Category: Metal

Eritherium- Australian prog death metal outfit release their second album “Polar”

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Eritherium

Polar-11/05/2015

Written and performed by Eritherium:
Joshua Chisenga
Alexander Di Pietro
Gianni Galota

 

Eritherium have recently released their sophmore L.P. currently out on Bandcamp for fans of blackened, progressive death metal.

Here’s a track up on youtube:

 

Full album is streaming and ready for digital download or ordering a four panel digicase with artwork by Casey Stone-Pirrie

 

Head on over to their Facebook Page

and if you like what you here from this song head on over to stream and order “Polar” on BANDCAMP \m/

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Escarnium- Godless Shrine Of Decay Album Review 8/10

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Escarnium

Godless Shrine of Decay

VICTOR ELIAN – Vocals Guitars
VITOR GIOVANNI – Bass/ Vocals
NESTOR CARRERA – Drums

 

  1. Radioactive Doom

This song goes into blast beats and death metal right away with a growl from the vocals. This is some heavy hitting stuff right here, I like it, they really capture the brutally heavy death metal with a section of some low and slow rhythm with a guitar solo coming out of it. The song goes right back to the blast beats and heavy hitting brutal beat for the last few bars of the song.

 

  1. Genocide Ritual

This song is heavy from the very moment it begins, with a cool guitar riff that sets up a groove. You can really get into this song, it has some old school flavor to it and crushes with its heavy hitting rhythm. At about three minutes long the song is pretty straight to the point without any filler. Its heavy, has a groove, and keeps it going until the very end.

 

  1. Human Waste

This song has a little drum beat to start the song off, and then a few bars of double bass and guitars they set things up for the vocals. The song picks up in tempo for the first verse, really giving an old school death metal feel. I dig it, it has a groove and isn’t trying to be over technical or fancy. Just old school heavy death metal from start to finish.

 

  1. Excruciating Existence

This song starts with a quick little drum roll out and goes right into a low growl and heavy buzz saw guitar distortion with a cool groove. The old school death metal sound is great, they aren’t trying to do the popular thing of the week here. They seem to want to play old school death metal.

 

  1. Salvation Through Zyklon B

This song starts out with some noise/ static and then guitars fade in, the drums roll out right into blast beats and the vocals start growling away. This has a great tempo, and groove about it, making this song very easy to head bang into. I am enjoying the drum and bass solo around the 1:22 mark. This is another solid old school death metal song for fans of Suffocation, and Incantation.

 

  1. Nuclear Burial

This song fades into a guitar riff that has that classic distortion sound, and the drums playing exactly how you would be expecting. The song really grooves, and they take it to another level right around the 2:09 minute mark with a bass solo and then a pit destroying section that lasts just shy of sixty seconds and then goes into a guitar solo. This is a rock solid track and may be a fan favorite.

  1. Self Proclaimed Messiah

This song starts out with a 1.2.3.4 on the drums and then the rest of the band joins in with a thick chugging style rhythm. This is a low and slow chugging train of death metal. That is up until the 1:30 mark when they pick up the pace and play some power chords and blast beats during the verses. Around the 3:20 minute mark the guitars kill it with a guitar solo that is simply stated classic. It has a classic death metal sound, and further adds to the enjoyment of this song and its old school sound. The last minute of this song is absolutely decimating, and filled with a groove you can get into before it ends.

 

 

  1. 731

A sound clip of someone speaking at a podium for about eight seconds opens this song up for the band in which they come in full throttle without wasting anytime getting into some brutal death grooves. This song is awesome, they hit this one out of the park. It has a solid beat, a quick tempo, and a groove from the moment they begin to play.

 

  1. Death Metal Terror

I like how this song starts out, it builds up for a few bars and goes into a blast beat filled section to kick off the first verse. The verse is solid mid-tempo and lasts only a few bars before going into a chorus section riddled with blasts. Around the 2:00 minute mark the song takes things to the next level with the chugging riff really locking down a groove and is absolutely perfect to head bang and move to. I know I am not through the album yet, but this may be my personal favorite track. If you haven’t heard Escarnium and you want to sample them with one song, I would pick this. You know exactly what you are getting yourself into, and it is a great listen.

 

  1. Covered in Decadence

This starts out with some vocals and a quick set up of blasts and the guitar playing some chords for a few bars, but take it down in tempo to give it that punching heavy death roll and sets up the first verse. I like the backing vocals on this track as they seem to shadow the main vocals, giving the song some depth vocally. The band really delivers great sound from the guitars, not many are playing the old school death metal like this these days, and Escarnium are doing it right.

  1. Rex Verminorum

This song has a slower start with a nice introduction from the band just jamming out some death metal for just shy of one minute and then rolls right into a quicker tempo and some blasting metal. This song is just a solid rolling death metal song that is to the point and rocks a solid groove.

 

  1. Dark Clouds Of Hells Fire

This song starts out with a 1234 on the kick and muted cymbal followed by a real mean guitar riff. The sound of the ride, where the quarter notes pinging on the bell of the ride. This is like going back to the early nineties death metal scene when the sound was blunt and fierce. The music had a take no prisoners attitude, and the sound was crisp with buzz saw distortion to the guitars. The rhythm was concrete and everyone listening would be head banging at the same time. This song is a perfect example of that, and they really pull it off.

 

  1. Slaves of an Ending Fate

A cool little drum intro kicks things off for a relentless guitar riff that plays out during the first verse and lasts just shy of a minute. They slow things down a bit at the 1:38 mark and brings it down to a slow churn with haunting sound from the guitar and vocals. They start to bring the song back up with the next section of the song, then further builds to the original tempo with a hearty amount of double bass and also blast beats, with the guitar riff we witnessed at the beginning of the track.

 

  1. His Final March

The song starts out with sounds clip of a man speaking in a foreign language, and then a layer of pure evil vocals speaking what would sound like ritualistic chanting from a demon. The band fires up with a driving guitar riff and drums going from a quick set up to some rapid blasting death metal. The first verse follows a guitar riff that delivers a groove along with the classic death metal distortion sound. This is yet another song really rocking the old school death metal sound and really being able to pull it off effortlessly with grace.

 

  1. Enfeeblement nd Iconoclasm

With this many tracks sometimes I like to leave one a mystery, this is that track and all I will tell you, is that it is fucking awesome.

 

  1. Bonus- Covered In Decadence DEMO

This is the demo version of the tenth track on this album, and it shows the listeners what they are bringing to the table as a demo version, you will be surprised because the sound quality is great. This really showcases the diligence of this band and how far they are going with things before it becomes a final product.

 

These guys come in to play death metal and that’s what they do. They aren’t trying to re-invent the wheel, they want to play brutal old school death metal, locking down a groove that so many bands aren’t doing these days and really keeping things simple. From the first track to the last they deliver soul crushing brutal old school death metal like a well-oiled machine firing on all cylinders and hammering out a punishment without any hang-ups. This album is rock solid and is easily 8/10, fans of old school death metal will thoroughly enjoy this album.

 

 

Check them out on FACEBOOK

Preorder the album over at Bandcamp \m/

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

 

Thulnar- Nightfall In Theros E.P. Review 7/10

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Thulnar

Nightfall In Theros

Darken (Diego Vacchiano) – all musics & lyrics
Elric Blackcrow – vocals

Choir – Kostas Tokas, Jon Soti, Alexandros Papandreou, Alexandros Korovesis, Anna Capone Papas
Drums – Baron Waldemanr
Guitars – Zac Armgard
Guest Lead Vocals – Aaron Cloutier

  1. Wise Men Of Hope

This song starts out with a strong melodic power metal feel, keyboards and guitars with a simple but strong beat. Vocals are better than what I was expecting, and the chorus is quite catchy. The song is pretty damn good surprisingly enough. They are listed as “fantasy metal” and as often as I see sub genres and what people call a certain genre of metal this seems to fit. They are like a crossover between Children of Bodom, and Dragonforce, but here is the kicker it is ( as far as I have seen) only two members. They have a big sound and this is a solid song filled with great guitars, and keyboards, the drums are solid and the song has appropriate solos also.

  1. Nightfall In Theros

This song begins very calm with the sound of bells, and timpani drums, with what sounds like an orchestra playing with a powerful emotion and a triumphant crescendo before dropping down and then the vocals come in with a choir sound setting. The song has a good medium tempo and is so very easily to follow. I like the guitars and the drums how they are not trying to be flashy, they are playing a solid rhythm and melody, while the background orchestral sounds compliment the rhythm section. Vocals are great for this type of sound, and the song is over before you know it only to leave you wishing for a bit more.

  1. City Of The Golden Halls

This song also builds up in the beginning fading in to the same sound as the previous track with a faster tempo, it has the orchestra and choir type of sound while a driving guitar riff and drums keep the beat going, and this song sounds less and less of a metal song but more like a hymn with its multiple verse sections and then melodic sections that transition from one verse to the next.

This one is a bit hard to give a detailed rating as it is only a three song E.P. however what they came to do is play metal, that’s melodic, heavy, and brings imagery of fantasy and wonderment to the listener. It is better than average, and therefore I have to say this gets a 7/10 because the sound was great, the music composition was great, and they are not trying to do the popular thing right now. They are playing their own style of metal and it is good.

