Monday, December 22, 2008

"SENDIN' OUT AN S.O.S"

MIDNIGHT TO TWELVE
XII
JKH
Midnight to Twelve is a hard rock quintet armed with a streamlined sound which placed them on the melodrama One Tree Hill. The group's 12-track offering is a mixed bag of tricks switching between gnashing hard rock ("Burnin", "Contain It") and sappy Nickelback-esque wallowing ("Slam"). Finding a middle ground between the guitar rock of Saliva, Theory of a Deadman, and Buckcherry while marking an slight return to '80s hair metal excess thanks in part to a sharp display of keyboards , this squad succeeds in variating the modern radio rock sound without sacrificing the big hooks found on tracks like "Story", demonstrating their readiness for the hockey arena circuit. www.m212.com -Mike SOS
SKYLARK
DIVINE GATES PART III: THE LAST GATE
RENAISSANCE
Italian metal troupe Skylark play a rousing version of power metal with symphonic overtones emblazoned with solid female vocals leading the charge on DIVINE GATES PART III: THE LAST GATE. This unit's 10-track endeavor contains just what you'd expect from a band of their nature, as a bevy of galloping guitars, angelic vocals, and the type of pomp and circumstance necessary for this brand of metal reaches out and effectively tug at the heartstrings while allowing the headbanging to perpetuate. Chances are if you dig Doro or are into Nightwish, songs like "All is Wrong" and "The Scream" will appeal to your pristine metal sensibilities. www.myspace.com/renaissancerecordsusa -Mike SOS
CHINGALERA
DOSE
PACIFIC
Los Angeles trio Chingalera's latest disc suggests this unit definitely spent a lot of time with their Melvins and Tool discs with a smattering of Queens of the Stone Age and Fantomas on the side prior to stepping into Sylvia Massy's lair. The sprawling five-track, near hour long exhibition DOSE is the end result of such a keen study, an affair steeped in ambition and hellbent on providing lush soundscapes before hitting you over the head with post-hardcore spaciousness and heady stoner rock grooves. Effects-heavy avant garde interludes compel the urge to hit the skip button many times throughout (especially during the trying 16:23 "You Were Happy When You Came In Here"), but make no mistake: this band is deadset on constructing atmospheres before releasing rock mayhem and makes you earn you way to get to the infectious Helmet -esque chug and snare combo carried on "Eveler". www.chingalera.org -Mike SOS
REVOLTONS
UNDERWATER BELLS
SELF-RELEASED
A dose of rousing metal from Italy comes courtesy of Revoltons, a quintet whose Iced Earth by way of Hammerfall style melds virtuoso abilities with strong compositions on UNDERWATER BELLS. This 15-track release comfortably straddles the line between power metal's presence and progressive metal's prowess with the grace of bands such as Fates Warning shining on cuts like "Cybertale" and "London Fall". Packing an anthemic punch ("Berserker") while taking it down to a symphonic level with relative ease ("Scanning Horizons"), this well-versed outfit fits in nicely amongst your melodic metal albums. www.revoltons.com -Mike SOS

