Category: Reviews

Music and album reviews

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

Xul Malignance album review 7/10

on By

Xul

Malignance

Levi Meyers – Lead Vocals
Bill Ferguson – Vocals/Rhythm Guitar
Marlow Deiter – Bass
Wallace Huffman – Lead Guitar
Lowell Winters – Drums

  1. Battlestorm

Sounds of rain are heard for just a moment until Xul come in hard and fast with a gripping guitar riff, the vocals join in and they give us a classic death metal sound. The song has a groove, and it becomes more palpable around the 1:15 mark where you involuntarily begin taping your foot and/or head banging. A nice breakdown with the bass delivering a solid few bars sets things up for the first guitar solo of the album.

  1. Mastication of Putrescent Empyrean Remains

This starts out slow for the introduction that is until the band really kicks things off with a cool driving guitar riff and double bass. I dig the tempo change with the blast beats, and the change in vocals from the lows we have heard, to the higher style vocals. The guitars in this song are great, I like the riffs they are playing, even bringing some old school sound to table at times.

  1. Porta Noctis

A short sound that fades in right away to some blast beats and instant vocals makes for a great beginning. The drums delivering some rapid double bass and great use of the entire drum set, while the guitars are playing out some cool melodic yet heavy guitar riffs. This is a cool song, as it goes through several changes all the while keeping the song heavy and locking the listeners’ attention down.

  1. Vengeance

A grizzly vocalization starts things off, and change to almost a black metal sound, really giving this song a blackened death metal sound. The lyrics are absolutely hostile, and the song has a classic death sound to it. The blast beats are rock solid and the song transitions into a few bars of solid drums “vengeance shall be mine” and some impressive guitar riffs.

  1. Winters Reign

Now this song has a much more melodic metal sound to it with the use of keyboards, and a slower tempo. This song goes through many changes, from tempo to the sound, and all of them are enjoyable, making this instrumental track a solid song to the album.

  1. Hordes of Black

This song starts out slow with a dark atmosphere leaving a bit of mystery about it. It has a marching style beat that plays for a few bars before transitioning out of the heavy march style drum beat to a death metal style of the same tempo. The drums to a quick roll out and the tempo picks up big time with some blast beats and the vocals joining in for the verse. This song has a solid groove, really as a result of the guitar riffs during the drums delivering an onslaught of blast beats. Just before the 4:00 minute mark we hear a shredding guitar solo for a few bars, fades out and right back into some blast beats. This is a cool song for sure, I expect this will be one of the favorite songs off this album.

  1. Incinerate the Earth

This song starts out so badass, some vocals and then a punishing guitar riff setting things up for some crystal clear fast paced double bass rolling death metal rhythms. This song has a strong blackened death metal feel, and the vocals remind me that of Arsis. The guitars are kicking up some really crafty riffs effortlessly, they are quite impressive really, even the bass is heard showcasing their talent to keep that tempo fast, and the song brutal.

  1. Tomb of Tyrants

This song has a cool vibe to the timing, it’s a dark song and picks up to a quicker paced tempo. Blast beats and the low vocals, with higher more evil sounding vocals at the end of each bar give this song a cool vibe. The guitars create the groove for this song, I am really digging the guitar riff around the 3:00 minute mark, and again at the 5:00 minute mark. Right before the song ends it takes on a melodic feel for a few bars.

  1. Venomous Inquisition

This song has solid medium tempo for the first few bars, until the tempo doesn’t change but the rhythm does. This song has more of an old school death metal feel than the previous tracks. I like that the cymbals ring out crisp and clear, you can hear every cymbal strike. The song has a great groove to it and dizzying guitar riffs at times. The vocals giving the low style for the beginning of a bar, and then the higher delivery to round out the verse gives the song some interesting character.

This album is not too shabby, really giving you a blackened death metal feel, with hints of melodic metal, and showcases the talents of every members range and ability. This album is a solid effort, I feel as though it deserves 7/10 as it is definitely above average, and the sound quality was on point.

