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Review: Amorphis – Circle

Paige Camisasca — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 13:00:22 +0000

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 soulful melancholy on epic tracks like “Mission” and “Hopeless Days,” as determined guitars and chiming keyboards evoke a vast northern landscape. Drummer Jan Rechberg offers perfectly timed accents worthy of Dream Theater on “Into the Abyss.” This circle is complete. LUCAS AYKROYD

Sample all the tracks on Circle below:

Review: Niacin – Krush

Paige Camisasca — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 13:00:41 +0000

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” rather than “great lick.” One of the best tunes is “Stormy Sunday,” which features proggy, ELP-like arrangements that glow with Novello’s Keith Emersonesque organ work. Another is “Car Crash Red,” a high-octane thrill ride that channels Edgar Winter and reveals three jazz/rock monsters having loads of fun. JEFF PERLAH

Check out the title track off Krush below:

Review: Drowning Pool – Resilience

Paige Camisasca — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:00:32 +0000

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 of Misery,” and “Broken Again,” which blow through the front door like an angry bull. The weakest songs here are the singles: “One Finger and a Fist” is full of unconvincing declarations of being “hardcore,” and “Saturday Night” is an awkward attempt at a party song. Otherwise, Drowning Pool prove resilient once again. JEREMY BORJON

Check out “One Finger and a Fist” off Resilience below:

Review: Senses Fail – Renacer

Paige Camisasca — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 13:00:19 +0000

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 assault of tracks like “Holy Mountain” and “Courage Of The Knife.” That’s not to say Renacer doesn’t have its share of melodic moments such as the intro to “Snake Bite,” but ultimately these well-place segues are but a welcome respite from the pummeling power of the riff. JONAH BAYER

Check out “The Path” Off Renacer below:

Review: Mortillery – Origin of Extinction

Paige Camisasca — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:00:49 +0000

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 well-crafted balance of unrelenting force and tuneful hooks that should bowl over fans of early Overkill and Testament. “Cease to Exist” hits full boil with hyper-caffeinated rhythms and skull-rattling vocals, and “F.O.A.D.” is a foul-mouthed rally cry of rebellion and self-empowerment that suggests Mortillery won’t be sidetracked from their chosen path. JON WIEDERHORN

Check out “F.O.A.D.” off Origin of Extinction below:

Review: Iron Reagan – Worse Than Dead

Paige Camisasca — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 13:00:03 +0000

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,” “Drop the Gun,” and “Eat Shit and Live” into under 25 minutes, leaving absolutely no room for filler—or even breathing. Loaded with monster mosh riffs and airtight thrash gallops crowned with Foresta’s rapid-fire delivery, Iron Reagan deliver a circle-pit soundtrack for the ages. J. BENNETT

Review: Tear Out the Heart – Violence

Paige Camisasca — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 13:00:00 +0000

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 Year’s Dan Marsala). With his wide range—from netherworld growls to heavenly clean vocals—frontman Tyler Konersman is the star of the show, but his bandmates certainly push his performance through sophisticated but still fierce arrangements. Pacifists need not apply. GARY GRAFF

Check out “Undead Anthem” Off Violence below:

Review: The Almost – Fear Inside Our Bones

Paige Camisasca — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 18:35:04 +0000

“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 delivers thundering rhythms and crunchy guitars fans will love, at times even tapping into the pop-rock effervescence of the Foo Fighters. Some tracks feel like filler, including a left-field cover of Andrew Gold’s “Lonely Boy.” But the highlights, like the blues-heavy “Ghost,” are strong enough to pick up the slack. MEGHAN TRAYNOR

Check out “Ghost” off Fear Inside Our Bones below:

Review: Nero Di Marte – Nero Di Marte

Paige Camisasca — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:43:17 +0000

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 blend with Marco Bolognini’s amazing drum splatter. Things get more ominous and atmospheric on “Time Dissolves,” and more pulverizing and abrasive on “Resilient” and throughout the sprawling, devilishly arranged title track—imagine ’70s-era King Crimson doing extreme metal. JEFF PERLAH

Check out an album teaser of Nero Di Marte below:

Review: Intronaut – Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones)

Paige Camisasca — Tue, 05 Mar 2013 21:19:25 +0000

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 while there are motifs that bind the songs together—the tinny guitar stabs and pulsing counter beat of “The Welding,” the sporadic throbbing thud of “Milk Leg”—the band’s primary objective is to lift listeners off their feet and keep them floating, with only occasional handholds for stability. JON WIEDERHORN

Check out “Milk Leg” off Habitual Levitations (Instilling Words With Tones) below: