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Mach 5 | Cavalar | Place of Skulls | American Distress | Dog Fashion Disco | Doomtree | Thyrane | Katatonia | Sodom | Abandoned Souls | Evergrey | The Deviant | Southern Gentlemen | Incarnated | Fire for Effect | Vanden Plas | Rob Zombie | Iron Fire | Raunchy | Beyond Fear Mach 5 Mach 5 is a band that's been around the block. The line up features vocalist Mach Bell (Thundertrain/Joe Perry Project), guitarist Dee Stroy (Sugabomb/The Johnnies), bassist Jeff Thomas and drummer Jimmy Birmingham (The Real Kids) and, on "Meet Mach 5," which is their debut release, the band doesn't waste any time in showing the listener what they're all about. They are, in my opinion, a combination of 70's rock, modern bar rock, punk, classic rock with a bit of sleaze and maybe even some garage rock thrown in as well. It's kind of funny that I got this album because, well, let me try to paint a picture here for you so you know what I'm talking about. Just the other day, I was listening to the Def Leppard album "On Through The Night," as well as early releases from bands like Kix, AC/DC, Venom, Motley Crue and Bon Jovi. With every artist I mentioned, it was pretty much their debut release that I was talkin' about. Anyway, I made a comment about how they don't make albums like this anymore. Every band I just mentioned, of course, went on to bigger and better things, which is cool. But, those early releases had a raw, aggressive feel and, in most cases, they're no the albums that people usually point to when they're talkin' about the bands "greatest" record and I never understood why. These releases were pure and, like I said, they had a raw, aggressive feel. You don't hear that kind of music anymore. But, as I sat here listening to "Meet Mach 5," that's exactly what I heard and, let me tell you something, this album became a favorite from the moment I heard it because of that. I know what I heard and I didn't need anything to back up my opinion. However, after reading the liner notes on this album, vocalist Mach Bell said it best...he wrote, and I quote, "We recorded the set just like we play it in the clubs every weekend. Mach 5 was designed to be enjoyed undiluted. We have all been heavily influenced by the hardest rocking songs of the 50's, 60's, 70's and 80's. I am not too sure what happened to rock in the 90's...but...I am hoping you guys can all get behind what Mach 5 is dishing out today. I gotta rock!" There's only one other thing I'd like to add. When it comes time to record another album, I seriously hope Mach 5 holds on to the magic that can be heard on this release because this is what rock 'n' roll should sound like and "Meet Mach 5" is a perfect example of how a band can sound today while still remaining true to what rock 'n' roll should be. Gotta love it! Cavalar As a metal of fact...this is a pretty rockin' album. Cavalar are a hard rocking band who keep one foot in classic, one foot in current. They play rough and raw hard rock with influence from both the old school and the current style. Influences include Alice in Chains, Damageplan, and Godsmack, as well as much from classic hard rock/metal from the 70s and 80s. Guitarist Tadeu Dias can really shred, taking influence from guitar greats like Dimebag, Tony Iommi, and Micheal Schenker. Vocalist Twitch, meanwhile, sings in a gutsy, melodic voice. All of the songs are riff happy rockers that pack a whallop, with a raw, stripped down sound. Cavalar doesn't mess around, they just rock out, playing twelve original tunes and a cover of the Sabbath classic, "Hole In The Sky". PLACE OF SKULLS This was some crushing doom metal in the vein of old Trouble and St. Vitus. Riffs that will have you head pounding and heart racing. This is pure old school doom not like some of these bands today. The vocals are clean, but powerful and the guy can sing with some emotion and really gets into it. If you like Black Sabbath, Kyuss, and just anything heavy and pure then this band is your ticket. Info: http://www.mainsstreamrecords.de American Distress American Distress, who hail from New York, offer up a quick blast of straight up, in your face, straight up punk music that's performed with raw energy. What really caught my ear was the fact that American Distress seem to actually know how to play their instruments. They're not really "sloppy," as a lot of punk bands tend to be. That fact, I believe, makes their musical assault more deadly. By the time they get to track eight, "Eternal Bullshit," they seem to turn up the volume and aggression knobs as if to say, "You might be more than halfway through this album. But, we're not through yet...not by a long shot." The rest of the album holds up rather well. About the only thing I didn't understand was the hidden instrumental track at the end of the album. It didn't seem to have the same punch as the rest of the release, which leads me to believe that it was simply thrown on at the end just for the hell of it...and once you get through this release, you may be suprised to find out that, what you've just heard, lasted a little over half an hour. Yeah, it was short and straight to the point, as punk music should be. But, since