Check them out on FACEBOOK

and BANDCAMP

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Vehemence- Forward Without Motion Album Review 8/10

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Vehemence

Forward Without Motion

2015

Nathan Gearhart- Vocals
Bjorn Dannov- Guitar
Mark Kozuback- Bass
Andy Schroeder- Drums
Kyle Moeller- Guitar

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  1. I Don’t Want To Look Inside

This long awaited album kicks things off with this song, and the beginning has a nice harmonized guitar riff for a few bars, and then sets up a nice driving rhythm with the guitars and drums for a few bars. They play a few more bars with the same riff and drums kicks it up a notch with the use of blasts. When the first verse begins we get to hear Nathan’s vocals, they have matured into a blend of lows and highs that give you a more refined style of delivery. The song has a great groove to it, which you can move to, very enjoyable really, not to mention the guitar solo around the 2:54 minute position giving you another taste of the harmonizing effects of having quality guitarists. The riff that they play coming out of the solo section is an example of that classic Vehemence guitar style. Right around the 5:08 minute mark, they give us a little bridge to breakdown section where the guitars deliver a menacing guitar riff and the drums roll into some rapid blasting to give you an energetic head banging moment that will surely get bodies moving.

  1. Imagining The Loss

This song has a nice feel to it, a medium tempo and a solid rhythm for the verses, Andy’s drums have a crisp sound to them, and he goes from double bass to blasts seamlessly. This song sounds like they are picking right up from “Helping The World To See” as if there was no time in between these two albums. The song has a solid groove and we get to see that melodic almost lamenting style that we have heard from Vehemence’s previous albums. They hit us with a cool little guitar solo around the 3:00 minute mark. At 3:45 the song goes through a transition with a riff that builds up to open up the last verse of the song. The song ends with a perpetuating guitar riff that fits perfectly and ends by abruptly stopping.

  1. Murdered By The Earth

Love the beginning guitar riff, this song has a solid mid-tempo feel to it, and a groove you can really get into and the vocals really lock that groove in. The highs for the first section and the lows for another bar. Then we hear a little melodic transition going into the next verse. Out of that verse we get some blast beats that set up another few bars of vocal delivery by Nathan. When he hits us with the low growling vocals the song goes through a change with a slightly different feel. However it ultimately leads right back to that solid rhythm with the two guitars playing harmonically. A guitar solo is generously gifted to the listeners and you can’t help but feel the soul put into the guitar solos, it makes you feel like this song comes from down deep inside. At 8:24 minutes long they really give you everything they have for this one. The way the guitars switch to the acoustic and continue to play and fade out makes this song one that must be amazing to see live.

  1. Jim The Prophet

An interesting and dark guitar introduction by the guitars and drums start this track off, then the vocals come in and the song just sticks with that, gloom filled evil sound. This is not your typical fast paced death metal song. There are moments at times that do have the speed picking and blast beats for example the 2:05 minute mark we get some mixed vocals, speed picking guitar riffs, and blast beats getting you into the head banging mood. Then at the 2:40 minute mark the song changes into something else with a solid groove. It seems like every 45-60 seconds the song gets heavier, and heavier to the point you may want to reevaluate your physical status if you think you are going to be in a pit during this song. At the 4:45 minute mark we get a short little rollout into a steady punishing rhythm and sounds clips from what seems to be audio from Jonestown to finish the song off.

  1. In The Shadows WE Dwell

This song tears into you right out of the gate with Nathans growl, and the guitar riffs layered over the drums. The first verse is cool with Nathan giving some highs, and then we get a lonely guitar riff that sets up the next section that has a ripping groove you can’t deny the movement you will undoubtedly be succumbing to. That is until you get to the 1:30 minute mark where Andy is delivering the blast beats like a champion. The next verse is a little more high energy and has a good tempo for a few bars that changes dramatically to a slower pace and low guttural vocals. This particular section builds up to a great segment of fast picking harmonizing guitars and a driving rhythm. It slowly egresses to a single guitar playing a riff that eventually fades out.

  1. A Dark Figure In The Distance

This song begins with a riff you wouldn’t normally expect from a metal band, it is a light melodic guitar riff with Andy following on the hi hat with a complimenting beat. We continue to hear that guitar riff through the first verse. Rollin gout of the first verse we get a unique rhythm playing out with some vocal effects for a few bars. At 4:04 we get hit with the guitar solo section at this moment I really feel like Bjorn and Kyle have better chemistry than former member Chavez. It just honestly feels like these two build off of each other and are on the same wave length or page.

  1. It’s All My Fault

This song begins with a little drum solo intro and “boom” hits you with Nathans vocals right away. Delivering highs and lows with ease going from one bar of highs to another bar of lows. This song has a good tempo and a beat you can head bang to. The song hits us with these little sections like the one at the 1:25 minute mark that has a sinister feel and builds up to the blast beat riddled verse, and then out to double bass rolling guitar shredding chorus. This song has such a solid groove to it you will not stop head banging moving moshing tapping your foot, you will be entranced by this song with good reason.

  1. She Fucks Like She’s Alive

This song begins with a great rhythm coming from the guitars and Andy does a great job adding dimension to the song. He is exploring the use of playing patterns on his hi hat, and doing little drums fills here and there. His style of using blast beats and double bass filled death metal drumming really makes this song one that you can get into. The dual guitars harmonizing often and really complimenting each other while keeping the song interesting with a solid rhythm. Around the 4:30 minute mark the song slows down and gives us a slow melodic lamenting guitar melody that plays out for the rest of the song and fades out on a cymbal roll from Andy.

  1. There’s So Many Reasons To Give Up On Religion

Blast beats and a mean guitar riff start this particular song for the first fifteen seconds and then Nathan joins in with his vocals for what seems like a pre verse section to get things warmed up. The verse we hear Nathan giving his classic style of vocals that are reminiscent of both of their previous albums. Around the 2:55 minute section the song takes a darker approach for a few bars and then gifts us generously with a guitar solo and then some speed picking going into a faster tempo section. This half of the song will get you moving and head banging if you weren’t already. The guys seem to be building up from one section to the next maintaining a good groove and hitting us with heavy sections and blast beats high energy sections that eventually ends the song.

This album is great, it’s a good mix where you can hear elements from the previous two albums but also the way they have matured is very evident. That have matured in their sound and have a more focused attack with their delivery. Musically their brand of metal seems like it is picking right up from their last album. For fans like myself we have been waiting what seems like forever for this album, but if you didn’t know it would seem like they only had a few years between helping the world to see and this album. They didn’t miss a beat, they didn’t lose anything. They are making great music and delivering their blend of melodic death metal unlike anyone else out on the game. This album is a solid 8/10 and I certainly hope they keep this line up and make more music in the near future, I know I am not the only one to say this but I am glad Vehemence is back at it.

To give you a taste here is a video for Murdered By The Earth

Heres the video \m/

Check them out on Facebook

Also check out their bandcamp page to listen, and order Forward Without Motion HERE \m/

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Hate Eternal, Misery Index, Beyond Creation, Rivers of Nihil and Replacire at Brighton Music Hall

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Tuesday October 27th, Brighton Music Hall  had these great bands kick off the Hate Eternal Infernus tour.

I was able to talk with Erik  Rutan about his injured hand. He is very optimistic about it, stating that it is feeling 99% better. He is stoked about the tour, having Hannes Grossman filling in on drums,  and looking forward to playing shows with the bands on the road.

The guys Misery Index were in excellent form and ready to hit the road hard.  I took some  video of the bands playing  so have a watch, and if they are coming near you do yourself a favor and check it out.

Tour Dates>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

October 30th @ Flour City Station – Rochester, New York
October 31st @ Mad Frog – Cincinnati, Ohio (http://www.cincyticket.com/eventperformances.asp?evt=2827)
November 1st @ Diesel Concert Theater – Chesterfield, Michigan
November 2nd@ fubar-stl
https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/965217
November 3rd @ Reggie’s – Chicago, Illinois (https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/mobile/index/953699)
November 4th @ Skyway Theater – Minneapolis, Minnesota (http://www.leopresents.com/event/956557)
November 5th @ Windsor Hotel – Winnipeg, Manitoba (http://www.ticketfly.com/…/951521-hate-eternal-misery-inde…/)
November 6th @ Riddell Centre – Regina, Saskatchewan
November 7th @ Dickens – Calgary, Alberta (http://www.ticketfly.com/…/953875-hate-eternal-infernus-wo…/)
November 10th @ Rickshaw Theater – Vancouver, British Columbia (http://www.ticketfly.com/event/951817-hate-eternal-vancouver)
November 11th @ Studio Seven – Seattle, Washington (http://www.etix.com/…/hate-eternal-misery-index-beyond-crea…)
November 12th @ Dante’s – Portland, Oregon (http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail…)
November 13th @ Phoenix Theater – Petaluma, California (https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/950809)
November 14th @ The Complex – Glendale, California (https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/950707/tfly)
November 15th @ Club Red – Mesa, Arizona (http://www.ticketfly.com/event/953193-hate-eternal-mesa/)
November 16th @ LVCS – Las Vegas, Nevada (https://www.ticketfly.com/purchase/event/952937)
November 18th @ Marquis Theater – Denver, Colorado (http://www.ticketweb.com/t3/sale/SaleEventDetail…)
November 20th @ Tomcats West – Fort Worth, Texas (http://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/24116491634859586)
November 21st @ Dirty Dog – Austin, Texas (http://www.comeandtakeitproductions.com/event/950803)
November 22nd @ Siberia – New Orleans, Louisiana

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Parius release the single Confined ahead of the release date for the album Saturnine

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Philadelphia, Pennsylvania band Parius have recently released Confined, a single off of their debut album Saturnine.

Parius is:
Louis Thierry – Vocals
Ryan Rauch – Guitar
George Fenton – Guitar
Ian Staab – Drums

Confined is a great track that starts things off with a great driving rhythm and a short disgorging growl, the first verse is great, the rhythm behind the vocals in on point.  The song transitions nicely into the chorus section that is catchy as hell, the song does another round of verse and chorus, this second chorus lasts longer than the first. The second chorus  plays out  normal speed once and then repeats but at a slower pace and brutal as it will get you moving.  right around the 1:44 mark  we get a nice guitar solo that lasts about forty five seconds and delivers  with succession from a simple solo beginning to some fast shredding to transition in the next verse. The last verse is have the bars and goes into the last chorus, then ends with the same driving rhythm from the guitars and drums.