EQULIBRIUM
SAGAS
NUCLEAR BLAST
Once the horns blast in about a minute into "Prolog Auf Erden", you know what kind of experience you're headed for courtesy of Bavarian quintet Equilibrium and their authentic 13-track folk metal explosion SAGAS. Shades darker than their peers, this act bashes out with the same strep throat vocals and voluminous velocity of bands such as Cradle of Filth and Children of Bodom ("Unbesiegt") but doesn't leave its roots in the cold, going as far as singing all of their songs in their native tongue of German and implementing traditional instrumentation such as woodwinds into its blackened metallic assault. In a world where power chords and pan flutes collide, Equilibrium stands strong on top of the heap, adorned with the proper balance of shredding metal and folksy banter to persuade even the most hardened metal fan to take another gander at that Viking helmet and sword combination deal. www.nuclearblastusa.com -Mike SOS
HYDROGYN
DEADLY PASSIONS
DR2
Female fronted hard rock act Hydrogyn hammer home the notion that you can be sultry without sacrificing the heavy on their latest 10-track sojourn DEADLY PASSIONS. Liberally borrowing from the best end of '80s hair metal while adding in a slew of keen production tricks (the male background vocals are particularly stellar) and razor sharp riffs from modern day rock, tracks like the catchy "Seroquil", "Candles Light Your Face" and "On and On" pack the punch of Pat Benatar on steroids while album opener "Rejection" pounds out a relentless guitar and drum rhythmic pattern exhibiting the band's comfortability with bearing its teeth. Lead vocalist Julie truly illuminates the offering with her well-rounded powerful singing, properly fitting the mood across the duration of the disc's crests and waves, shining brightest on the Desmond Child-esque ballad "Shadow". Despite the lack of ingenuity in Hyrdrogyn's recipe for rock, this squad's potent blend collects the best from numerous different flavors of rock through the years to form a formidable contender for mainstream accolades worldwide. www.demolitionrecords.com -Mike SOS
SEVER YOUR TIES
SAFETY IN THE SEA
SOLID STATE
Christian rock clan Sever Your Ties incorporates the sound you'd expect from a band hailing from Southern California that calls itself hardcore yet prominently uses keyboards would on their 11-track debut SAFETY IN THE SEA. Injected with a smattering of Thrice and Senses Fail (especially in the vocal department), this sextet's chops are undeniably solid ("Things Are Better (Left Unsaid)"), their passion convincing ("To The Pacific", "Here I Am"), and their content surprisingly secular bordering on edgy for a God-fearing group, barring their listless cover of Blue Oyster Cult's "Don't Fear the Reaper". Yet if you follow this genre stringently, you've heard this all before, and in this group's case, even a few times over throughout this entire disc's span. A lack of variation aside, Sever Your Ties plays a competent brand of post-hardcore with hard rock melodics and hook-laden choruses at the forefront for all the kids to scream along to at next year's Warped Tour. www.solidstaterecords.com -Mike SOS
DEAR LIFE
FRAMEWORK
UPRISING
How five kids from the middle of California grew up with a NYHC-sized chip on their shoulders is inexplicable, yet Dear Life brings it with the gravel-throated conviction and oodles of beefy breakdowns you'd expect from an East Coast crew on FRAMEWORK. Imagine a tough guy version of Comeback Kid for an indication of what to expect from this adroit quintet whose searing aggression bursts through the speakers on cuts like "Prophets" and "The Architects". Produced by the same folks responsible for bands such as The Warriors and Death By Stereo, Dear Life's overall presentation may contain a few too many breakdowns for the ardent hardcore follower, but the sheer passion conveyed throughout this 10-track endeavor carries this band of new jacks over the rough patches just enough to warrant them repeated listens. www.uprisingrecords.com -Mike SOS
HAND TO HAND
BREAKING THE SURFACE
LIFEFORCE
Hand to Hand is listed by their record label as a hardcore emo rock group, which in fairness to all involved is a good description, fitting the bill for this collective from Orlando, FL. This versatile unit amps up My Chemical Romance-like melodic rock to Trivium-like levels of intense new school metal while taking post-hardcore turns along the style of Underoath and From First to Last. Confused? Luckily this band's scattershot delivery isn't, as they've dissected the meat and potatoes part of each of the aforementioned genres and have permutated them into the five-track EP titled BREAKING THE SURFACE. If you hate screamo and loathe anything with singing even to be considered hardcore, run away now. But if you can deal with some ambiance before blistering leads and don't mind shards of jagged tenderness creeping in and out of tracks like the Dredg-esque "Dufresne, Party of Six", then this outfit will pique your interest and keep you rocking through its genre-bending rollercoaster ride. www.lifeforceamerica.com -Mike SOS
HUNG
PROGENY
SELF-RELEASED
NYC progressive death metal squad Hung bring an experimental twist to the heavier end of the metal spectrum that instantly grabs your attention on their five-track collection PROGENY. With an evil vocal rasp leading the charge, the key ingredient which sets Hung apart is the frantic and foreboding violin (yes you read that right) of Lyris Hung, often played with nuances of lead guitar in mind, creating a pristine yet haunting sound that truly radiates something unique. It doesn't hurt that the rest of the group consistently showcases dextrous musical proficiency at every step (especially with the bass) while churning out weighty pieces of music shrouded in demonic bliss and brazen with technical ecstasy such as "Maria". This quintet juxtaposes black metal's iconic intolerance and progressive metal's mesmerizing musicianship into grandiose compositions laden in hellfire to create the closest thing NYC has ever come to their own version of pagan metal. If you dig the true metal underground at its most expansive, Hung will not disappoint. www.hungrocks.com -Mike SOS
KEEP OF KALESSIN
KOLOSSUS
NUCLEAR BLAST
Veteran Norwegian black metal troupe Keep of Kalessin return with their fourth endeavor, the nine-track KOLOSSUS. Emanating from the depths of traditional black metal, this unit opts to expand its musical horizons by incorporating a slew of other styles into their dark riff heavy mix, adding textures from the spectrum of metal to their template of furious metal for a listening experience that will confound purists and stimulate the open-minded. Tracks like "Ascendant" pounds out with a Killing Joke-like element, "Warmonger" takes a death 'n roll approach, and "The Rising Sun" features a lush classical music outro, yet a gritty black metal underbelly still remains prevalent, even during the quieter passages found on the tantalizing title track. Longtime fans will be taken aback by the unit's progressive nuances, yet those in tune with the later works of Opeth and Emperor will have no problem embracing Keep of Kalessin's amalgamation of raw power and radical atmosphere into the fold. www.nuclearblastusa.com -Mike SOS
ISM
URGENCY
STM
Modern rock quartet Ism provide an electronically-manipulated listening experience chock full of melancholy with URGENCY, the NYC troupe's latest 12-track offering. This disc juxtaposes the technological desolation of NIN with the scattershot edginess of latter-day U2, whipping up a somewhat forced array of shadowy tracks such as ""Postlude" and "Sacred Cow" that dubiously fall between a sound too tough for the lounge and too soft for the moshpit. Tracks such as "Graffiti" give Tom Morello a run for his money on the whammy bar while the forlorn feel given off from "Fly" takes a turn into '80s New Wave with a Brit-pop twist. If you dig Black Rebel Motorcycle Club, The Bravery, or Coldplay at their most haunting, then Ism is a band worth checking out. www.stmrecords.com\ -Mike SOS
CAPITOLLIUM
BLOODFALL OF FLESH
SWORN
Ukrainian symphonic black metal mavens Capitollium unleash a vehement display of hellfire and brimstone on their nine-track affair BLOODFALL OF FLESH. Incorporating everything from operatic female vocals and atmospheric keyboards to dastardly blast beats and demonic vocal deliveries, this quintet hurls volumes of venomous melodies with vitriolic shifts in velocity on cuts like 'Mensis of Mind" and "Ego Sum Lead". Versatile enough to take snippets of other genres without sacrificing their destructive tendencies on cuts like the technified closer "Open the Gates", this troupe's stellar songwriting and willingness to explore outside of the box assists this album in standing out over the lot of the black metal releases while the band's overall bleak outlook and chilling aura assists this album in providing a nice buffer between Cradle of Filth and Dimmu Borgir. www.swornrecords.com -Mike SOS
BLACKLIST UNION
BREAKIN' BREAD WITH THE DEVIL
BLU
Presenting a holdover sound straight from the danger-laden late-era Sunset Strip days with some modern day tweaking, Los Angeles outfit Blacklist Union portray the grit and recklessness associated with the excesses of rock 'n roll with conviction on BREAKIN' BREAD WITH THE DEVIL. This 10-track salvo to the bottomless glass contains the proper mixture of kick you in the head lyrics and simple yet effective riffs ("King of Fools") and isn't afraid to bare its soul to ease the pain from loss ("Sixty Five Steps Away"). Bridging the gap between Papa Roach and Motley Crue, Blacklist Union is far from unique yet definitively demonstrate the byproduct of the Hollywood rock machine revved at all cylinders. www.blacklistunion.com -Mike SOS
WHITEY MORGAN AND THE 78'S
HONKY TONKS AND CHEAP MOTELS
SMALL STONE
Whitey Morgan and the 78's steers clear of new country's gloss, instead taking to the far-removed backroads to deliver a slice of rocking outlaw country music on HONKY TONKS AND CHEAP MOTELS. This 12-track affair sticks to the most prolific themes by some of the genre's best while laying down an authentically composed collection of tunes complete with pedal steel pluckings and twangy melodies, driving home the down home appeal of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, and Conway Twitty on cuts like the subtle "Cheatin' Again" and the poignant "Goodbye Dixie".Hailing from the downtrodden town of Flint, MI only helps Morgan and company's case to convincingly sing with the heavy heartache portrayed on "Love and Honor" and "Hold Her When She Cries" and rock out with the desolation attached to "Sinner". If you secretly stow a pair of cowboy boots and a ten gallon hat in the recesses of your closet, this album will provoke you to break out the duds and crack open a bottle of whiskey and contemplate. www.smallstone.com -Mike SOS
WILLIE BASSE
THE MONEY GRIND
NEW EMPIRE
Wheeling out a healthy dose of hard rock histrionics, Willie Basse returns from the shadows of session musicianship and studio ownership to release his new 14-track endeavor THE MONEY GRIND. Formerly fronting the Los Angeles mainstay Black Sheep (whose name he fortuitously sold to the rap band from the early '90s), there's no denying that Basse's crunchy songs and powerful vocals rip it up with all of the pomp the '80s dictated, sounding at times like a cross between Y&T and Bulletboys ("Unloveable", "Don't Waste My Time"). While it's a tough call to really tell if songs like the reggae-infused "Yesterdaze" will strike a chord with fans of his target audience, there's enough material found on this disc to satisfy those who crave the big sound songs like "It's Over" pump out. www.myspace.com/williebasse -Mike SOS
STRING FINGERS
STRUNG UP
INTERNET ERA
String Fingers is a tandem whose 10-track excursion STRUNG UP showcases this duo's deep-ceded roots rock and Americana foundation. Comprising their sound from an array of stringed instruments from banjo and fiddle to violin and guitar, this outfit's sound borrows from everything from James Taylor and Bob Dylan to bluegrass and Appalachian music on cuts like "Without a Doubt" and demonstrates their solid musicianship on folksy instrumentals such as "Creekside Ride" and the whimsical "Silicon Valley". Curiously this project goes all out on the closing track "The Deal", introducing a slew of guest musicians which includes live drums, female vocals and Stax-era horns with a dash of soul to end up on a rocking high note. Perfect for some quiet time or a scenic drive, this disc delivers a versatile collection of traditional American music whose influences come from both the hills and the backwoods and the college campus coffeehouse. www.interneterarecords.com -Mike SOS
SEEDS OF CHAOS
SEEDS OF CHOAS
SELF-RELEASED
New Jersey metal mavens Seeds of Chaos attack with a sludgy slam on their five-track presentation. Taking the thick mid-paced mauling from bands like Goatwhore and Soilent Green and combining a slaughtering death metal crunch a la Obituary, this quintet unapologetically thrash their way through head stomping rifftastic episodes of viscous metallic might. If you like it brutal and hit the bong, this act provides the perfect soundtrack to your unearthly escape. www.myspace.com/seedsofchaos -Mike SOS
HACKNEYED
DEATH PREVAILS
NUCLEAR BLAST
Neophytic German metal troupe Hackneyed play with the deathcore style sharply in focus on their nine-track disc DEATH PREVAILS. Undoubtedly heavy yet lacking development in spots, this act, whose median age is merely 16, have drawn from extreme metal's elite to compose a rough around the edges sonic battering on cuts like "Gut Candy" and "Axe Splatter". Liberal in their use of technical death metal elements and gore metal imagery, this band's debut is a remarkable effort when considering their age and experience and will definitely appeal to those into Suicide Silence and Job for a Cowboy as well as old schoolers who remember the warmongering of Bolt Thrower. www.nuclearblastusa.com -Mike SOS
TULAR
THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK
RENAISSANCE
Tular is an Italian act who blend Gothic and symphonic metal to comprise their sound. This female-fronted quintet's debut THE TRUTH BEHIND THE MASK bridges the gap between Evanescence, Nightwish, and Epica, as each of the album's 14 tracks contains a combination of big guitars and lush orchestrations to create a somber yet powerful array of textures on cuts like "Fallen Angel" and the haunting piano-led and darkly orchestrated"Dark White Flame". Fitting nicely between your Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation discs, Tular's debut has all of the nuances to satisfy fans of the fantasy side of the metal spectrum. www.renaissancerecordsus.com -Mike SOS
ARGHOSLENT
HORNETS OF THE POGROM
DRAKKAR
After a six-year hiatus, Virginia's Arghoslent return with HORNETS OF THE PORGROM, stirring the pot once again with their bastardized combination of controversial viewpoints and scolding death metal. This veteran unit's latest eight-track affair contains a bevy of the most well thought-out riffs and sheer brutality put to disc in the extreme genre, as tracks like "Oracle of the Malefic Rhizome" and "Swill of the Knaves" slay with barbaric might while undertones of undeniable melodic beauty echo beneath. This underground act may be better known for their offensive lyrical content and left of center school of thought, but the musical output displayed on this album is chock full of death metal magnificence and should be rendered as mandatory metal listening for the most unflappable. www.drakkar666.com -Mike SOS
TRIBE AFTER TRIBE
M.O.A.B.
RODEOSTAR
Robbi Robb has been fronting the South African band Tribe After Tribe for over two decades, raising awareness of global social issues with his potpourri of multicultural rock music as a soundtrack. The latest venture from this unit is the 15-track M.O.A.B., an album that boasts thirteen different musicians making the most of the vast arsenal of styles at their dispose. From the flannel-shirt stomp of "Holy City Warrior" and "Shock and Awe" to the native sounds emanating from "World Drum" and "Lament", this outspoken collective returns after a lengthy hiatus sounding like a cross between Peter Gabriel and Sepultura, adorned with a well-rounded smattering of hard edged world class rock that fans of the more adventurous sounds of the '90s are bound to embrace. www.myspace.com/tribeaftertribe -Mike SOS
BLACK FLAME
IMPERIVM
REGAIN
Italian black metal trio Black Flame unleash an eight-track affair steeped in calamity with IMPERIVM. Without deviating from the genre's basic elements , this foreboding troupe attack with the feral fury passed down through the left hand path . Tracks like "Ad Inferna" strike with a venomous bite, revealing a grim vocal rasp and a demonically-charged rhythmic pound, while chaotic guitars and a hellacious sense of evil await on cuts like "Apocalyptic Zero". Presenting this squad's meat and potato aural assault with little room for experimenting, if you are a stickler for underground purity, this record will serve you well. www.regainrecords.com -Mike SOS
CANDYGRAM FOR MONGO
CANDYGRAM FOR MONGO
CF MEDIA
Los Angeles pop punk squad Candygram for Mongo return with an eponymous 13-track offering chock full of infectious melodies containing more hooks than a tackle box. Cuts like "What Are We" and "Big Mary" portray the rambunctious feel of a spiked hair contingent with the usual imminent sense of danger replaced with the sharp songwriting skills you'd hear from the likes of Elvis Costello or Cheap Trick. Edgy yet accessible, tracks like "Meltdown" and "Fairfax Avenue" display a bounce that's perfect for the Warped Tour with a sing along chorus tailor-made for a drunken night with old friends while songs like "Rock To Live" showcase the Celtic-esque vibe employed by the likes of Flogging Molly and Against Me. With their freewheeling nature at the forefront of everything they do, Candygram for Mongo have made a prime candidate of a record to throw on to not only get the party started but to keep the good times rolling all night long. www.myspace.com/candygramformonoband -Mike SOS
OBJECT
BLACK SWAN
VELCRO KITTY
The dynamic NYC duo known as Object holds their ground and maintains their grunge-laden hard rock stance on the tandem's latest 12-track excursion BLACK SWAN. Built from a sturdy foundation of tasty riffs and thunderous drums and cymbals colliding into each other with the controlled recklessness of the early goings of a demolition derby, cuts like "Clones" demonstrates the stoner slacker movement championed by acts like Fu Manchu and "Always" comes off as a Queens of the Stone Age b-side while "The Feeling" displays a durable array of fuzzed-out fretwork that summons a totally tripped-out vibe. Channeling icons of '90s rock without disabling their own identity ("Ghostly", "Off the Record") yet still able to offer more than a retro sound thanks to the fiery and timeless hard rock chops showcased, Object combines the wares of The Toadies, Nirvana, Burning Brides, and Dinosaur Jr. for a rousing listening experience that those who come to rock shall not be disappointed by. www.objectband.com -Mike SOS
IDIOT
DEMO
SELF-RELEASED
Idiot is a Metro NY area trio whose eight-track endeavor showcases a band with a heavy sound made for the modern age. Changing over from fragile to frantic on the drop of a dime, this squad can flex its metallic muscle a la Deftones and Chevelle with the best of them ("Frankie Sharp", "6") yet can equally take to the heavens to bring down a dose of ethereal atmosphere a la Muse (4) while even delving into the electronic side of the spectrum to close out the affair (8). Unleashing a slew of slamming dynamic shifts with blistering guitars and booming bass fluctuating throughout while providing a well-balanced hybrid of pristine rock 'n roll finishings and knuckle-dragging aggression, Idiot has crafted a supple supply of forward thinking metal that fans of today's brand of brain-powered heavy will unquestionably adore. www.myspace.com/idiotbandpage -Mike SOS
LIGHT YOURSELF ON FIRE
INTIMACY
SEVENTH RULE
Hailing from the death metal stomping ground of Tampa, FL, scene veterans Light Yourself on Fire's furious sound takes ample cues (especially guitar-wise) from bands like Obituary and Deicide, yet is well-versed in the adventures of bands like Converge as well, resulting in the six-track, 17-minute sojourn titled INTIMACY. Ensconced in movie dialogue samples and chugging harder than a NFL offensive line at the last quarter-mile of their daily laps, this quartet doesn't shy away from showcasing its broad range of interests or displaying their intellect while crushing your puny existence with their punishing array of battleground rhythms or mid-tempo maulings heard on cuts like "New Baby Girl" or laying down thick slabs of Candiria-esque doomy death rock on "Haunts". Not for fans of attention spans, this disc jumps and bounces around like a hyperactive child after a Halloween night candy fix,revealing a monstrous hybrid that strikes hard and fast and leaves discernible marks for the left of center metal clan. www.seventhrule.com -Mike SOS
EL CUERVO DE POE
VOX CORVUS
RENIASSANCE
Mexican gothic folk troupe El Cuervo de Poe mesh a few distinct styles together to form the music heard on this septet's 11-track release VOX CORVUS. With two violinists in tow creating a multitude of sounds ranging from sullen to eerie and sung completely in Spanish in a baroque style by a alto female singer, the uniqueness of this group is unquestionable, as they intertwine orchestral compositions with a Lacuna Coil-esque twist on cuts like "Paredes Blancos" and "Claroscuro" while opting to take the piano ballad route with some traditional Mexican music strewn in on "Tormenta". If you are searching for some different elements in your Goth rock, El Cuervo De Poe is a band you should definitely get to know. www.renaissancerecordsus.com -Mike SOS
THE FIGHT BETWEEN FRAMES
BIRTH OF THE BULL AND THE LABYRINTH
TRAGIC HERO
Louisiana metalcore squad The Fight Between Frames comes out with fist flailing on their six-song EP BIRTH OF THE BULL AND THE LABYRINTH. Despite their geographic location and what their publicity propaganda suggests, the southern rock heard from cuts like "Red Rubber Jungle" and "Gambling Away Your Livelihood" shares a lot in common with Maylene and the Sons of Disaster. Add in heavy-handed breakdowns and spastic time changes just like the 150 other metalcore bands currently working the circuit, and you've got yet another sound-alike metalcore album. While this band does its part to combine Every Time I Die, Converge, and Bury Your Dead into a cohesive union, they still have a long way to go before they can stand out in such an oversaturated scene. www.tragicherorecords.com -Mike SOS
ICED EARTH
THE CRUCIBLE OF MAN
SPV
Iced Earth returns with THE CRUCIBLE OF MAN, the long-awaited follow-up to their 1998 landmark concept album SOMETHING WICKED. Replacing the departing Ripper Owens with former frontman Matt Barlow, this troupe sounds reinvigorated when maintaining their patented power metal maneuvers on cuts like "I Walk Alone" and the rousing "Divide and Devour", yet this disc ultimately lends itself to a darker side of the spectrum, leaving behind the nuances which made this band such an underground sensation. Lead guitarist and band leader Jon Schaffer alternates between writing crunchy guitar tunes and gripping ballads that ooze metal , though some may complain that there are many songs on this 15-track disc which not so discreetly draw from prior Iced Earth works. The band's sinister precision and ever-present soaring melodic flair appear in the mix but don't stick around for long, yielding for a more atmospheric feel on cuts like "Come What May" and "Crown of the Fallen". But with Barlow's raging baritone back in the fold, fitting like a glove, there's more classic Iced Earth moments to be had as opposed to the last few offerings, making this disc something longtime fans should check out even if usual aspects are deficient . www.spvmarketing.com -Mike SOS