it was such a great ride, it makes you feel as if you just spent an eternity crankin' this release. Thank God for the repeat button, which you'll use quite often if American Distress just happens to be in your CD player. http://www.tentcityrecords.com DOG FASHION DISCO This band throw in some groove, some thrash and it wasn't bad this time around. I usually would dismiss most bands of this style as just another groove band, but not this one. The band just rip it up and tear it down with their brand of metal. The band also throw in some weird parts as well, so you never know what is coming next. The vocals are strong and powerful and this band packs a wallop. Good stuff and I was surprised. Info: http://www.rottenrecords.com Doomtree Doomtree has taught me that you should never judge a book by the cover. It's a lesson that I was happy to learn. You see...when I saw the name of the band and the album cover, I thought they were gonna be doom or death metal. Since I'm not a big fan of either style of music, I figured I could end my suffering quickly by throwin' the disc into my player and giving it a listen with the fast forward button. Then I could say it sucked and move on to something that was worth listening to. I didn't think this would be an album that I'd add to my ever growing collection. Oh, man...was I ever wrong. Doomtree isn't a death metal band. They're not doom either. I'm not really sure what label you'd wanna slap on 'em. I'd have to say that they're a raw, high energy, modern rock band with a punk element. I'd also stick 'em with a term that I like to throw around every now and then...bar rock. Before you go and get the wrong idea, let me explain...because I know there's some of you out there who might think that I'm talkin' about a cover band that's playin' for free beer while doing an amateur version of your favorite Lynyrd Skynyrd tune. No...that's not what I'm talkin' about. Doomtree's much better than that. When I listen to the ten tracks on "Down Below," I get the feeling that these tunes weren't made for a disc...they were made to blow your head off in person. I'd love to see this band in concert. Not on a huge stage though. This is the kind of band that I would like to go to a club to see. That way, I can get right up there in front of the stage...with beer in hand...and feel the full impact of their performance. Throw 'em on stage in front of an audience of a few hundred people...let's say five hundred or so...and that would be a good freakin' time. It would be a more "personal" experience that way. Hope you got the picture that I'm trying to paint because I can't think of any other way to describe what I'm talkin' about. As an added bonus, you can throw the disc into your computer to view a few minutes worth of studio footage as well as the video for "Severed," which is the first track on "Down Below." It's worth watching...that is, if you can manage to take this one out of your CD player for a moment. I know it might be hard to do because it's such a great release. But, that's what you've gotta do if you wanna see the extra stuff. http://www.doomtree.com THYRANE This was a really cool band. The band take razor sharp riffing like Destruction and mix it up with melodic death metal and it comes out really cool. The riffs hooked me in and I was a fan from note # 1. The vocals are good soild death metal style and the production is clear and the guitar sound packed a whallop. A band worthy of checking out. Info: http://www.candlelightusa.com Katatonia Through the various ups and downs in the life of any given band, Katatonia deliver a relentless journey of atmospheric dark metal with their latest, 7th release , "The Great Cold Distance". This is the first full length release by them I have listened to. With the exception of the untimely interruptions twice per song, I am very impressed. Yeah, in hopes to halt some illegal copying, the promo here has a soothing voice letting you know what song you are listening to. Now I'm gonna have to go buy a real copy for myself. Anyways, since their formation in '91, this Stockholm, Sweden outfit have been winning over audiences with some of the most technical , doom/gothic and depressive rock known to man. This being the follow-up to 2003's 'Viva Emptiness', is sure to be a hit among fans. And in the wide spectrum of things, they should as well hit it big with a broader audience. One goal here at Metal Warrants is to try and open the eyes of commercial radio. To show them what they are and have been missing. Katatonia are one of the too many to mention underground acts in the metal world that just seem to slip by the sensors. Yes. They are a bunch of jackasses. I agree too. But they have the control. One thing they can never take away from any act is the determination to forge ahead and play the music that comes from deep within ones very soul. That's what I get from listening to this album. Yeah, sure it tends to lean much towards the sadder parts of life, but it is done so exquisitely, that you can't help but fall into their world of ambience. Some heavy riffing here and there with some catchy hooks balance this sorrowful sounding record. So sit back, dim the lights and enjoy the