This is the first time I am hearing Parius, and I have to say I really enjoyed this track, looking forward to hearing the rest of the album in the near future as the album is set to be released November 18th, 2015

Check them out on Facebook HERE

Check out their bandcamp page and pre order Here \m/

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Branch Davidian Pisces E.P. Review

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Branch Davidian

Pisces- 2015

Nick Matthews – Drums
Rick Brophy – Bass
Dan Lozzi – Vocals
Henry Mitchell – Guitar
Nick Cabral – Guitar
  1. Skywalker will join us or die

This is an introductory track that is of course a few sound clips from the Star Wars movies, while some may be confused with the track, it is a great example of what is yet to come.

  1. Nightcrawler

A guitar tone rings out while news anchors read headlines about bullied kids and the end result of a suicide, as the news headlines continue they end with a sound clip from “Full Metal Jacket, in which Cowboy tells  Private Pyle “Remember it’s just a bad dream fat boy” while Vincent D’onofrio’s character (Pyle cries out in pain) The song begins with a bass line and guitars, as the drums come in with a pattern on the closed hi hat cymbal. The song is a slow but has a groove that you can feel will build as it continues along. When the full force of the band joins in we begin to notice that the members are clearly people who have been in the hardcore and metal scene for a number of years. They have the sound clip as the intro, the punchy rhythm with a groove that even with the tempo being a bit of a slower pace you can really get the bodies in motion. Then the pace picks right up, and the vocals are straight up metal with a haunting delivery.

  1. Rejoice…For a Childs Haunted Room

The band wastes no time getting right in to things with this song. IT is right out of the gates hitting you with vocals, and a mid-paced groove with simple yet interesting guitar riffs, that still give me that hardcore vibe. These guys are doing a hardcore/ death metal hybrid utilizing the old school hardcore style, and some different styles of metal to blend in. The vocals are very similar to a black metal sound and also remind me of The Year of Our Lord or Arsis. Right at the 1:42 mark the song takes on a groove that is sure to get bodies moving. I can easily see a crowd getting rowdy during this song. The song ends with more news related sound clips, which you just don’t see much of anymore and I love it. But the real curve ball is when we hear “Summer breeze” by Seals and Crofts on a record player by the sounds of it. It is apparent that this band has a solid sense of humor.

  1. We May Never Pass This Way Again

For the first minute the song has a repeating rhythm with a vocal growl every few bars. When the song kicks into high gear, the tempo goes from this slow sludgy feel to a fast paced high energy song with the skank blasts on the drums. Someone is doing some backing vocals that are clean vocals. The song changes tempo a few times, but sticks to the same formula of heavy aggressive, grimy, and hardcore/ metal. Then the song ends with a sound clip regarding surveillance.

  1. Fairies Wear Ski Masks

This track starts out heavily influenced by hardcore, the rhythm, and the vocals for the first 10 seconds, then right into those metal guttural vocals, but keeps the hardcore rhythm. Just a high energy, driving riff, and solid backbone drums. The song is less than two minutes long and maintains that hardcore “Fuck you” vibe the entire time. It’s almost too short of a song, and the vocals are so out of character for that rhythm it’s interesting.

  1. Senate

This song is already hitting you with the vocals, however the tempo is a bit slower than the previous track. It’s not slow, right around 85 BPM with a solid groove. The sound clips begin at 1:45 and it has a sound clip of a song playing faintly and also slowed down just a tick by the sound of it.

  1. Pisces

This is just a lonesome guitar chord ringing out and then sound clips playing over top of it, news clips talking about pro-life pro-choice movements.

This is a cool little E.P. where you don’t usually find such a hardcore attitude, with metal vocals, and then the sound clips of hardcore, while also maintaining a sense of humor. This is truly a unique band, made up of a few fellas, who have lived in the hardcore and metal scene for decades. I am interesting in hearing more from this band, and look forward to some more high energy, political, hardcore rhythms, blended with the blackened metal vocals. I dig it, and as an E.P. I have to give these guys a 7/10 due to originality, and sound.

Check them out on Facebook

Check out the E.P. on Bandcamp/BranchDavidian

Show them some support and get the E.P.

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Born of Osiris Soul Sphere album review

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 Born Of Osiris

Soul Sphere – Release date October 23, 2015

Ronnie Canizaro- Vocals

Lee Mckinney- Guitar

Joe Buras – Keys

David DaRocha- Bass

Cameron Losch- Drums

Sumerian records

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  1. Free Fall

The song begins with a poly-rhythmic guitar riffs and heavy hitting drums, while the vocals bring precise delivery and brutal attack. This song starts out great, and keeps the listener moving with the rhythm and the orchestral keyboards add a nice touch to the song. This song is a great song to kick the album off with. The breakdown is brutal very enjoyable, and the outro is great, the bands abruptly stops with the electronics finishing the song up. I am not always a fan but if done correctly they add a nice touch, and they did just that here.