Monday, November 17, 2008

A-THYRFING WE WILL GO!

Thyrfing has delivered its very own brew of metal music since 1995. After five full-length albums and numerous live performances the band now releases Hels Vite, still carrying the integrity and trademarks known since their 1998 self-titled debut album, brought forth through Valdr Galga (1999), Urkraft (2000), Vansinnesvisor (2002) and Farsotstider (2005).

In 2007 a new line-up was formed after the departure of long time members Thomas Väänänen and Henrik Svegsjö, introducing new vocalist Jens Rydén (ex-Naglfar). The band name is taken from the sword "Tyrfing" in Scandinavian mythology - a cursed blade that appears in several tales and myths.
With massive critical acclaim already beginning to pour in on this blackened Pagan metal masterpiece the world over, Hels Vite is about to bring Thyrfing to a whole new level.
Hels Vite will be unleashed in North America January 27, 2009. Interviews and promos are available now! In North America contact earsplitpr@aol.com / in Eurpe contact jarne@regainrecords.com.
Thyrfing Lineup:
Jens Rydén - vocals
Patrik Lindgren - guitars
Kimmy Sjolund - bass
Peter Lof - synthesizers
Joakim Kristensson – drums

Hels Vite tracklisting:
1. En Sista Litania
2. Från Stormens Öga
3. Isolation
4. Hels Vite
5. Griftefrid
6. Becoming The Eye
7. Tre Vintrar – Två Solar

http://www.thyrfing.com
http://www.myspace.com/thyrfingband
http://www.regainrecords.com
http://www.myspace.com/regainrecords

Sunday, November 16, 2008

GLORIA SATHANAS!

SATHANAS have finished recording their new album NIGHTREALM APOCALYPSE. Mix and mastering will be handled once again by Tore at Necromorbus Studios in Sweden. Infernal cover art by Juanjo Castellano. Look for release date early Januart 09 via PAGAN RECORDS followed by European tour in March with the horde NUNSLAUGHTER!!!!

www.sathanas.net

Thursday, November 13, 2008

MORIBUND SUPERTOUR A'HAPPENIN'.

Find below the current UPDATED tour dates for the "Blood Fire Death" U.S. tour featuring HORNA, BLOOD STAINED DUSK, and on select dates NOCTURNAL FEAR. Also find attached a flyer to post online.
11.12.08 Tampa, FL @ The Crowbar
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11.13.08 Marietta, GA @ Swayze's
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11.14.08 Raleigh, NC @ CANCELLED!

*New*
11.15.08 Bayonne, NJ @ Liquid
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*New*11.16.08 Allentown , PA @ The Sterling (hotel)
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11.17.08 Detroit, MI @ Blondie's
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11.18.08 Chicago, IL @ The Metal Shaker
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11.19.08 Minneapolis, MN @ Triple Rock Social Club
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11.20.08 off

11.21.08 Seattle, WA @ Studio Seven
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11.22.08 off

11.23.08 Portland, OR @ Rotture

BLAAAAAAAAAAACK!