Check Xul out on Facebook

Pick up your copy of Malignance by heading on over to Bandcamp

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

Punching Moses- Humanity Pandemic E.P. Review 9/10

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Punching Moses

Humanity Pandemic

Out November 20th, 2015 on Seeing Red Records

Jesse Ramsey- Guitar

Shack Erman- Bass

Ben Ihde- Vocals

Jimmy Gasho- Drums

Rob Needham- Guitar

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  1. Intro- venous

This song is exactly what it states in the title, an intro, however it’s a solid four plus minute long introduction. It has a stoner rock feel in the very beginning, just trudging along with some metal/blues sounds to the guitars. They also have a bit of a fuzz to them, but the drums are crisp, leading me to believe these guys want to bring back a bit of sound from the 80’s to the early 90’s style of sound. Right at the 2:00 mark a guitar solo grabs your attention, and it is that southern blues rock sound, nice and cool really getting you comfortable.

  1. In the Gutter

The song starts out like something you would have heard from bands like Integrity or Cause For Alarm, they have a heavy Punk/Hardcore and metal sound about them. I am digging this song, brings me back to when I first got into hardcore and metal, where it has the strong punk influences and that aggressive approach. This is a cool song, and I see many that grew up in a time listening to hardcore, punk and metal around early to mid 90’s may enjoy this song like I am. This song is ripping and rolling, it grabs you from the very beginning and throws you into a pit of mashing bodies. I find myself just nodding my head and saying “YES” because this is awesome.

  1. Humanity Pandemic

This song has a slower tempo than the previous track (in the beginning at least), and then throws a flaming ball of chaos at you with the fast old school blasting. I like the guitar riff during this section as it has that specific build to it that so many songs back in the day had. This has that grimy, high energy, hardcore/ metal sound, those guitars are nailing it. Right at the 1:25 minute mark the song really showcases what I am talking about little bit of a bridge and right into that punk/hardcore rhythm. If the rest of the E.P. is like this, I am going to be happy because these guys absolutely crushing it with their sound. With this one, you will get almost all the way through it, and then hit the repeat button to loop back around and take this one for another spin.

  1. Arguing With The Doctor

No tip toeing around with this song, like a shot gun blast from the hip they are not wasting any time getting things going. They are playing an upbeat tempo, and an old school hardcore rhythm, with some riffing coming from the lead guitars. This song is catchy and now I am trying to determine which one I liked better Humanity Pandemic, or Arguing With the Doctor. I dig the concise sections with the speed picking and blast beats like the one at the 1:52 mark.

  1. Self Control

I find that I am going back and hitting the back button to listen to the song again, because I am enjoying these songs so much, I forget that I am trying to break the songs down for the review. This is a high energy, hardcore punk song, with the hints of metal blended in. Definitely for fans of Integrity, Ringworm, Cast Iron Hike, Cause For Alarm, and older Turmoil It has that hardcore guitar riff that sets things up for a fast paced dental wrecking song. It goes through the first verse, and slows down for a southern rock sounding transition section, they do this for the second verse also. Then the song changes for a moment  to deliver a solo section from the guitars, and really jam out. Its fun to listen to, and sounds like they are having fun themselves. They finish the solos and the vocals come in just red faced yelling the last line of the song, followed by the riff we heard in the very beginning one last time.

This is the first time I am hearing Punching Moses, and I have to say, I dig it, they lock down that old school hardcore/metal sound, and really bring me back to my early teens. Skateboarding and listening to the bands like Integrity, Warzone, Cause For Alarm. This E.P. is too short for their own good, I am hoping a full length will be coming soon, because these guys nail it. From the moment you hit play, all they do is ease you with false comforts in the introduction, and then they down shift, punch the gas, and take you for a wild ride. They do exactly what they came here to do, and it sounds nothing short of awesome. It’s always hard to rate an E.P. as it doesn’t have many songs to breakdown, however this is a rock solid 9/10, the vocals are spot on antagonist fueled rebellious vocals. The drums ride the fine line between hardcore punk and metal. The guitars lock down that old school sound for their distortion and the riffs they are playing, and then the bass. The bass can be heard, it has that strong, heavy hitting approach, like the big guy in the pit. They should probably put a disclaimer on their music because the younger generations will not know what losing teeth feels like until they go to a Punching Moses show.

Do yourselves a favor, go on over to their FACEBOOK PAGE

Then if you are looking to get  music now you can get their Impending Doom album. go to their BANDCAMP PAGE

Lastly if you want to pre order this killer E.P.  check out the Seeing Red Records Bandcamp Page

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

Mastication Of Brutality Uncontrolled Preemptive Space Warfare Album Review 7/10

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MASTICATION OF BRUTALITY UNCONTROLLED

Preemptive Space Warfare

2015

Manuel – Vocals
Bastian – Bass
Flo – Guitars/Vocals
Basti – Drums

  1. Preemptive Space Warfare

This song begins with a little sound clip for the first twenty seconds and then the bands starts playing a low and slow sludgy rhythm that builds up to another section of rhythm and sound sample. Some chugging riffs and double bass, for a few bars then a few bars of blast beats. This seems to be strictly and introductory track.