  1. Goddess Of The Dawn

With a short little drum intro the song kicks into a really cool feel with blast beats and mean riffs also adding the squeals on the guitars. The beginning is a killer start to the song while keeping the heavy hitting during the verse, then transitions into a really contagious chorus with vocals you can sing along to head bang throw your fists in the air and move to. This song grabs you and takes you on a wild ride you will surely enjoy.

  1. Illuminate

While the beginning leaves you wondering what it will lead up to, the bands fades in with an explosion of brutal Metalcore and the low beastly vocals with the orchestral keyboards and smashing drum beats taking your body to the limits. This song goes 0-100 in an instant and has no qualms going from 100 down to 50 for a brief moment to allow you to regain your composure as you get ready to jump right back in to the pit again. The verses are great, the choruses or downright awesome, and the background to this song that really gives it imagery is astounding. I have now played this song a few times because it is just that good, if the band put out a single for the album to demonstrate what this album brings to the table, this would be a solid candidate.

  1. Resilience

I really like how this song starts out, and the band just jumps right in to get the pit going. The vocals are great, the guitars are absolutely relentless and the rhythm of this song is a whirlwind of nothing but Metalcore madness. The menacing guitar riffs, the blast beats and the high vocals. This song goes through several changes but each one is brutal in its own design, and does not disappoint, they keep your ass locked into your chair while you struggle to catch your breath.

  1. River Of Time

Orchestral organs lay down the scenery as an electronic beat begins to fade in and then the band joins in full force with an assault of sonic aggression hitting you from all angles. When the electronics make their presence known it opens the doors to a different atmosphere but slams that door quick and continues to fulfil the listener’s appetite.

  1. The Composer

This track begins with a heavy electronic rhythm then blanketed by heavy guitar riffs, and hard hitting drums to bring the intensity to another level. The song has brutal verse, and catchy chorus, and pulls the listener into many different directions all brutal and then lulls with an electronic rhythm to round the song out.

  1. The Louder The Sound, The More We All Believe

The song begins with an electronic rhythm and has anthem style vocals to engage the listener into joining in vocally. This track is a solid anthem filled with heavy guitars, drums and infectious choruses.

  1. The Other Half Of Me

The track begins with a haunting ambience about it, and dives right into a heavy and punchy feel to it, with the electronics adding another layer to the song altogether. The verses are great, nothing short of gratifying. With the choruses being absolutely engaging. The last minute of the song is cool with the keyboards laying down some cool organ sounds, and then a nice little guitar solo to add to this splendid song.

  1. The Sleeping And The Dead

This song hits hard with so much being brought to the table. The drums, the guitars, the vocals are well thought out and dance around the mid-range, as well as a higher range chorus section but the breakdown hooks you with deeper growling vocals.

  1. Throw Me In The Jungle

This song has a cool feel to it with the sounds from the keyboards and the rhythm, it transitions into a punchier feel to it, and then goes back to the chorus that also has an anthem feel to it. This is a very catchy song, especially around the 1:20 minute mark where it gets brutal. I enjoyed this song, but feel as though the song was teetering on the edge of being an anthem for the masses, and then a brutal pit massacre of a song. I especially liked the heavier side of the song.

  1. Tidebinder

With a little radio static, this song starts off on the right foot by fading out of that and into something heavy. The opening line from the vocals is enough to get the show started with a menacing orchestral feel from the keyboards in the back ground and the guitar riffs layered over the drums, it’s a great beginning. The chorus is also very catchy, and the verses mean business. I am enjoying this songs diversity from the heaviness to the electronic sounds, especially the guitar solo at the 3:35 minute mark and the way it just ends.

  1. Warlords

A piano/ keyboard starts things off building up to the boiling point when the vocals join in and the band is playing some seriously heavy rhythms. The verse has a certain amount of an infectious feel to it especially with the keyboards in the background. This song has gone through a few changes already and each is surprising all on its own to how the band hasn’t lost sight of what they have come to do. This song is an absolute great song to end the album with, the verses are catchy, the choruses are catchy, the instruments are great and the work done to establish everything going on at the same time and working as a fine blend and not just a mess. This song is like a wild ride through galaxies and untapped areas of the human mind.

This album is a clear indication that Born of Osiris have been honing their craft and engineering superb soundscapes. They didn’t come to just “one up” their last album, they took the time to improve themselves as individuals, and train to deliver their best album to date. They have come a long way since “The New Reign”. This is an album that validates the notion that Born of Osiris just keep getting better with every album they put out.