BLACK ALTAR (POLAND) "Death Fanaticism" Two Sided T-Shirt. Available in size – M, L & XL. $14.00 US & Canada / Rest Of The World $20.00 (both prices include shipping charge)

Available NOW for order and ready to ship! Black Altar T-Shirt. Limited to 30 prints.

BPR releases are now available via MP3 format at - www.metalhit.com - Extreme Black / Death Metal digital underground label.

Here you can get NEW BPR releases not yet out on CD format, as well as one out of print HELLVETO CD release! http://www.klicktrack.com/metalhit/search?l=Black+Plague+Records
~ BLACK PLAGUE RECORDS ~
SPREADING THE UNDERGROUND PLAGUE WORLDWIDE!!!
Address:
BLACK PLAGUE RECORDS
PMB 187
17602 17th Street #102
Tustin, CA 92780 - USA

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

LONG LIVE THE NEW FLESH!

Greece's longstanding black/death craftsmen Septicflesh have been announced as the official opener for the upcoming Cradle of Filth and Satyricon tour this January and February! The full North American tour rampages through the US and Canada from mid-January through the end of February.
Supporting this year's critically-acclaimed album Communion - praised as one of the band's best releases ever - it seems that Septicflesh might finally be getting the attention they should have been praised with for over a decade now.
Septicflesh with Satyricon, Cradle of Filth
1/15/2009 Starland Ballroom - Sayreville, NJ
1/16/2009 The Palladium - Worcester, MA
1/17/2009 Metropolis - Montreal, QC
1/18/2009 Capitol Theatre - Quebec City, QC
1/20/2009 Sound Academy - Toronto, ON
1/21/2009 House of Blues - Cleveland, OH
1/23/2009 Harpo's - Detroit, MI
1/24/2009 The Eagles Club - Milwaukee, WI
1/25/2009 House of Blues - Chicago, IL
1/26/2009 First Avenue - Minneapolis, MN
1/28/2009 The Gothic - Engelwood, CO
1/30/2009 MacEwan Hall Ballroom - Calgary, AB
1/31/2009 Edmonton Events Centre - Edmonton, AB
2/02/2009 Commodore - Vancouver, BC
2/03/2009 Showbox Theatre - Seattle, WA
2/04/2009 Roseland Theatre - Portland, OR
2/10/2009 The Grand Ballroom - San Francisco, CA
2/11/2009 Henry Fonda Theatre - Los Angeles, CA
2/12/2009 The Grove of Anaheim - Anaheim, CA
2/13/2009 Marquee Theatre - Tempe, AZ
2/14/2009 House of Blues - Las Vegas, NV
2/16/2008 Scout Bar - San Antonio, TX
2/17/2009 House of Blues - Dallas, TX
2/18/2009 House of Blues - Houston, TX
2/20/2009 Masquerade - Atlanta, GA
2/21/2009 The Club @ Firestone - Orlando, FL
2/22/2009 Club Cinema - Pompano Beach, FL
2/24/2008 The Orange Peel - Asheville, NC
2/25/2009 Norva Theatre - Norfolk, VA
2/26/2009 Ram's Head Live - Baltimore, MD
2/27/2009 Nokia Theatre Times Square - New York, NY
2/28/2009 The Trocadero Theatre - Philadelphia, PA
"There is a vitality, cohesiveness and ambitions experimentation not heard from
the Athens, Greece black metal legends in years." - Outburn
"Forget the book of Revelations; John lied. There were no signs. No horsemen. Only Communion.
The Apocalypse is here. Run for your life." - Terrorizer
"Like Theogonia, last year’s fine effort from countrymen Rotting Christ, Septicflesh has
produced a kickass album that will give the band a new lease of life." - MetalReviews.com
"...Septicflesh have produced an effort, which might in future be considered
as their best one ever..." - Metal-Observer.com

THE HITS JUST KEEP ON COMING!

THE BRIGGS
COME ALL YOU MADMEN
SIDEONEDUMMY
There's a wistful quality stamped on the latest 12-track endeavor by The Briggs usually reserved for the upper-echelon of the punk rock hierarchy. Whether it be the Social Distortion-like everyman lyrical approach or the Hot Water Music-esque choral glory heard on cuts such as "This is L.A." or "Not Alone", The Briggs manage to nail it every time, sometime even going so far to tap into the pub crawl melodies of Flogging Molly on cuts like the stomping "Mad Men". Whether you swinging a beer mug or getting down on the dancefloor, The Briggs bring enough firepower for everyone at the party to get their groove on the right way with an authentic punk rock punch that fits nicely alongside your Against Me and Bad Religion collection.
www. sideonedummy. com -Mike SOS

KNIGHTS OF THE ABYSS
SHADES
FERRET

Using the maligned deathcore template as a foundation for their melodic death metal with tinges of Unearth-esque metalcore strewn in concoction ("Behold the Frigid Realm of Div"), Arizona quintet Knights of the Abyss return with a serviceable if unspectacular 12-track follow-up to JUGGERNAUT. SHADES continue along the same path with similarly sweeping Swedish metal guitar runs and venomous vocal vitriol buzzing through tracks like "Don't Feed the Heathens", "The Penalty of the Tyrant", and the Black Dahlia Murder-influenced "Dis Unveiled". While falling prey to a saturated market, Knights of the Abyss don't stand out as much as they survive the wreckage thanks to an impressive slash and burn start-stop thrash attack and their solid yet done to death majestic take on the deathcore style they choose to follow. www. ferretstyle. com -Mike SOS

ALGHAZANTH
WREATH OF THEVETAT
WOODCUT

Symphonic black metal merchants Alghazanth come blasting out of the gate with regal synth work and blistering guitar and drum interlockings on their eight-track WREATH OF THEVETAT. This Finnish corpsepainted crew channel the evil into swirling movements of melodic death metal majesty on cuts such as the eerie "The Kings to Come", "Twice-Born" and the grab you by the throat immediacy heard on "The Phosphorescent". While their style is unashamedly ripped from the clutches of Emperor and Dimmu Borgir, this quintet's dead-on display of symphonic black metal emits an epic vibe those entrenched in the darkside willl undoubtedly embrace. www. woodcutrecords. com -Mike SOS

TRINACRIA
TRAVEL NOW JOURNEY INFINITELY
SEASON OF MIST

Featuring three members of Enslaved, the septet known as Trinacria can definitely be lumped into the experimental category, as their molten metal menagerie is sprinkled with dollops of oddball noise rock and avant-garde aggression. Originally commissioned for a one-off concert series, these musicians developed a strong bond and decided to forge ahead and make this a running project. Tracks like "The Silence" break in and out of contorted shards of white noise before settling on a rickety tremolo guitar and pounding drum combo while the title track merges haunting female singing with a pervasive percussive heartbeat, culminating into a frantic display of chaos both musically and vocally. Definitely leaning on the progressive side of the spectrum, approach Trinacria with the same freewheeling nature you would a Neurosis or Cult of Luna release for maximum enjoyment. www. season-of-mist. com -Mike SOS

KAMELOT
GHOST OPERA: THE SECOND COMING
SPV

For those that didn't get enough the first time around, prog metal masters Kamelot have repackaged their disc GHOST OPERA with some bonus material, including videos, four new studio cuts, and 10 live tracks recorded from a very loud crowd in Serbia, calling the reissue GHOST OPERA: THE SECOND COMING. While the bonus material is a nice touch, is it really necessary to re-release an album 10 months after its initial release with added footage? That, record buyers and fans of stately metal acts such as this one, is for you to decide. www. spv. de -Mike SOS

TOWARDS DARKNESS
SOLEMN
TWILIGHT FOUNDATION

Canadian doom metal mavens Towards Darkness were once called The Mass, who put out an album called TOWARDS DARKNESS. Confused? Allow the slow crawl of "Continuity Errror" to seep through your pores long enough, and your befuddlement will be whisked away by the foreboding sonic heft brought on by this outfit. Strong keyboard work and well-measured tempos give this six-track affair a truly chilling effect, and when the roaring Isis-like vocals kick in, best brace yourself for a maelstrom to crush your soul. Funeral-like in its approach with shards of atmospheric post-hardcore thrown in for good measure ("Despair"), this 63-minute excursion pounds and plods its way through with all of the sloth-like nuances to make for a convincing slab of doom metal. www. twilightfoundation. com -Mike SOS

SECRET DAKOTA RING
CANTARELL
SERIOUS BUSINESS
Bursting with pop music pomp, the latest nine-track endeavor by Secret Dakota Ring finds mainman (and OK Go guitarist) Andy Ross and friends dabbling in giddy '60s rock motifs complete with Burt Bacharach-like compositions and instrumentations, rich vocal harmonies, well-placed string arrangements, and delicate melodies. CANTARELL is a lighthearted affair that wouldn't sound out of place coming through the speakers of an upscale boutique's soundsystem, as cuts like "I Blew Myself Up Over You" and the cosmic "Sell Us A Spaceship" merge a whole lot of The Beatles, the quieter material of Smashing Pumpkins and Big Star to comprise a bevy of naturally sweet pop music treats easily digested and memorable long after the last organ note from the slightly melancholic shuffle of "Still Awake" is played.

