Eclectic Vibes
by Andrew Frey
Cycle Of Pain - Cycle Of Pain
Cycle Of PainCycle Of Pain
Label: Reform Records
Black Label Society bassist exhibits his latest exploits that fall not far from the tree. Sludgy, grungy metal admittedly grown from the Black Sabbath side of heavy music but also reminding me of Soundgarden at times. Too many musical cameos to mention.
Epochate - Chronicles Of A Dying Era
EpochateChronicles Of A Dying Era
Label: Metropolis Records
More than just a collection of songs, these electronic doom prophets have delivered an evolving cinematic style landscape of bleak synthetic orchestral ministrations. Foreboding vocals are fed into this strained and grainy industrial view of reality while propelled to epic, dynamic and tragic trajectories.
• Epochate WebsiteBirthday Massacre - Show and Tell
Birthday MassacreShow and Tell
Label: Metropolis Records
A Canadian group recorded live in Hamburg Germany. We find a haunting harsh delirium of carnavalesque electronic dreamscapes blurred and whirled by gothic metal preponderances. DVD version to be released soon.
• The Birthday Massacre WebsiteLion's Share - Dark Hours
Lion's ShareDark Hours
Label: Blistering Records
Excellent fist pumping, head banging melodic thrash metal from Sweden that ironically spends their well crafted lyrics on topics from America in the 1960s. Vocalist Patrik Johansson (also of Astral Doors) is in top form together the band blasts some kick ass anthems to wreck your neck with!
• Lion's Share Website • Lion's Share WikiMastodon - Crack The Skye
MastodonCrack The Skye
Label: Reprise Records
Storming the progressive rock and metal scene with a fervor, diversity and originality heralded by few others. Their groundbreaking musical vision continues here by adapting a slight whirling psychedelic tinge to their entrancing metal megalith.
• Mastodon Website • Mastodon WikiQueensryche - American Soldier
QueensrycheAmerican Soldier
Label: Rhino Records
Harsh and haunting perspectives of war are discussed, reviewed and examined in the somber gothic progressive metal style that they are known for. As thoughtful and powerful as this release is, I find the most memorable moments also being the most chilling and depressing.
• Queensryche Website • Queensryche WikiLacuna Coil - Shallow Life
Lacuna CoilShallow Life
Label: Century Media
I gotta admit, this Italian gothic metal outfit continues to impress. The beautiful and masterfully blended dynamics of male and female vocals and impressive instrumentation with well rounded dynamics make this a worthy addition to their already groundbreaking catalogue.
• Lacuna Coil Website • Lacuna Coil WikiProng - Power of the Damn Mixxxer
ProngPower of the Damn Mixxxer
Label: 13th Planet Records
Tommy Victor and company present revisioned versions from “Power Of The Damager.” These 13 moshing metal juggernauts from as many different remixing aficionados are refreshed, refueled and ready to pound into your brain with the angst and emotion that breed repeated play.
• Prong Website • Prong WikiAmorphis - Skyforger
AmorphisSkyforger
Label: Nuclear Blast Records
Finding new ways to awaken my inner Viking! Invigorating anthems with their signature Scandinavian folk metal approach reverberate a dark, powerful beauty and majesty unmatched. This third round with singer Tomi Joutsen integrates a broad stroke of vocal styles with increased progressive rock elements to their musical palette.
• Amorphis Website • Amorphis WikiDarkest Hour - Eternal Return
Darkest HourEternal Return
Label: Victory Records
Rolling and thundering melodic metal with a fair amount of technical wizardry ta boot! Born in the mid 90s, the band was among the first to combine their American hardcore/punk fury with the Swedish death metal sound and is the lineage that still propels their music.
• Darkest Hour Website • Darkest Hour WikiStratovarius - Polaris
StratovariusPolaris
Label: Armoury Records
This first outing after the departure of former bandmaster Timo Tolkki finds this Finnish melodic power metal group revisioned and situated to continue their formidable musical legacy for many more years to come.
• Stratovarius Website • Stratovarius WikiArkaea - Years In The Darkness
ArkaeaYears In The Darkness
Label: E1 Entertainment
Terse, intense and vibrant industrialized death metal from Fear Factory alumni Raymond Herrera and Christian Old Wolbers. Although incorporating proven Fear Factory stylings which fans will certainly enjoy overall I find the release safe, repetitive and formulaic.
• Arkaea WikiView More
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