  1. Mother Earth Abortion

Guttural vocals blast beats, rapid guitar scaling, and pig squeals. This is some slamming squealing and rapid vocal delivery of the verse lines. It has a solid beat and you can follow along to it, it sounds like Dying Fetus may be an influence for these guys with the guitar pinch squeals.

  1. Brutal Laser Devastation

Some guttural vocals and a solid groove integrated with rapid blasting and a driving guitar riff set things up for a killer verse section with malicious guitars and brutal drums. This song has a great groove about it especially around the one minute mark. Pig squeals and guttural tunnel vocals are the main lyrical style for the next minute and then the song goes back into a sinister riff and rapid blasts. It is a solid song that has a great groove, this song is contagious, almost too short because I have hit the repeat button a few times you just cant get enough.

  1. Milkstreet Mass Collision

Blast beats and growls layered over a diabolical riff kick things off, this has a great tempo and a solid groove. IT is a high energy introduction that rocks you for just under one minute where it slows down to deliver slower heavier blows for a verse and lasts about thirty seconds and goes right back into some high energy brutal blasting and squeals. This song is a pit destroyer, from the high intensity sections to the slower heavier brutal sections, at two minutes four seconds in length, it could be a little longer but maybe they felt it was the right length for the listener’s safety.

  1. Life-Form Adoption

Growls, and blast beats, guitar riffs that pull off that death metal squeal similar to Dying Fetus. This song has a solid pace, and a great rhythm, you will find yourself head banging, and taking moments to enjoy the lead in from the guitars at the 1:22 minute mark, it has that solid death metal guitar riff lead in. and then the song takes a dismembering turn at the 1:38 minute mark, the blasts the vocals the guitars. The only thing that can be said is that it was a great surprise and brutal as hell. I am really enjoying the guitars and drums for this track, the guitars are playing some great riffs that have classic death metal sound, and the drums are executing perfect blasts.

  1. Human Resources

The song begins with a cool riff and groove you are instantly head banging to and you don’t even know what is about to happen after the first twenty seconds but you are going to dig it. Rapid verse delivery following the rhythm. When the song slows down, it does not sacrifice its groove for a moment, you can follow along head bang tap your foot throw some hay makers. This is a solid brutal death metal track that fans across the death metal scene most likely will find pleasure in listening to it. Then the breakdown detonates and things get real slow and brutal to finish the song off.

  1. Prophecy Of The Apocalypse

This song begins with a low and slow introduction that builds up into some blast beats following the same riff, it has a concrete groove about it and it is the interlude which in terms of this song is the moment when all hell breaks loose at a show the pit is blowing up and limbs are thrashing and bodies convulsing.

  1. Orbital Corpses

Blast beats tear things up right out of the gate with a death metal guitar riff similar to that of Dying Fetus again. The verse is filled with mean and decimating percussion, that leads up to the 1:04 minute mark of lone blasting opening up for a mean guitar riff and then a sickening groove chugging along and recycles into a low and slow brutal death punishment that lasts for the rest of the song just slightly building itself up more and more while continuing that beat and groove.

  1. Infrastructure Destruction

I am digging the guitar riff that starts this song off, it has a real dark death metal tone, and the drums really hit it off for this section. It has a good pace and delivers a steady string of brutal lines where it stops to get heavier around the 1:15 minute mark where the slow and punchy groove hits you with the rapid pig squeals followed by guttural tunneling vocals. The guitar riff right around the 2:00 minute mark sets this song up for wave after wave of death and brutality.

  1. New Space Order

Mean, menacing and devastating growls, with a killer guitar riff and blast beats open this track up and the band unleashes everything they have in their arsenal for this song. The main riff is very catchy, almost infectious. The song has the death metal guitar riff squeals, and is brutal and punishing. The song isn’t even that far in and the rhythm at the 1:52 mark is awesome, coming out of it is long drawn out vocals with great percussion layered with the guitar riff. This song will have you head banging the entire time, I have to say they ended on a great note, and this is my favorite song of the album.