Pre order the new album HERE \m/

Check them out on FACEBOOK

Follow them on TWITTER

Sumerian Records

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Leave The Living Pacifist album review @leavetheliving

on By

Leave The Living

Pacifist

Justin Shadows – Vocals
Ben Bushido – Guitar
Jose Dyck – Guitar
Steven McGillivray – Bass
Sean Higgins – Drums

1) Let Go

The song starts with some hammer-ons from the guitar, with the rhythm guitar coming in a few bars after.  It has a nice mid paced groove to it and the recording sounds like they had the whole band in the same room to do the recording together and no several tracks.  It has a raw and gritty sound.  Doesn’t always work for bands but I actually like it with Leave the Living. When the vocals kick in with a “Let’s go!!” This song has very minimal lyrics, but it seems like more of an intro for the listeners to know what they are getting into.  A raw, gritty no holds barred blend of metal. The vocals have a good sound about them, reminiscent of some early 90s hardcore bands branching into the metal sound.  For such a short yet simple track I like it, the first have can get a pit going, and the second half changes to a quicker tempo and can also get some bodies moving.

2) Pacifist

The song starts out with a little beat on the snare drum, and the whole band joins right in. The song rocks you with a good verse, and a solid chorus.  But the breakdown kicks it in heavy, followed by a nice walking bass line.  Judging by this song, this is a band you never heard of, you go to a small show, they play, and you walk out impressed. The next morning your whole body hurts.  I like their enthusiasm, and energy.

3) Manifesto

This song has a short guitar intro with an ominous feel about it, guides us along a 1 minute path ultimately leading to a barrage of blast beats and menacing vocals. The guitars are nothing flashy, or technical, but they fit the song well.  Right at the halfway mark we get a nice little bridge where you can start to move around. Coming out of that bridge its back to a verse filled with blast beats, and comes out with a hardcore style breakdown. This section is where I enjoyed the song the most, but not to say I didn’t enjoy the beginning of the song. It just had a cool raw hardcore breakdown.

4) Word of A Whore

The song starts out with a 1,2,3,4, on the drum sticks, it has a mid-paced feel to it with a decent groove you can move along to.  It has a “fuck you” right in your face type of attitude about it mixed with a buzz saw distortion sound for the guitars.  There is nothing special about this song, it doesn’t have a killer guitar solo, or crazy drumming. It’s a catchy song, you can move to, and they aren’t trying to conform to any fads. There is no clean singing here. Just a gritty song that will have one of two effects on the listener. They will enjoy it, or be offended somehow.  I enjoyed it.

5) Open Sea

This song is the instrumental track of the album, not bad, nothing fancy.  Just didn’t do it for me. I get what they wanted to achieve from it, and I get that every band is doing something instrumental these days.  I think this album would have been fine without it.  The song doesn’t have the energy that the other songs have.

6) Undone

This song starts out with a cool guitar rhythm, a slower feel to it. Has a nice groove about it, and then the guitar starts to add some more dimension with the picking. After about a minute of all that, the band really jumps in with a slow but punchy feel to it. I imagine a small club and someone in the crowd losing some teeth. When the vocals kick in they are short but straight to the point verse segments.  Right around 2:45 mark the song takes on a change I just didn’t expect. I was expecting something brutal with a good breakdown groove, but it was more chaotic.  However that’s probably what they were going for, if so; mission accomplished.

7) Poison Pen

This song begins with a little bass line, and cymbal roll into a verbal attack.  Justin is giving this song the force fed approach. He is force feeding you the vocals, and as it would seem the gang vocals work perfectly for this song.  I just did not care for the guitars in this song as much I had in previous songs. I like the vocals and the lyrics for this song, drums are not bad, but the guitars really weren’t compelling

8) Sink or Swim

This song has a cool little intro and when the vocals come in, they are a mean blend.  This beginning has caused me to hit the back button and listen to it 3-4 times now in this short block of time. I am enjoying this song, the vocals, and the guitars. The verses are great, and the chorus has a very punchy feel to it. This would be a cool song to see in a live setting. I am actually currently looking for live footage of this band just to see what the crowd’s reaction to this music is.  The song feels like a machine chugging along and then grinding its way slow to a halt.

9) Farewell

This song is an instrumental song that in my opinion worked much better than “Open Sea” This showcases more double bass drumming, and guitar solo work.  It is still chaotic in nature but it seemed to have more thought put into it I feel.   Honestly if I was the one who laid out this album, I would have ended on Sink or Swim, and used Farewell as the “Bonus, or hidden” track.

   For this album I was pleasantly surprised by it but also had moments where it didn’t flow for me.  Moments where it was like I was really getting into it, body moving, but then a point where the song  took a change that was similar to hitting your elbow on something and just ugly facing and rubbing it. They have a fuzzy sound; on one hand I liked it but the other felt like I was missing out on things.  With their bellicose vibe I sense they went for that sound to have a gritty raw that worked. I would have done without the “Open Sea” instrumental track, saved the money on that song, and done something different. This album exceeded expectations, but still came with a few areas that felt off. Its times like these i like discovering bands that i have never heard before.

