansen's clean, angelic vocals soar atop an emotional wave of dark, Neo-Classical Gothic Metal melancholy with a deep intensity. Sharply used violins add a tenebrous beauty to the tightly played instrumentals. While not being as catchy as Evanescence, they are much more dynamic musicians. And they avoid coming-off as being as weak or as trite as Nightwish....
The best cuts are: "Beneath," the instrumental "Line Of Thoughts," the Death Metal serrated "Glorifying Means," as well as an absolutely stunning cover of Iron Maiden's "Evil That Men Do." After Forever is stark, powerful, and sublime.
Overall, After Forever is surefire want for any Gothic Metal listener. It will not disappoint. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Sentenced, Poisonblack, Darkseed, Cure,
Evanescence, Cemetary, Misfits, Bauhaus,
Anathema, My Dying Bride, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 5:52 PM
"'Lifesblood For The Downtrodden' by Crowbar"
by
Bill Vogel III
April 19, 2005 A.D.
New Orleans' own sons of Sludge, Crowbar, have returned. Their 2005 release, "Lifesblood For The Downtrodden" [Candlelight Records], is as obliterating as always. There's nothing new here, but there's nothing wrong either.
Slow, abysmal rhythms are hammered by detuned guitar roar. With a violent virtue, Crowbar are the masters of Sludgecore Metal mayhem. Rumbling, raw vocals smash through the brilliant noise. Crowbar is like having a mountain fall on you.
The most bruising of these cuts includes "Fall Back To Zero," the steady smash of "Dead Sun," "Underworld," and the punishing snarl of "Slave No More." Crowbar has a cataclysmic glory.
Overall, Crowbar is the same as ever-massive, crushing, and absolutely killer. Stay savage. Farewell.
Related Bands: Acid Bath, Iron Monkey, Mastodon,
Sourvein, Boris, Grief, High On Fire,
Hate Theory, Soul Rot, Sorrow, etc.
Keep the faith, and the AGGRESSION.
Copyright 2005.
Courtesy of Stranger Aeons Magazine.
W.B. Vogel III 1:38 PM
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