This album gets a 7/10 it is absolutely brutal, and the drums are perfect for what they are trying to deliver for sound. The guitar riffs are just dark and menacing, while the vocals are nothing but that soulless guttural lows and pig squeals thrown in at precise moments. This is a damn good album and I look forward to hearing more of them in the future.

For fans of Brutal Death Metal/Slam

Check them out on FACEBOOK \m/

Get the Album from their BANDCAMP PAGE \m/

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

Police State -Mind Collapse album review 6/10

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Police State

Mind Collapse

out 11/06/2015

Vocals- Cole
Bass- KC
Guitar- Paul
Drums- Tyler

  1. Intro

This is exactly what it says, the intro, which sounds like a sound check some noise from the guitars and some fills from the drums

  1. Consumed

This song begins with the left over sounds from the intro and goes into a high energy grinding driving rhythm. The chaotic vocals, the high intensity the noise, this is grinding mayhem straight to the point without any fillers.

  1. Oath

This starts out with a slower groove to it, and the hardcore feel kicks in with the buzz saw guitars and then progresses into the grinding crust with the low vocals for a bar and then back into the expeditive delivery of desolution and relentless  lyrical transmission.

  1. Karma

A short little riff sets up the grinding blasting filthy noise that takes no prisoners. When the song does slow down it has a feeling like you just lost too much blood and now the spins are setting in. short to the point grinding crust punk.

  1. Pure filth

This is the longest song so far and has a slower feel to it that introduces the punk feel rhythm and the buzz saw guitars that fuzz sound and the chaotic vocals, bodies will be moving to this song. The last almost minute of the song is a slower gloomy deathly grind.

  1. Blinding

A perpetual riff and rhythm start this song, it progresses to a blast filled grinding mess of angry vocals and then the song goes right back to the perpetual riff and rhythm to finish the song out.

  1. Propaganda

Feedback and noise ring out for the first twenty six seconds of the song. From that we get a rhythm that plays repetitively for a few bars, and progresses slightly going back to the rhythm only to transition at the 1:13 minute mark with heavy grinding and then ending with a “Fuck You!!!”

  1. Cease to exist

The song begins with so much distortion you can’t hardly make out what’s going on until the drums kick in and the guitars all join in and you hear a driving riff with a cool groove, then all hell breaks loose the grinding blasting anarchy lets loose the demons and just hits a nerve like a panic attack. The song slows down to almost a halt and goes right back into that grinding noise for the last twenty seconds of the song, ending on a note ringing out.

  1. Resolution

The songs keep getting longer and this one begins with a menacing guitar riff and blast beats, slowing down to the verse. It slowly picks up in tempo and has a cool groove to it. With a song like this you can only imagine wat sort of shit happens at a show when these guys play. It’s all atrocities and the body count piles up quickly, it is sheer grinding chaos. The song has a beat you can follow even if you are not a fan of grind.

  1. Shallow grave

The song begins with a drum beat and guitar feedback with lone notes for the first forty five seconds and then the vocals come in and the drums give a slow and sludgy rhythm for the next fifteen to twenty seconds where it transitions into a crust punk feel. At this point the song is high energy, It will get your head banging and the blood flowing. The song seems to go through a few bipolar changes within the five minute and giving little revolutions where it goes from high energy to a slow gloom, then right back to chaos and random attacks. The song ends with about a minute of guitar noise and feedback layered over the drums.

This is basically a ten song E.P. because the song lengths are so short. This may not be for everyone but I will give this one a 6/10. The grinding and the punk rhythms are tight, the vocals are chaotic and the guitar tones are grizzly. I didn’t care for all of the moments lost with the feedback as this band can really bring the pain. I am interested in what the crowd looks like before and then after these guys play because I imagine the number of conscious fans dwindle as the people are getting knocked around and losing teeth. Good stuff and I will be looking to hear more from Police State.

Check them out on FACEBOOK

Check them out on       BANDCAMP \m/

-Badger \m/

www.badgersmetalbreakdown.com

Vehemence- Forward Without Motion Album Review 8/10

on By

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

Xenosis- Sowing The Seeds Of Destruction 7/10

on By

Xenosis

Sowing The Seeds Of Destruction

Jeff Haddad – Vocals
Ernie DelVecchio – Guitar
Mark Lyon – Guitar
Dave Legenhausen – Bass
Gary Marotta – Drums

  1. Arise

This track is an introductory track that is filled with interesting sounds that paints a cosmic yet mysterious image.