beauty that comes forth from your speakers. One listen and you will be hooked. Excellent musicianship and superbly crafted songs. Check out the latest single, "My Twin" at their website if you don't want to take my word for it. http://www.katatonia.com SODOM Sodom return with another killer thrashing release sure to please any fan of the band or anybody into old school metal. Sodom can still crank out the riffs and there is plenty here to sink your teeth into. Angelripper still can sing with power and conviction and this got better with repeated listens. Also check out the bands new DVD which crushes too. Info: http://www.spvusa.com Abandoned Souls These Abandoned Souls cast their Circle Of Shadows (their debut) on the rock world, obviously wanting to put a little darkness in it. Their music is dark, doomy, and dirgy, with quite a lot of grunge influence, only a bit darker and heavier than most grunge bands as we remember them. I'd even say the Souls makes a lot of grunge sound bright and happy in comparison. These guys must live in a crypt or something, because that's how their music sounds. Influences include Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Pearl Jam, Godsmack, Tool, Smashing Pumpkins, and Black Sabbath. In fact, the last song, "It's A Lie", is very Sabbath influenced, and is the album's heaviest song. The other songs are all dark, moody numbers, played on tuned-down instruments, with doom and gloom lyrics. A few songs, like "Fiend", "Severed", "Let Us Prey", and "Sweet Release", rock out a little more, with some driving riffs and more of a rock and roll vibe, but still have that dark aura. This is kind of like a trip back to the 90s. On the one hand we don't really need that (stay dead, grunge!) but on the other hand these guys are pretty good at what they do. They play quite well and the songs are well written. Worth checking out if you like your music dark, moody, and heavy. Evergrey Evergrey are a prog-metal band who have carved a niche for themselves in the metal world over the past few years. They have become known for exploring the dark side of things in their music, and continue to do so on this new album. Evergrey's sound is dark, heavy, and moody, kind of like Fates Warning meets Alice In Chains; with technical and skilled playing, but a stripped to basics and raw sound, with a dark feel to it. This album is probably more straightforward and stripped down than the band's earlier material. The guitars are very pronounced and up front, packing quite a punch on most of the songs, with some chunky, groovy riffs. The whole album has a straight-up, driving metal vibe to it, save for three ballads, "In Rememberance", "Till Dagmar" (an instrumental), and "Closure". The latter two are played entirely on piano and are short. Evergrey take all the best influences from metal and rock from the 80s and 90s, and put in together to make their own sound. The album is technically proficient and played with skill and sophistication, but is also raw, gritty, and straightforward. On top of it all, it is a heavy album that rocks out, and also has some thoughtful lyrics. THE DEVIANT A wicked combo of death/black metal. Sort of Morbid Angel playing black metal. The riffs and playing are fast like a death/speed metal band and the vocals are more in the black metal vein. The riffs smoked and blew me away. An unholy guitar sound and playing sucked me in more and more. The production is perfect and this band just crushes. Info: http://www.candlelightrecordsusa.com Southern Gentlemen Southern Gentlemen are back with their latest 'Third Time Is The Charm'. If you have not heard of these guys before, don't let the name fool you. They are not a country act. In fact far from it. The band consists of guitarist/founder David T. Chastain, Mike Haid - drums with new additions to band. Dave Swart - bass and Eric Johns on vocals. Johns vocals are the highlight of this album. Great he fits in perfect with this down-home fusion of heavily blues induced rock/metal. First reaction when I popped this one is was the debut album by Badlands. Very close in sound. Johns vocals are even just as close as Ray Gillen's. Chastain wants to introduce the band to more of those unaccustomed with the style of music. Not a problem here. It is a style that has been in the works for quite some time. Just the bands have been few and far between and not always up to par. Chastain and Co. have on their hands a real winner here. It's an upbeat, "lethal combination" of hard rock, blues and metal influences. Chastain adds,"…it is definitely a modernization of some classic music. I think if people will listen to this CD without preconceived opinions, they will really like it." Well, that's how I headed into this one, and he's 100% correct. I really like it. It's a fresh twist in a genre that deserves some well received attention. Southern Gentlemen are just the band to fill the gap and bring their blues influenced hard rock to the masses. The vocals are exceptional. The rhythm section is precise and powerful. The guitar work, well, it's David T. Chastain. So yeah, magnificent works. Metal heads and rockers alike need to check this one out. You won't be let down. " Even Now, Broken Man, Don't Go and Reflections" are just a few standout tracks on this release. A must for fans of Deep Purple, Junkyard, Badlands as well as any fan of hard rock and metal. http://www.leviathanrecords.com Incarnated Incarnated, hailing from Poland, have been tearing shit up with their brutal "Gorephobic Slaughtering Metal" since 1992. This is without a doubt one of the most blistering, severe, fast, death metal albums I've heard in some time. Now I can't praise how original this track sounds like or how fresh that one sounds like. Like I said, brutal, super fast drumming, insane guitar riffs and guttural vocals influenced by the likes of 80's/90's Swedish bands. A definite must for any gore/death metal maniac. I'm glad it's part of my collection now. I mean with tracks like ," Rotten Visions, Genetic Deformations, Blood For Blood and Human Meat" , how can one go wrong. Okay, sure you could. But this is up there with some of the genre's leaders. Atrocious, vile, evil, intense and heavy as hell. Just a few of the essentials that make up the album. http://www.selfmadegod.com FIRE FOR EFFECT This was a old school thrash band and a very good one I must say. The music is above average and the songs are crunchy and powerful as this played on. The vocals are the thrash style. The crunch is there for sure. This band add a bit of variety to their songs and I think the passion is there, this just kicked my ass. info: http://www.fireforeffect.us Vanden Plas Renowned progressive metal band Vanden Plas have released their latest opus in "Christ O", and some consider it their most ambitious yet. "Christ O" is a rock opera of sorts inspired by the story "The Count Of Monte Christo". The story is not really all that clear to me, but the music is quite a piece of work. The band appears to have raised the bar a bit for themselves and are exploring new territories and testing their abilities while still remaining true to their prog-metal roots. Vanden never forget that they are a metal band, with skillful guitar work and a driving metal beat plentiful throughout the album. They go from speed metal riffs to more modern, chunky, near-Pantera style axework. There's also a lot of classical influence, with orchestral and string arrangements, and classical style piano, guitar, and percussion used frequently. Of course there is also much influence from prog-rock godfathers (Yes, ELP, etc), and Rush appear to be a big influence as well. Vocalist Andy Kuntz sounds quite a lot like Geddy Lee, and one song in particular, "Wish You Were Here", sounds especially Rush influenced. Other progressive metal bands, like Dream Theater, Savatage, and Fates Warning, have also rubbed off on Vanden. The playing and songwriting on this album are brilliantly done. The keyboard work in particular stood out. Vanden's keysman (sorry, his name wasn't given) sure knows how to tickle the ivories, and his style is very influenced by Keith Emerson and other keymasters. This album has a dark tale to tell, so there is a dark, mournful atmosphere to the music throughout it. Although this album is a very fine opus, I have to admit it is a little overindulgent in places. The songs and the whole album are quite lengthy, and sometimes the band overplays. Of course that's how things are in the prog genre, so fans shouldn't have a problem with that. But this is the kind of album that is for die-hard fans only. Anyone else might not be able to handle or appreciate it. Consider yourself warned! But seriously folks, Vanden are a very talented band and appear to have surpassed their previous work with "Christ O". This is a milestone album for the band and the genre, and should have fans in awe! As a surprise bonus, a cover of the song "Gesthemane" (originally from the Andrew Lloyd-Webber musical "Jesus Christ Superstar") is included as a hidden bonus track. Rob Zombie Well by now, I'm sure most of you have heard the latest single from the master of horror. The one that made you stop and go, "what?!". "Foxy Foxy" is the one. And that's what I did the first time I heard it myself. And after hearing it a few more times on the radio I had just chalked it up as the first radio single. You know the one for the masses, for the stations. To sell some albums to a broader audience. Nothing wrong with that. So here I get a copy of the full length album 'Educated Horses' to review. Cool. As any music fan, you always want to hear some new material. Especially from Zombie. After last years stellar Ozzfest performance headlining the second stage, and five years since his last studio effort, 'The Sinister Urge', Zombie fanatics as well as the rest of us wanted to hear something fresh. And fresh is an understatement with this one. What was it that I was expecting? I own a couple of Zombie records. I listen (by force mostly) to the radio, and was sure all the hype leading up to the new material was going to blow everything from the years past out of the water. You really have to put on your listening caps with 'Educated Horses'. Before it sounds like I'm downing this album, I'm not. But I'll tell you, the first couple of times through, I was bored. Yeah, bored. I'm listening to it right now. Probably the 8th or 9th time. From