Check them out at https://twitter.com/LeaveTheLiving

Facebook them at leavetheliving

and check out their Bandcamp page

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Battlecross Rise to Power album review

on By

Kyle “Gumby” Gunther – vocals
Tony Asta – guitars
Hiran Deraniyagala – guitars
Don Slater – bass guitar
Alex Bent – drums, percussion

1: Scars

This song dives right into a fun and catchy thrash feel, with fun guitar riffs, and drums. The vocals are tight with the high range vocals and the complementary lows. This song is incredibly catchy, I am really enjoying it so far. Everything about this song is enjoyable; from the bell of the ride to the killer guitar solo. This song is a great song to start the album with.

2: Not your slave

This song begins with a brutal mid paced heavy attack to the senses. I am fully enjoying these heavy drums and guitar riffs to introduce us to the first verse. When the tempo picks up I find myself enjoying the song even more. The low vocals are a bit over used and are no longer complementary in my opinion. However not a big deal, I am really digging the guitar riffs to pay attention to the vocals. The pre chorus has a nice mid tempo and double bass roll for a bar repeating until the next verse.  This guitar solo is killer, adding in melodic and harmonizing with each other. Coming out of the guitar solo it has a nice driving riff. The song has a cool and heavy thrash feel all the way to the final moments.

3: Absence

I absolutely love the intro to this song, very catchy for a few bars full of head banging excitement.  It dives right into a very catchy rhythm at breakneck speed. The verse is a fast paced and catchy section filled with appropriate high and low vocals. The drums are badass with a blistering speed. The song is almost not long enough, everything this song offered was worthy of a 5- 6 minute song. The guitar solo is a power packed punch of driving rhythm. This song is easily an album favorite but my only wish is that it was longer.

4: Spoiled

This song starts out with an intensity level much less than the previous tracks. It does have a cool rock feel to it when the verse kicks in, and the pre chorus is catchy. The chorus is a solid thrash delivery, however I am noticing so many low vocals that I just don’t feel are necessary. The song is already bad ass, so don’t muddy it up with over used low vocals. I really did enjoy this song for the most part, until the low vocals were being used in places I deemed less than ideal.

5: The Climb

This song starts out with a nice little introduction to build this song up for a few bars. When the verse kicks in we witness breakneck speed on the instruments with rapid fire drums. This song transitions into a slow yet brutal breakdown around the halfway point of the song. This is definitely going to be a fan favorite that will be played at live shows. At 3:37 minutes long it not a very long song, nonetheless still a good listen.

6: Blood & Lies

The song starts with an acoustic guitar melody, strumming a few bars until the distorted guitars join in.  The verse is not spectacular, and the pre chorus seems to have the right idea, but it’s missing something. It has that heavy feel to it, but is almost missing an ingredient to take it to its full capacity.  I think this song has so much potential but the song sounds like average work. The song takes a cliché turn by slowing down and making the vocals sound lower as it gets slower.

7: Bound By Fear

This has a cool introduction with the guitars and drums, I find myself enjoying those drum fills. The first verse has that hyper active feel of thrash mixed with modern metal.  The verse is cool but the pre chorus is a little lack luster. The breakdown brings the song back into a brutal status as it pummels you at a lower speed. The song does have a certain amount of catchiness to it, however does not exceed my expectations.

8: Despised

The song fades in with a cool harmonic guitar riff, transitioning into a short but effective solo. The verse is solid, and set up with an even more impressive pre chorus. The following guitar solo is not bad but I feel like the song has a template that was pre-determined for it. It is a catchy song I will say that much, but not my favorite by any means.

9: Shackles

This has a cool driving riff and drum introduction to begin this song, with a fast paced verse following right after.  I do like the guitar riffs for this song with all of their driving force and harmonic characteristics the chorus is catchy with a slower pace to it that rolls right into a cool guitar solo. The last minute of the song is not very impressive unfortunately.

10: The Path

This song begins with a very melodic guitar rhythm being played while another guitar does volume swells building the song from the ground up to a mid-paced harmonic guitar solo.  When that finishes they hit us with that driving forceful guitar riff that seems to be one of their strengths. The verses are solid without a doubt a catchy solid fast paced riff. The pre chorus is very catchy with some flashy guitar riffing adding some flavor to them. Right around the 3:00 minute mark the song takes on a riff I did not see coming really. It has a rock and roll feel to it that I feel is not needed for this type of song. The formula for the song was tainted by that riff.  To make the song less enjoyable it ends pretty abruptly without anything to redeem it.

   This album took me through several different emotions while listening to it. At first listen I was excited, it had that wow factor that made me want to listen to more of it.  However the more I listened to it, the more I felt like I had the songs on a loop. It felt like they had a template to use, and stuck to it. “Cool guitar intro, fun verse, catchy chorus, unnecessary low vocals, quick guitar solo, and the end.  The album was not terrible but it was not mind blowing either. It really left me scratching my head wondering “did I like it” or “didn’t I hear this song already?”

-Badger \m/
http://www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com