  1. Rebuild, Renew

The bass kicks things off with the drums, and then the guitars join in. The beginning is great, and then the heavy guitars and drums take the song to a different dimension. The song has a good tempo, and a great rhythm to it. The vocals are a blend of highs and mid ranges with some backing low vocals. I like how they give the song that odd timing feel, but it’s not really an odd time signature, it’s just in how they emphasize certain notes. They give us a bass line again, something that bands don’t do often enough, is let the bassist play a solo line, play a little riff to transition. Right around the 4:21 minute mark the song progresses into a really cool section. The song ends rather well, they keep the groove going to the very end, and showcases the drums ability to roll out to the end.

  1. Red Waves

This song begins slowly with a 1, 2, on the drums and some vocals, 3, 4, and more vocals, and then goes into the first verse. They give you a little more of a random attack feel with the metal feel and then a line that can only be to mind songs by Rush. This song is more of a progressive death metal. The 4:10 minute mark begins a really cool section of the song with a nice melodic moment and then some fast guitar strumming and drums. It gives it a really heavier old school death feel, and again the bassist gets a moment to shine.

  1. From Flesh To Dirt

Clean vocals and acoustic guitar starts things off, and it is a very pleasant surprise. Vocals are great, guitars are awesome. This song sounds like something that would be on Opeth’s most recent album. Now I will admit, I am not always a fan of clean vocals, but it’s because they are over used, or just don’t fit the application. This is one of the times that they are necessary to the song, and Jeff does a great job going from clean to harsh vocals. They aren’t quite growls they are more of a high range blackened style of vocals. During the chorus, they are some low growling backup vocals. This song is nothing over the top technical, but man is it solid, the way it ends, just a solid repeating rhythm.

  1. Turn Over Thy Crown

This is a cool song, it begins with a random rhythm that progresses into a blast beat filled section for the verse. It has a great groove to it, something you can really move to. It takes on a slower rhythm for the next section, and then begins the chorus section. Which also has a cool groove, and also some guitar shredding layered over the vocals. They deliver a nice guitar solo around the 3:17 minute mark. They come out of the briefly to go back into that chorus section, and then the shredding guitar riff appears again. I really like how this song showcases the guitars talents and abilities.

  1. Czernobog Part 1

This track starts out with a mean guitar riff and the drums rolling out on the toms as the intro and goes right into the verse, with a driving riff, only to slow it down before going back into the next verse. I like that the guitars are adding little short guitar riffs, and then right around the half way point we get more from the guitars and into a slower bridge. This song really gives you some great guitar work. I am hesitant to say this is my favorite song off the album, only because it is only part 1, and that means part 2 may be just as good if not better.

  1. Czernobog part 2

This one begins different than I would have expected, but give you a brutal heavy rhythm and menacing vocals, laid on top of some mean guitar tones. I am digging this section at the one minute mark, the vocals or low and guttural with a solid rhythm that you can move to, it doesn’t show off the guitars but I sense that they will deliver a good shredding, and that time is now. They gift us with a nice 20 second guitar solo, and then out of that we get a short section of the same rhythm. Only to drop a random ten second section that sounds like someone playing on PVC pipe blue man group style. Interesting, necessary probably not but it wasn’t bad, just unexpected. The song ends well and that random section never appears again so, it truly was random.

This album was not bad at all, they do seem to show off their guitarists abilities, which is not bad, it’s better to have guitars that can play then guitars that can only play simple things and don’t have any creativity to play solos. The random section in Czernobog part 2 threw me a little, I don’t think it was necessary but they wanted to put it in the song so there must have been a reason for it. Not bad, this album is better than average, it gets a 7/10 from me. The guitars are great, and the drums can play right along with them, the vocals are solid in all the areas from the highs to the lows and even the clean vocals.

get the album on BANDCAMP \m/

and check them out on FACEBOOK

or follow them on Twitter Xenosisband

Antlion- The Prescient album review 8/10

on By

Antlion

The Prescient

2015

Adam Pell (Vocals/Bass) –
Shane Williams (Guitar) –
Joe Kruger (Guitar) –
Arend Nijhuis (Drums)

  1. Incubation

This song begins with a psychedelic type of groove, and then the guitars go into distortion with a repeating rhythm, for a few bars, then the vocals kick in with lower growls, and a guitar riff where you can sense the metal just seeping its way into the song. The song has progressed from a jazzy groove, to a solid mid paced metal song that maintains a decent groove keeping you moving. Then the song hits the half way point and we get a little bridge of some jazz fusion sound with a guitar solo. The song picks right back up into the metal aspect, and gives us another round of heaviness before the song ends.