start to finish. Not so boring anymore. What it is though, is a softer, more mature sounding Rob Zombie. The first six tracks sort of flow through the speakers in a solid rock fashion. All pretty much follow the same formula. As do the last four tracks of the disk. There are a few dark fashioned, movie type intros here and there. Track 7, "Let It All Bleed Out" is the hard and heavy-edged Zombie style we have all come to enjoy and respect. And respect for the rest of the disk is well deserved too. You are going to have an open mind before you put this one in the player and throw out any preconceptions you may have about what it will sound like. Lyrically all the tracks are written in the Zombie-esque style. Freaks, killing, girls, witches, horror. The usual. Musically, as I have said before. The music here-in is a more mellow approach. It is definitely a lot more structured and seems a bit more thought out than his chunky, chug-a-lug chunk chunk songs. And after appreciating the immense talent/s on this album, whether you like the way it sounds or not, it has it's rightful place amongst the great Zombie releases already out there. And is sure to sell very well. Even among those who may not own any previous material. After my initial shock, I'm very impressed with the overall quality, sound and direction of ' Educated Horses' . And I also feel that most of you will be too. http://www.robzombie.com IRON FIRE Over a decade of experience and positive changes in the group's lineup has refined the sound of Iron Fire, with their latest Napalm record being the band's most focused outing as of yet. Incorporating driving, chugging guitar rhythms and fleet-footed double kick beats, "IronHead" reflects the Denmark quintet's affinity for creating German-style, power metal anthems, while during cuts such as "Metal Messiah," Iron Fire displays a more traditional approach to their songwriting, giving "Revenge" a sense of balance that many bands can't seem to accomplish. On the latter track, the vocals of Martin Steene (Force Of Evil) are allowed plenty of room to maneuver. The singer displays a noteworthy range and an impressive amount of vocal control, making this track a must-hear for fans of talented vocalization. Another remarkable highlight is the manner in which the group utilizes accents, with each member getting their turn in the spotlight via a vast array of timely accents, poignant lead breaks and adept turnarounds. "Savage Prophecy" resounds as being a standout cut, beginning as a power ballad and developing into a structurally proficient, dramatic rocker. Serving to reintroduce traditional concepts to metal audiences within the framework of power metal, "Revenge" is ultimately a very solid achievement in creating intensely melodic, dramatic heavy metal that's undoubtedly worthy of major attention. RAUNCHY Although these Danes switched vocalists with the induction of new shouter Kasper Thomsen and the exit of one Lars Vognstrup, fans of Raunchy can consider the group to be that much more formidable as a result. It is a rarity that a band can effectively swap frontmen without a major backlash yet Raunchy proves that they're suitably up to the task with broad soundscapes and aggressive sensibility on tracks such as the hooky "Phantoms" and "The Cruse Of Bravery", a real nail-biter featuring a crisp, deadly main riff. Although the band's songwriting remains mostly predictable, top-quality production and talented performances soften trend-sniffing arrangements. Structuring songs in order to achieve maximum dramatic impact is one thing, but the best songwriters avoid repetition and patterns more frequently than you will uncover upon listening to this record. An A+ is due for the bright, punchy tones offered during solid bashers like "Abandon Your Hope", the mix is tight and quite redoubtable. But upon listening to tracks like "Remembrance", it must be noted that chugging on the low register guitar strings for measures on end is not only unoriginal, overdone and unthoughtful, it can become downright irritating if taken in without the proper frame of mind. If As I Lay Dying or any of the countless similar acts that have invaded metal like a supernatural strain of flu were major Faith No More fans, they would probably sound a lot more like Raunchy. Unfortunately, the big hooks don't always save "Death Pop Romance" from being yet another speck on the pimply face of metalcore. Does this album have merit? Yes, "Live The Myth" and the aforementioned "Phantoms" come off as being detached enough from the stereotypes at times. Further maturity and a willingness to further develop their own identity would be recommended, but if you have been living under a rock for the past five years, this still might be something that's new to you. BEYOND FEAR This is Tim Owen's new band. Tim Owen's was in Judas Priest for a few releases. This is a killer heavy metal release to say the least. Tim's vocals sound great as he possesses one hell of a set of lungs. The music is not like Judas Priest, but is just as heavy. The band just rip tune after tune and just destroy all. Riff after molten riff will pound you into oblivion. Highly recommended. Info: http://www.spvusa.com |