Author Archive for Paige Camisasca
Review: Amorphis – Circle
Few metal bands have gotten more lyrical mileage out of the Kalevala, Finland’s national myth, than Amorphis. Yet on their 11th studio full-length, the Helsinki-based sextet diversifies with lyricist Pekka Kainulainen’s original narrative about an outcast hero. Complementing the story, the superbly orchestrated music sweeps the listener away. It’s easy to appreciate vocalist Tomi Joutsen’s [...]
Review: Niacin – Krush
As one would expect, fusion super-trio Niacin deliver all-star chops on this sixth album. But when keyboardist John Novello, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Dennis Chambers do their thing, like when Sheehan’s nimble four-string weaves in and out of Novello’s Hammond B3 and Chamber’s grooving beat on the title track, you’ll likely mutter “great song” [...]
Review: Drowning Pool – Resilience
Since the 2002 death of original lead singer Dave Williams, this Texan quartet has endured a revolving door of singers and yet managed to produce consistently killer albums with an unmistakable sound. This continues with album No. 5, featuring vocalist No. 4 in new guy Jasen Moreno. His bark propels stompers like “Anytime Anyplace,” “Life [...]
Review: Senses Fail – Renacer
Forget what you think you know about Senses Fail because Renacer sees the band burying their pop tendencies beneath breakdowns so brutal that even Hatebreed fans will be sated. Recorded with Far guitarist Shaun Lopez, the album sees vocalist Buddy Nielsen screaming like an NYHC veteran as the band mirrors his aggression via the sonic [...]
Review: Mortillery – Origin of Extinction
Unlike the many retro-thrash bands that accompany adrenaline-injected passages with strangled screams and growls, this Canadian quintet are as driven by raw-throated melodies as by speedy, crunching riffs. Not that singer Cara McCutchen lacks aggression, she just expresses it in a way that’s more memorable than most of her peers. Mortillery’s second full-length is a [...]
Review: Iron Reagan – Worse Than Dead
Featuring Municipal Waste vocalist Tony Foresta and bassist Land Phil (on guitar) alongside two former members of Darkest Hour, Iron Reagan revive the pissed-off political punk/thrash crossover of the ’80s, exhuming none other than the Gipper—every punk’s favorite presidential punching bag—for their namesake. Worse than Dead packs 19 short, sharp shocks like “Eyes Piss Tears,” [...]
Review: Tear Out the Heart – Violence
Violence is certainly an apt title for this St. Louis metalcore troupe’s debut full-length. There’s a genuine whiplash threat on these 11 tracks, which either charge forth at blitzkrieg speeds (“Crucified,” “Eternal Shadows”) or lumber along with the earth-shaking quality of a Brontosaurus wearing chain mail (“Infamous Last Words,” “Coffin Eyes” featuring Story of the [...]
Review: The Almost – Fear Inside Our Bones
“Don’t look to me for hope/I’m just like you,” croons The Almost frontman, and former Underoath, drummer Aaron Gillespie on the title track of the alt rockers’ third album. Candid lyrics like this paired with the band’s decision to record completely live make for its most raw and organic album yet. Fear Inside Our Bones [...]
Review: Nero Di Marte – Nero Di Marte
Like a gifted and talented love child of Leviathan-era Mastodon and latter-day Death, the Bologna, Italy, group paint a dark, dynamic, and ultimately melodic prog-metal canvas on this follow-up to 2011’s Malochian EP (recorded when they were Murder Therapy). “Convergence” comes together with fierce infectiousness as Sean Worrell’s feral-gatto vocals and jarring yet lyrical guitars [...]
Review: Intronaut – Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)
Building upon 2010’s Valley of Smoke, Intronaut continue to own the prog-metal netherworld between the jazzy acrobatics of Cynic and the doomier textures of Baroness. Near-constant meter and rhythm shifts are an integral part of their new, fourth album, whether Intronaut are sawing and screaming or engaging in delicate arpeggios and melodic vocal harmonies. And [...]