  1. Hubris

This song goes right into a drum roll out and into the first verse, the blast beats and the guitar riffs are great, I am really enjoying this song. It has so many personalities to it, and they all fit together well, they aren’t doing too much metal, too much jazz/experimental they walk the fine line of equality between the two styles. This song is 5:55 minutes of interesting metal and unique changes between all the other elements of the song. The way the song progresses from one style to the next is seamless, whether it is immediate or a few bars of one style to the next it works.

  1. Cycle Of Failure

This song begins with a cool jazzy feel to it, it has a groove you can tap your foot to and it lasts for just over sixty seconds. The metal persona begins right after with the growling vocals and distortion, yet still provides a groove. This is what I am enjoying about this album, no matter what personality the song is active they give you a solid beat that you can tap your foot to, move your head to. This is a fun song to listen to, and the lyrics fit the song very well. The guitar solo around the 3:39 minute mark is a very relaxing and cool solo. Songs like this are so unique in the way that you don’t dare skip, even if you don’t seem to like it, because you don’t know what will be happening next. I happen to really enjoy this song, and am eager to hear the next song.

  1. Hive

Love the vocals right out of the gate and the rhythm for the first fifteen seconds, and then the rhythm right after is mercilessly driving, the blast beats and the guitar riff. Just when you think you couldn’t be any more impressed, they spring a song like this on you. As I look at the total time of the song, I am curious as to how much talent and charisma they have filled this song with because it is already bursting at the seams with great infectious melodies and a beat that hooks you. The solo is great, they give you a skillful guitar solo that you can’t help but want to listen to again and again. The way the song fades out is absolutely perfect for the structure of the song.

  1. A Seer’s Elegy

Yes, yes, yes, the guitar riff that kicks things off is fucking great, I have honestly listened to the first 20 seconds of the song a few times because it is so badass. The rest of the song follows the same formula, cool guitar riffs, solid percussion, and the vocals are exactly what you would expect. This is a solid track, may be a fan favorite, still a bit early to make that denomination. Half way through the song they lighten things up with a smooth jazzy feel and a solid breakdown. This song is nothing less than magnificent. I really, thoroughly dig this song. \m/

  1. Spire

The song begins with a slower tempo and a perpetual riff wrapped around a solid beat. This song has some odd timing to make things interesting but only during certain sections. The band really locks in that groove, you can tap your foot to it, and you can still follow through the odd timing. This song is a great listen, it progresses exquisitely and is filled with great guitar riffs and impressive percussion skills.

  1. The Prescient (Part I)

This is song is a warm, progressive jazzy metal hybrid that leaves you feeling good about where you are in that exact moment. I love the guitar riffs, and rhythm. This song is great it has just the right changes being made and keeps the listener interested.

  1. The Prescient (Part II)

This song is just as good as Part 1 if not better, I really dig the way it begins and all of the changes we see throughout this song. The tempo changes, the metal progression, the jazz feel, the blast beats. I mean this song is awesome and the way it ends is really appropriate for the entire album.

I give this album an 8/10, it was a solid album, not for everyone, but nevertheless a great album. This is one of those bands that if for me I had never heard before. When listening to a band for the first time you really begin to filter what you heard into two categories; impressive, and not impressive. This album   is very impressive. I loved it, they have every change, every riff, and every beat calculated to the right degree and time. If you are looking for something new that you have not hear before, and want something that has a variety of different styles and can pull of some cool solos, has a great metal sound, some stellar progression, and a great jazzy feel. Then you should not waste any more time, just go and check these guys out now and pick up or download the album from their bandcamp site Here!

Check them out on FACEBOOK

And make sure to order the album at BANDCAMP \m/

released October 23, 2015

Produced by Antlion
Music & Lyrics by Antlion
Mixed & Mastered by Zack Ohren
Recorded by Arend Nijhuis
Album art by Chris Volion

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

Solium Fatalis- The Undying Season – album review

on By

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Solium Fatalis

The Undying Season

sf2

2015

Jeff DeMarco-Vocals
Jim Gregory-Guitars
Ehren Hill-Guitars
Olivier Pinard-Bass
Flo Mounier-Drums

  1. To Deliver Us All

The album begins with this great inaugural track, the sound sample that eerily starts things off is like something out of an old horror movie. The band fades in right to an explosion of drums guitars and growling vocals. The song has a great rhythm, some mean verses, and the guitar solo around the halfway point is impressive. The song is blunt, no fluff, just straight up metal.