www. seriousbusinessrecords. com -Mike SOS

REFLECTION
WHEN SHADOWS FALL
CRUZ DEL SUR

Greek troupe Reflection present a classic metal release with WHEN SHADOWS FALL. Keyboard heavy and operatic, this 12-track's disc's tone falls somewhere between the epic strokes Blind Guardian uses and the sonic bombast of Fates Warning, even going so far to include a full-on orchestral version of "Mistress of Sea" complete with symphonic instrumentation. Calling themselves "Hellenic epic/doom metal" is pretty close to the mark, as this veteran act straddles the line between grandiose arrangements and crushing riffs with the righteous might necessary to get these songs off the ground. www. cruzdelsurmusic. com -Mike SOS

DIVE INDEX
MID/AIR
NEUTRAL

Compiling a chilled-out composite of songs from an array of electronica artists from across the globe, Will Thomas presents his latest project Dive Index with the 11-track release MID/AIR. Recommended for spinning at the lounge or for a quiet evening at home, this soothing mix of shifting vocal viewpoints, smooth digital beats, and electronically subdued rhythms is the proper wind-down music after a tough work week or as a soundtrack to the breakfast after an all-night dance club soiree. www. neutralmusic. com -Mike SOS

THIRD DEGREE
PUNK SUGAR
SELFMADEGOD

Calling the latest offering by Polish powerhouse quartet Third Degree just a grindcore album is a bit misleading despite the vicious velocity of tracks like the Napalm Death-esque "Thoughts", as many other underground metal sub-genres play a large role in making PUNK SUGAR such an enraged and misanthropic monster. Adorned with hearty helpings of crust punk and death metal, songs like the crunchy "Surrounded by Victims" and the sinewy "Dead Will" are twisted into strange yet hulking forms whose sonic heft and snarling delivery provide for an unsettling experience no matter how you classify it. www. selfmadegod. com -Mike SOS

LEMURIA
GET BETTER
ASIAN MAN

Buffalo, NY trio Lemuria play a type of female lead male response vocal rock that takes its cues from '90s indie rock. GET BETTER is a 12-track offering laden with a slight guitar crunch that rocks hard on "Mechanical" and follows the sticky sweet little girl melody on "Get Some Sleep", helping this band shed its innocuous nature just enough to give the group an edge. While at times Lemuria succumbs to Warped Tour-esque pandering reserved for the likes of Paramore ("Dogs"), there's enough of the Sunny Day Real Estate and Jawbreaker vibe permeating through cuts like "Wardrobe" and "Dog" for those who want to rekindle past glories. www. asianmanrecords. com -Mike SOS

THE METHOD TO MY MEDIUM
THE SINCERITIES EP
THRIVING

White bread pop punk from five dudes from Indiana best describes THE SINCERITIES EP from The Method to My Medium. This Indiana quintet sure know their New Found Glory and Starting Line catalog, as they regurgitate it back up across this annoyingly electronically manipulated 10-track affair whose vocoder-enhanced vocals and glitched beats come off as a desperate attempt to be different. There's little here to cheer about, especially if whiny guys singing heartfelt rock songs with the structures you've heard a million times at the mall truly sticks under your craw. www. thrivingrecords. com -Mike SOS

END THE CENTURY
HAMMER AND THE ANVIL
SELF RELEASED

Orange County metalcore quintet, how redundant, huh? Add End the Century's name into the bingo cage of bands whose feral screaming sounds like a rabid animal's revenge, as the six-track HAMMER AND THE ANVIL presents a band full of fire but seriously lacking the compelling compositions to properly get their power across. Tinny guitars, stock arrangements, and overwrought devices are milked to excess here, making this disc a frustrating listen from start to finish. www. blacklodgepr. com -Mike SOS

TED ROSEDALE
HOME
NESTEGG
There's a certain '90s slacker rock quality audible on HOME that would remind you of J. Mascis or Rivers Cuomo at their most acerbic, as the latest endeavor by Ted Rosedale celebrates crunch-ridden malaise on cuts like "Green" and "619" quite a bit on this album. But for all the tasty guitar licks emulating everyone from David Gilmour to Tom Petty to Kurt Cobain to John Mayer ("Alright", "Ice Cream Man #5"), it's the 11-track outing's sharp and smart lyrical wistfulness, served with a shuffle on "Unforgettable", a barrage of nastiness on "619" and with swirling Beatle-esque melody on "Don't Be Long", that sets this disc miles apart from the sea of American Idol-influenced exercise in vanity solo records flooding the market.

www. tedrosedale. com -Mike SOS

ANOTHER BIG MACHINE
ABM
RISING STORM
Louisiana quartet Another Big Machine take the well paved pop-rock route of Nickelback and Daughtry and mix it with dollops of country twang and Warped Tour edge on their latest offering ABM. Successfully soaring with lush instrumentation a la sellout-era Aerosmith should garnish a slew of pop-rock interest for this unit, but there's a side to them that can confidently cruise down the Sunset Strip displayed here as well, showing the band's rock versatility. And even though many will find ABM a bit on the sappy end of the spectrum, to the throngs of people who need a buffer between Goo Goo Dolls and Matchbox 20 (and a few Kleenex), here's your go-to band.
www. myspace. com/anotherbigmachine -Mike SOS

THE JOHN SULLIVAN BRIGADE
A SOUND OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR LAST MUSIC PURCHASE
SOUTH TENTH
It's no surprise that Long Island native John Sullivan takes quite a few cues from a certain famous Long Island piano man on the 12-track album A SOUND OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR LAST MUSIC PURCHASE. However, the five piece The John Sullivan Brigade rounds out the obvious influence with a slew of other classic rock luminaries such as George Thorogood and Jackson Browne on cuts like the wistful "In Control" and the saxophone and guitar driven barroom rock of "Dead End", even going so far as laying down a ballad worthy for a Happy Days sock hop on "Praying For" and taking snippets of "19th Nervous Breakdown" to comprise the cool faded-out "Reflection #203". No frills rock 'n roll played without pretense best describes this unit whose latest offering fits snugly in between your Springsteen and Rolling Stones collection.
www. johnsullivanbrigade. com -Mike SOS

GIDEON SMITH AND THE DIXIE DAMNED
SOUTH SIDE OF THE MOON
SMALL STONE

Southern space rock? Hell yes, courtesy of Gideon Smith, whose swampy swagger goes galactic on SOUTH SIDE OF THE MOON, this ecelctic artist's latest 13 track endeavor . Meshing down south jukin' with the trippy acumen of Hawkwind sounds daunting, yet Smith and his backing band, The Dixie Damned (consisting of members of Novadriver and Big Chief) get it right, tossing in some '60s psychedelia on tracks like "Shimmering Rain" for added texture. While this one time roadie for Antiseen's voice makes for an acquired taste (think Jim Morrison duking it out with David Allan Coe), the doom-laden blues jamming heard on "Black Cat Road" and the star-saoked Skynyrd gone skyward shuffle of "Feather's Shadow" fit the bill for a fun and futuristic boogie rock rocket ride. www. smallstone. com -Mike SOS

SUIDAKRA
13 YEARS OF CELTIC WARTUNES
WACKEN

The German troupe Suidakara sound as if they could obliterate the whole cast of Riverdance in one fell swoop judging by the title of their latest disc. This clan's collection of songs is a compilation stemming from this veteran act's releases through the years, demonstrating the unit's blend of traditional folk on "An Dudlachd" and brazen melodic death metal on "Morrigan" and the vicious "A Vision's Demise". Meshing their pagan roots with meaty melodic death metal, if you're down for a frolic in the forest with some kick, then this disc delivers. www. wackenrecords. de -Mike SOS

GEVOLT
SIDUR
RENAISSANCE

Yiddish folk metal meets Rammstein on SIDUR, the latest offering from Gevolt. This Sephardic septet's 11-track excursion meshes traditional styles of Israel with an industrial strain of metal chock full of effected keyboards that ultimately leaves an unearthly Gothic aftertaste on cuts like "Liturgia" and the sinewy "Na More". Providing a dose of klezmer with dark intentions, Gevolt's latest release is laden with a dynamic drama that fans of Moonspell and Type O Negative can latch onto despite the language barrier. www. gevolt. com -Mike SOS

THE BLACK GHOSTS
THE BLACK GHOSTS
IAMSOUND

UK electronic rock duo The Black Ghosts truly embody the spirit of the digital age, as these former members of Simian and Wiseguys initially met via the Internet and have only recently met face to face. Nonetheless, they put their best foot forward to place your booty on the dance floor with their hodgepodge eponymous 11-track release. Tracks like "It's Your Touch" and "Something New" take the sunshine '70s pop rock vibe radiated from bands like America and Bread and deck them out for today's hipster crowd while "Some Way Through This" busts out a big beat that wouldn't sound out of place on a hip-hop album. Nevertheless, this British tandem go for the gold with the nuances of projects like Hot Chip firmly intact, demonstrating their ability to rock the clubs. www. iamsoundrecords. com -Mike SOS

TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR
RUINED LIVES
LEVEL PLANE
New Hampshire quartet Transistor Transistor return with a stirring one-two punch of angular hardcore and menacing punk rock with RUINED LIVES. Armed with jagged riffs, malicious yowls, and debilitating rhythms that give bands like The Bronx and Every Time I Die a run for their money, this unit's motive to emote their innermost sensitivities never gets in the way of the like of slash and burn hardcore presentations such as "Pilar of Salt". Taking the avant-garde route paved by such bands as Poison the Well on the twangy "The Ghost Hand", emulating a bastardized hybrid of Snapcase and Modern Life is War on cuts such as "Diet of Worms" and crustily scraping through an abrasive "Celluoid Rats", this squad's latest bundle of sonic explosions grab you by the throat and scream for vengeance. Summoning up the finest elements from hardcore punk's elite while maintaining their own identity, RUINED LIVES and the chaotic yet cathartic atmosphere running throughout renders this disc a modern hardcore classic.

www. level-plane. com

MOONSPELL
NIGHT ETERNAL
SPV

Thanks in part to an exceptional production by metal guru Tue Madsen, Portuguese metal giants Moonspell have struck the perfect balance of clarity and brutality on their latest endeavor NIGHT ETERNAL. This nine-track descent into darkness yields an intense ride chock full of dastardly black metal chord progressions, ethreal Gothic rock passages, and the authentic warmongering spirit of bands ranging from Celtic Frost to Dimmu Borgir on tracks such as "First Light" and "Shadow Sun". Add in the trademark venomous vocal delivery, whose scornful array of evil highlighted on tracks such as "Moon in Her Mercury" fits beautifully with the blackened melodies, and this veteran act's latest metallic maelstrom is a must have for those entrenched in the catacombs of despair. www. spv. de -Mike SOS

RUBY Q
FASHION FEVER MUSIC PITCH
RENAISSANCE

Most bands wait until they make it big before they start their own clothing line, but don't tell the shape-shifting quintet Ruby Q, as they've jumped the step and coincide their latest release with a line of new clothes.They also walk the musical tightrope with the grace necessary on the catwalk, letting everything hang loose on the 11-track FASHION FEVER MUSIC PITCH. Changing styles from track to track with a bold-faced cheekiness that makes it hard to tell if this collective is in on the joke or not, regardless how serious you take this shining example of hodgepodge, there's no denying how talented this unit is. From the lifted crunchy guitars and booming bass from QOTSA heard on "Fever Pitch" to a rebellious "Fuck 'N Roll" that single handedly offends every rock fan with its vitriolic lyrical roll call of rock 'n roll royalty and the piano and chanteuse-like vocals cooing on "Chocolate", this slickly-produced journey through pop music 101 has enough musical money moments to help this band go beyond the boutique circuit and into a subset as sizable as their grandiose musical output. www. myspace. com/rubyqmusic -Mike SOS

TRAGIC ORANGE
TRAGIC ORANGE
SELF-RELEASED

Long Island alternative metal troupe Tragic Orange remember the time when melodic hard rock bands didn't deprive the music of its balls by watering down their output with sappy ballads. Firing on all cylinders while implementing the old school attitude into their modern metal paradigm, this unit isn't just another MTV-fed mall rock band despite prominently showcasing those influences. Coming off as a mixture of Our Lady Peace, Taproot and Chevelle, this unit's eponymous debut showcases a band whose sweeping choruses and hard as nails hard rock histrionics sound ready for extreme sports soundtracks and WWE pay per views on cuts like "Pure and Simple". Yet the durability of the band's powerhouse rhythm section, who smoothly steer the disc through trouble spots while accentuating the album overall with a sparkling array of deep bass grooves and lush yet driving percussion, sets Tragic Orange in a good position to jump onto the radar somewhere between Staind and A Perfect Circle. www. tragicorange. com -Mike SOS

ALL SHALL PERISH
AWAKEN THE DREAMERS
NUCLEAR BLAST

Spreading beyond the confines of the deathcore genre, California's All Shall Perish return with AWAKEN THE DREAMERS. This 12-track release demonstrates the merging of the quintet's savage brutality with a bevy of surprises which renders this offering as a well-textured entity that can still provide its share of crushing moshpit moments. While ardent supporters of the group will be relieved that the breakdown-heavy death metal style on scorchers like "Stabbing to Purge Dissimulation" and "Never...Again" is still a major part of the outfit's arsenal, tracks like the melodic instrumental "Until the End", the traditional metal-esque shred and scream tactics on "Black Gold Reign" and the melancholic Opeth-like "Memories of a Glass Sanctuary" display All Shall Perish's penchant for bold experimentation and disdain for complacency without compromising a shred of their dignity. Retaining their bludgeoning foundation while showcasing a slew of progressive tendencies, All Shall Perish have morphed into a monstrous metal hybrid geared for forward thinking fans of modern heavy music. www. nuclearblastusa. com -Mike SOS

GRAVE
DOMINION VIII
REGAIN

Veteran Swedish band Grave returns with another installment of sinewy death metal that blends high-speed velocity and doom-laden crunch on the nine-track DOMINION VIII. This devastating affair demonstrates the band's ability to go from slow crawl to rapid-fire pace in the blink of an eye ("Annihilated Christ") in addition to displaying Grave's unwavering attachment to the darker side of the spectrum on cuts like "Stained By Hate". 20 years in and still as extreme as their early days, this truculent crew returns in fine fighting form, ready to go into metal combat with the vitriolic virtue and fortified firepower that has rendered them one of Swedish elite death metal's forces. www. regainrecords. com -Mike SOS

HEAD ON COLLISION
RITUAL SACRIFICE
BEER CITY

Personifying a true thrash metal throwback, Missouri outfit Head On Collision channel the early periods of heavyweights such as Kreator, Nuclear Assault, Exodus, and first few Slayer records for influence on the 11-track RITUAL SACRIFICE. These dudes are pretty well-versed in doling out hyper-speed riffs and blistering solos ("The Flames of Aggression") and while there's nary a sign of originality apparent (is that riff from the title cut lifted from Slayer or what?), the band's stone-faced delivery, spot-on precision (especially on the drums) and brash bravado propel tracks like the chuggingly good "Electrocutioner" and "Retaliate" away from the pack and into territories reserved for newer retro acts such as Municipal Waste. If you're a thrash enthusiast, picking this disc up is essential. www. beercity. com -Mike SOS

MOTORHEAD
MOTORIZER
SPV

Motorhead is not just a band anymore, they are an institution of all things rock. Unlike many bands in their direct peer group, Lemmy and company can still can kick your ass with explosive and raucous rock 'n roll, as their latest 11-track release MOTORIZER reassures in the usual pounding fashion we'd expect from this venerable trio. From the super-catchy "English Rose" to the grindhouse blues of "One Short Life" to the all guns blazing delivery of "Rock Out", Motorhead proudly present another fine slab of their patented tongue in cheek balls to the wall hard as nails rock, showing no signs of relenting. Long live Motorhead! www. spv. de -Mike SOS

NEVEREVEN
NEVEREVEN
SELF-RELEASED
NYC quartet Nevereven strike an intriguing middle ground between pop-punk, hard rock, and progressive rock on their eponymous seven-track offering. The dextrous and crunchy guitar work ("Dreamcatcher", "Midnight") really stands out, as their Coheed and Cambria meets Incubus mix goes down smooth yet manages to pack a kind of unassuming yet welcomed punch to the head. Thanks to solid chops and ears to the ground for the last 15 years of rock music, this band is able to take meaningful musical breaks containing the crisp solos and passionate twists found on "Naive Crush" and "Cloud Nine" without sounding overblown or unskilled. Nevereven's genuine delivery and impressive songwriting prowess bolsters this unit's uniquely slanted rock amalgamation enough to warrant repeated listens and rounds of air guitar playing.

www. myspace. com/nevereven -Mike SOS

DEADBIRD
TWILIGHT RITUAL
AT A LOSS
Creepy and doomy, the sophomore six-track sojourn from Arkansas sludge metal quartet Deadbird is a viscous Southern-fried delight whose massive rhythmic rumblings give the band the sheer heft to properly obliterate all in their wake. From the menacing slow-churned intro on "Into the Clearing", this oppressive unit takes you through a grueling 47:23 journey steeped in sonic excess and draped with eerie vocal harmonies and dazzling acoustic interludes ("The Riverbed"), descending down through the deepest recesses to unearth the sleeping Southern rock giant ("Feral Flame") to unleash thick waves of metallic lava for tortured souls to bask in. If you dig Mastodon and love Crowbar, prepare to meet your new favorite band.

www. atalossrecordings. com -Mike SOS

GOD BLESS MIKE SOS!

MY HERO IS ME

THE CRYWOLF BROADCAST

TRAGIC HERO

Fortified with a three-pronged guitar assault, North Carolina's My Hero is Me mesh rock, metal, and hardcore for that all too familiar sound countless bands employ on their 11-track endeavor THE CRYWOLF BROADCAST. Adorned with song titles that are clever (“When Peter North Goes South” In particular), this unit does manage to do a better job than most in rearranging parts to try and keep the sound fresh on cuts like the all over the map “I Studied Metal at Juliard”. Their Maylene and the Sons of Disaster meets The Autumn Offering by way of Protest the Hero style however comes off as a touch too contrived across much of the span of this excursion, making it hard for this unit to get a good jump from out of the starting block. Www.tragicherorecords.com -Mike SOS

LIGEIA

BAD NEWS

FERRET

Beyond the hamfisted breakdown fest audible from BAD NEWS, there lies a rock 'n roll record bursting at the seams exuding the same spirit of sex, drugs and rock 'n roll danger Guns 'N Roses mustered back in their Sunset Strip era. Massachusetts road dogs Ligeia set the excesses of the rock star vocation to a moshpit friendly soundtrack for the modern age on this succinct and subtle 11-track endeavor. Falling somewhere in between the unlikely triad of Emmure, Hinder, and Every Time I Die, songs like “Bombshell” and the surprising DJ-scratch cameo on “I've Been Drinking” convincingly convey the hard-nosed lifestyle of today's rock youth through lyrics laced with profanity-laden cliches, rebellious rantings and misogynistic musings while a bombastic nu-metal -esque metalcore foundation keeps the heaviness churning at the proper RPM on cuts like “Hot Mess” and “One Night Stand”. Despite their allegiance to the harder side of the spectrum, Ligeia employs a generic good cop/bad cop screamy singing formula and wheels out a barrage of inspiration more Motley Crue than Misery Signals, confounding the hooded sweatshirt contingent while making this band enigmatic for purists to even consider sitting through as they bash away with a bastardized combo of cock rock pretense and metalcore heft. www.ferretstyle.com -Mike SOS

CARNIFEX

THE DISEASED AND THE POISONED

VICTORY

Deathcore troupe Carnifex unleashes the well-balanced THE DISEASED AND THE POISONED upon the hapless masses. This predictable but succinct 12-track affair contains a smorgasbord of malicious elements needed in order to steamroll over legions of modern metalheads. From the demonically chugging riffs on 4 to rousing yet obligatory breakdowns snugly fit in between the chaos found on tracks like "11" and "3" to featuring a well-rounded vocal range whose steadfast intensity and brutality helms the entire affair, it's safe to proclaim Carnifex as a band far from reinventing the wheel, but at least this San Diego squad's vicious sophomore effort maintains a sincerely bludgeoning level throughout this release's duration, rendering this outfit a cut above the norm. www.victoryrecords.com -Mike SOS

THE MICROPHONES
THE GLOW PT 2
K
The latest offering by Pacific Northwestern lo-fi one-man band The Microphones is actually a reissue from 2001. Nonetheless, it requires multiple listens for the baked-in subdued goodness to soak into your big musical brain. Containing hushed melodies and tranquil rhythms accentuated via simple yet elegant instrumentation, the folksy feel and organic aura of this 20-track affair emits an engaging charm and earthy feel that reverberates through your soul. If you dig tripped out yet mellow music injected with a sense of lovelorn melancholy, then this disc (which comes with a bonus disc chock full of alternative versions, other tracks, and assorted other goodies) will be a welcomed addition to your collection. www.krecs.com -Mike SOS

OVERTHRONE
DECLARATIONS OF SECESSION
SELF-RELEASED
Sounding a bit too polished for the catacombs and definitely way too advanced to come from America, the Illinois duo known as Overthrone unleash their black metal malaise to the masses in the form of the eight-track DECLARATIONS OF SECESSION. Taking the template set by bands such as Cradle of Filth and incorporating it into their bastardized concoction of blast beats, synth overlays, and demonic vocalizations, songs like the title cut and "The Tribunal" contain the frenetic energy and genuine disdain necessary to pull off a competent yet maligned mutation of black, death, and progressive metal. www.myspace.com/overthroneband ; -Mike SOS

A SKYLIT DRIVE
WIRES AND THE CONCEPT OF BREATHING
TRAGIC HERO
Lodi, CA sextet A Skylit Drive champion the screamo dynamic on their 13-track release WIRES AND THE CONCEPT OF BREATHING. While at times the disc treads the dreaded paint by numbers waters, there's some decent riffing and strong song structures beyond the surface of the uber-nascent Coheed-esque vocals and played to death breakdowns ("Eris and Dysnomia", "Knights of the Round") allowing this squad a chance to stand out somewhat in the vast sea of bands with bad haircuts wearing their girlfriend's jeans. www.tragicherorecords.com ; -Mike SOS

LIFERUINER

TAKING BACK THE NIGHTLIFE

UPRISING

Straight-edge deathcore unit Liferuiner bring another seething slab of modern anger to life on their latest 11-track offering TAKING BACK THE NIGHTLIFE. Injecting the similarly raucous rage of bands like Emmure, Bury Your Dead, and similarly-minded moshcore troupes into their bass drop and guitar chug heavy bag of tricks, songs like “Americant” and “Bad Rock Anthem” employ the aforementioned's crushing tactics before the breakdown breaks your neck. Ultimately, Liferuiner's solid sense of basic hardcore melodics and coarse musical output make them different than many in their own peer group, yet their senseless profanity and overwrought applications of the genre's cliches don't afford them enough momentum to break away from the crowded pack. www.uprisingrecords.com -Mike SOS

STRAIGHT LINE STITCH

WHEN SKIES WASH ASHORE

KOCH

Female fronted aggro metal seems to be in fashion thanks to bands like In This Moment and of course Lacuna Coil, and you can add Tennessee quintet Straight Line Stitch to the list. This group's latest 10-track disc WHEN SKIES WASH ASHORE juxtaposes the differences between Staind, DevilDriver, and Killswitch Engage, melding melodic hooks with blistering metalcore beats for a commercially viable yet undeniably heavy sound that seems perfect for an Ozzfest headlining slot. The real equalizer here though is singer Alexis Brown, who, much like Lajon from Sevendust, gives this band the leeway to glide from bruising to beautiful with relative ease thanks to her tantalizing vocal range. While there seem to be a few cuts on the disc that seem a bit forced to be different, songs like “Seneca Tragedy” is full-on radio friendly metal and “Adult Cinema” can stand up on its own as a truly crushing amalgamation of nu-metal and metalcore. The off-road antics of Straight Line Stitch provide mixed results, yet when this band fires with all guns blazing on songs like “Taste of Ashes” and the tender acoustic track “Yesterday's Gone”, Straight Line Stitch delivers their version of metal with a soulful force that demands attention. www.kochrecords.com -Mike SOS

OPIATE FOR THE MASSES

MANIFESTO

CENTURY MEDIA

Opiate for the Masses is a veteran act whose current release MANIFESTO takes a number of elements from a metal smorgasbord to comprise its sound, with melodic industrial metal taking the reigns and being the most prevalent throughout the 11-track sojourn. Electronically charged with the machine-like manipulations not unlike the harder moments conceived by Linkin Park or Stabbing Westward, tracks like “Black Book” and “Lie” keep the dance floor rocking with heavy guitars and a dark throb while the darkwave-esque “Naked”, “The Habit” and the guitar-standout “Dead Underground” veer towards digitalized malaise of acts like NIN or Marilyn Manson. Despite this quartet's less than stellar concealing of the influences summoned here, the catchy hooks, familiar-sounding structures, and flashy production provides a radio-friendly escape into an alternate Hollywood-created world where slick-sounding dramatically dynamic metal blasts through the seedy clubs and soundtracks the action scenes. www.centurymedia.com -Mike SOS

EARLY GRAVES

WE: THE GULLITONE

IRONCLAD

Sometimes bad things happen for a greater good, and such is the case when referring to the plight and resurgence of Early Graves. Refreshingly injecting dollops of crusty Swedish metal into their chest-thumping Hatebreed meets vicious punk metal on acid formula, this San Francisco quartet convincingly sever the ties with its former identity Apiary and come out with their severely savage 11-track re-emergence WE: THE GUILLOTINE. Produced by underground metal guru Steve Austin (who also lends musical and vocal support) and boasting a guest spot by Oxbow crazyman Eugene Robinson on the sinewy yet haunting “Here There Be Monsters, this ferocious yet focused affair emits bold-faced brutality as only a metal hybrid which counts Converge, Discharge, and Entombed as its influences could muster, as tracks such as “Ghosts Among Us” and “First Name:Porter” violently hurl shards of metal fury while “Safety Net Acrobats” keeps the inimitable spirit of d-beat beatdowns alive and well. Sparing no one in their assault, Early Graves have patched together an impressive composite of underground metal propelled by its own destructive tendencies and uncompromising array of sheer heaviness. www.ironcladrecordings.com -Mike SOS

HEADHUNTER

PARASITE OF SOCIETY

CANDLELIGHT

Headhunter, the side project of Destruction's figurehead Schmier, returns after a 14-year absence with PARASITE OF SOCIETY. This 11-track album alternates between power metal, thrash metal, and even toys with the mainstream with a cover of Skid Row's “18 & Life”, giving fans of vintage metal a kick in the ass. “Remission” features an ethreal effect slightly reminiscent of Alice in Chains, “Doomsday for the Prayer” conjures up some provocative powerhouse riffs and “Payback Time” provides a raw reprieve of balls to the wall metal. In short, there's little surprise to be found here, but this disc acts as a proper aid to soothe the classic metal craving. www.candlelightrecordsusa.com -Mike SOS

VADER

XXV

REGAIN

To commemorate their 25-year run as the premiere Polish death metal band, Vader has released XXV, a twin-disc set which finds the band re-recording a slew of their songs from their humble beginnings to their later works. Adorned with liner notes explaining each track straight from mainman Peter as well benefiting from the technological advances of recording in a studio in 2008, Vader put their legacy to the test and once again show why they've been such a dominant force in the underground metal scene for all these years. The re-recordings of such death metal staples as “Sothis”, “Blood of Kings”, and “Dark Age” showcase a sharpened brutal edge complete with the troupe's trademark deathly growls, whammy-bar acrobatics, and pummeling rhythms coming across as powerful and enraged as ever. www.regainrecords.com -Mike SOS

POLYSICS

WE ATE THE MACHINE

MYSPACE

Yes, you read that right...Myspace Records. Japanese art punk rock troupe Polysics and their latest installment of Devo-inspired new wave WE ATE THE MACHINE is a weird but refreshing choice for such a mainstream outlet, but it works. Heavy beats, odd sounds, and tons of synth-rock give songs like “Kagayake” a Mr. Bungle-esque carnival feel, while “Digital Coffee” has all of the nuances to be considered for an Asian game show theme song. While singing occurs in Japanese, English, and gibberish, the electronic manipulations and pop-rock guitar and drums pretty much translate across the board for a stimulating listening experience for purveyors of video game robot rock. www.myspace.com/myspacerecords -Mike SOS

SUPAGROUP

FIRE FOR HIRE

FOODCHAIN

Channeling the charisma of early AC/DC, Supagroup return with a whiskey-fueled bluesy boogie-rock barrage of tunes that unapologetically kick your ass on FIRE FOR HIRE. This 12-track tour-de-force of titanic rock 'n roll is long on solos and short on fringes, making songs like “Long Live Rock” as concise as possible without feeling contrite. Hailing from New Orleans and falling prey to Hurricane Katrina has made Supagroup celebrate life much more as exhibited by tracks like the groovy DLR-era Van Halen feel on “Born in Exile” while “Promised Land” radiates both Thin Lizzy and Bon Scott at their most wistful. Supagroup will never be accused of being unique, but they cover their influences with a distinct swagger that almost makes you forgive them for rewriting half the AC/DC catalog. And even though many times this disc treads all too familiar waters, the overall verdict on Supagroup's latest carries two horned hands raised high in the air in homage to the fallen rock stars from the mid-'70s. www.foodchainrecords.com -Mike SOS

LAUREN HARRIS

CALM BEFORE THE STORM

DR2
Lauren Harris may be the daughter of Iron Maiden bassist Steve, but you'd never be able to tell by her musical debut. The 12-track offering titled CALM BEFORE THE STORM fits more along the likes of Avril Lavigne and Pat Benetar rather than her father's NWOBHM roots, giving songs like “From the Bottom to the Top”, “See Through” and “Get Over It” a pop-rock mainstream radio aura spit-shined to excess. Despite the album boasting solid musicianship on cuts like “Come On Over” and some tasty guitars throughout, the overall affair lacks that intangible spark and emotion, relegating this disc to the ranks of an above average bar band struggling to find its voice.
www.demolitionrecords.com -Mike SOS

CRADLE TO GRAVE

TEXAS MEDICINE

YEAR OF THE SUN

Crushing Canadian crew Cradle to Grave cram a truckload of groove metal licks and unabashed aggression into their 11-track release TEXAS MEDICINE. There's enough Pantera worship here to last a lifetime, but there's more to this quartet than that, as this disc balances out the mix with shards of punk metal grit and thrash metal tempo blasts to make this Devin Townsend-produced affair a ballsy bruiser you'll be playing over and over. If you dig having to do with the Cowboys from Hell, Pissing Razors, Machine Head, or Sepultura, this disc will leave an indelible impression on you with its well-textured metal attack. www.yearofthesun.com -Mike SOS

BLACKWINDS

FLESH INFERNO

REGAIN

Swedish black metal project Blackwinds rekindles the dark flames of the early '90s on their 10-track excursion FLESH INFERNO. Bursting out of the gate with a bastardized barrage of tremolo picking and hellish vocals, tracks like “Plague Bringer” and “Enter the Pandemonium” conjure up evil spirits with a convincingly chilling tone while sheer velocity spins “Crimson Thirst” into another realm of being before the symphonic waves of keyboards catapult your ears back to hell. Blackwinds is far from groundbreaking, but does an ample job of striking a middle ground between well-produced and raw with an endless supply of wickedly nightmarish tones present to creep into your subconscious and disturb your state of mind. www.regainrecords.com -Mike SOS

ROCKETSHIP PARK

OFF & AWAY

SERIOUS BUSINESS

An ensemble of NYC musicians comprise the alternative Americana act Rocketship Park, whose latest 10-track release OFF & AWAY is laden with a vast array of instrumentation from strings to horns, working together to add ush textures to the sad melodies heard on the weepy “Drinkin Buddy” and “Birthday Death Wish”. From the piano and tambourine led shuffle of “Loser's Lament” to pedal steel guitarwork on “Family Farm” to the handclaps and banjo plucks on “Because Two Candles” to the vibraphone on “Stuck in a Dream”, the stunning accoutrements added to this disc's melancholic acoustic guitar and vocal approach reveal lush dreamlike places lying past random Midwestern prarielands where Neil Young, My Morning Jacket, Wilco and Lucinda Williams frequently visit. www.seriousbusinessrecords.com -Mike SOS

ASCEND

AMPLE FIRE WARNING

SOUTHERN LORD

Drone and doom collide with a refreshingly regal tone reverberating throughout on the latest offering from the titanic tandem Ascend. Featuring no strangers to things that creep in the night (Greg Anderson and Gentry Densely), AMPLE FIRE WARNING is a five-track love affair with the slow and deliberate, meshing knee-buckling tempos, hefty guitars and left of center instrumental flourishes such as trombone and Wurlitzer (“Dark Matter”) with both obligatory and obscure textures rounding out its foreboding crush while unleashing the wrath of slithering cobras (“V.O.G.”). Aided by some interesting cameos (including Kim Thayil of Soundgarden) while boldly interjecting a broader musical scope into their weighty thump and thud, this well-decorated exercise in sheer excess provides lovers of massive ambience a shiny new toy to play with. www.southernlord.com -Mike SOS

KATAKLYSM

PREVAIL

NUCLEAR BLAST

Canadian crushers Kataklysm return with their tried and true death metal assault set to destroy on PREVAIL. Faithfully following the punishing playbook this squad has executed since the early '90s, this extreme metal quartet's skull-cracking 10-track contribution meshes warmongering vocals with pounding rhythms and machine gun guitarwork on such smoldering tracks as “The Chains of Power” and the mid-tempo mauling audible on “Blood in Heaven”. Consistent in providing rumbling blasts of melodic death metal, Kataklysm's latest offering maintains the levels of ferocity while keeping their trademark simple yet effective approach fully intact. www.nuclearblastusa.com -Mike SOS

VARIOUS ARTISTS

PAGAN FIRE

NUCLEAR BLAST

Those looking to become acquainted with the pagan, folk, and Viking strain of metal would be remiss to pass on picking up PAGAN FIRE, the 16-track compilation disc assembled by Nuclear Blast. Running the gamut both spatial and stylistically, this collection showcases pioneering squads such as Bathory to the latest acts ranging from Eluveitie to Thyrfing. A bevy of multi-layered metal assaults containing the genre's unique instrumentation, well-textured songwriting, and a flair for the fantastic in all of its glorious splendor is delivered here with a deserved pageantry and revelry leading the brigade. Providing a one stop shop for a place where tin whistles, thrash guitars, symphonic keyboards, and folksy overtones coexist, if your interested has been piqued by the likes of Turisas and Amon Amarth and you'd like to delve further, this is a great place to start. . www.nuclearblastusa.com -Mike SOS

EDDY DYER

INTO DOVES OF GREY

ROOTSUCKER

A subdued and melancholic aura envelopes the 14-tracks contained on Eddy Dyer's latest offering INTO DOVES OF GREY. Consisting of mainly acoustic guitar and voice with some mandolin peeking through at times, this 14-track endeavor showcases traces of psychedelica on “Nthru Nbeon”, issues with spirituality on cuts like the not so subtle “Jesus Christ”, the protest-esque “Snakes out of Boston” and “Out at Night” and a glimpse at Dyer's personal relationships on “Song for Jamie” and the richly strummed “Jennifer”. Meshing the stark nuances of Jack Johnson with a rebellious streak poised at full strength, Eddy Dyer's unique subject matter and stark arrangements yield an unexpectedly hearty listening experience. www.rootsuckerrecords.com -Mike SOS

DROPCLUTCH

THE REASON

SELF RELEASED

Upstate NY quintet Dropclutch have incorporated the best moments from modern rock radio into their 10-track jaunt THE REASON. Heavy downtuned guitars, thunderous basslines, and tasty drum work fills out this unit's Staind meets Godsmack by way of Seether approach on tracks like “Understand” and “Hollow” while cuts like “Make Your Move” and “Over & Over” really hammer out the aggression a la Mudvayne. Armed with an accessible yet rumbling sound while demonstrating an endless array of bass and guitar chugging to keep the heads bobbing and the bodies grooving, there's a place on your shelves between Sevendust and Nonpoint for Dropclutch's latest fist-pumping release. www.dropclutch.com -Mike SOS

EKSER

PATTERNS OF REPRISAL

SHIVEN

Arizona extreme metal quartet Ekser demonstrate their firm handle of technical death metal intricacies on the 10-track PATTERNS OF REPRISAL. This offering combines blinding percussive work and breakneck rhythms with clinical guitarwork on tracks like “Sinners Reflection” and “Cold Blooded Embrace”, much like the wares of bands like The Black Dahlia Murder and Arsis. Despite this outfit's undeniable talent though (just check out the Megadeth-esque instrumental “Redemption” as an example), this affair lacks that intangible spark to get them ahead of the curve. Even though Ekser boasts a sturdy front and solid compositions that can hold their own, there's still something distinct missing here that keeps them from clearing the hurdle. www.shivenrecords.com -Mike SOS