  1. Salient

This song has a cool perpetual guitar riff that begins the track, and a rhythm that delivers a indisputable groove. It has a bit of a slower feel for the majority of the song, but sinks its hooks right in you almost immediately. It just rocks the shit out of that groove for so long and then gifts we with some fast paced blasting towards the end of the song and one last line from the vocals.

  1. Monolith Of Internecion

A quick drum introduction opens the doors for a really cool rhythm and malevolent melody. The first verse begins with a hail of blast beats, and a driving guitar riff. The chorus is captivating and the guitar riff during the chorus builds up to the post chorus solo. This song is so concise and catchy you will find yourself moving, or head banging to the song involuntarily, and hoping for more.

  1. An Asylum For Penitence

At first we hear an admirable melodic guitar intro that sets things up for the door to be kicked in with a heavy hitting rhythm and menacing vocals. I am really digging this song, the beginning was such a harmonious melody, and then the band joins in. My first reaction was to clap and throw up the metal horns. These guys took me by surprise with this one, and it’s only a third of the way through. This song is like walking through several mysterious doors to end up in the same spot you were in before. Each door is a subtle change and then goes right back to the infectious melodic groove. I fight the urge to say this is my album favorite because it’s just too early to say, but damn is this a solid song that will cause listeners to have that “Fuck yeah” moment. I undeniably listened to this song again due to it being such a good tune.

  1. Corporeal Form

Damn they do not waste any time with this song, growls and ripping drums right out of the gate. I like the guitar riff that plays before the first verse, it sets the verse up well. It has a solid tempo and delivers a satisfying groove leading up to a solo around the mid-point of the song. I really like the tail end of the solo and how it comes out and begins the transition for the last verse of the song. The song ends with a cool subtle guitar riff that fades the song out.

  1. Contagion

Heavy buzz saw distortion and a mean riff begin this song for a few bars and then we get hit with some blast beats from Flo setting things up for the first verse. It has a great tempo, and I can’t stress enough this group really lays down a groove for the listener. There are plenty of bands not just metal that do not build the song structure with a groove. I find these guys make sure to give the listener something to get locked into, something to head bang to, to move to. This song in particular easily encourages the listener to break out the air drums, or air guitar. True to the name of this song, it is contagious from the very first note.

  1. Paths To Obliteration

This song rips right into you with its beginning rhythm, the first verse is solid and straight to the point going back into that killer rhythm again. The song is exactly what you would expect from the title of it. There is nothing more enjoyable than a metal song that seems to get right down to a perfect execution and is unwavering in its brutality. This song is 3:09 minutes of precision melodic death metal.

  1. Corruptor

This song begins with a pleasant melody and a grand rhythm, short and simple verses, and I must say the changes that we see throughout this song leave the listener looking forward to what’s next. This song has a solid groove and has absolutely no fillers. It is straight to the point death metal that leaves you wanting more.

  1. The Undying Season

The title track is here and leaves nothing to chance with this one. Great guitar riff right from the beginning really lays down that groove I have been talking about. The first verse is solid and comes out of it with some really menacing blast beats and guitar shredding. The song just keeps raising the bar after every section, not to mention the whirlwind of a guitar solo around the 2:15 minute mark. This song has so much to offer, and really does a great job maintaining that groove you can follow and enjoy.

All in all this is one of those moments when you hear something for the first time and it blows you away your expectations. The sound quality is great, and there wasn’t one single song that I felt like I wanted to skip and see what’s next. This is a solid melodic death metal album that I can see many enjoying and moving to that contagious groove Solium Fatalis delivered in pretty much every song.  By the sounds of it this album was written for most every metal fan looking for something heavy and melodic to enjoy any time and anywhere. I found myself really enjoying every song and every transition. I give this album an 9/10, and highly suggest readers to check this band out and buy the album. The good news is by the looks of things, if you are like me and are wanting some more, they not only have an earlier album on their bandcamp page. But they are rumored to be working on new material.

To give you a little taste of Solium Fatalis  here is a playthrough video of Jim Gregory playing the guitar for ” Monolith of Internecion”

Check them out on FACEBOOK \m/

Pick up “The Undying Season” today at their Bandcamp page.

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

Cryptopsy- The Book Of Suffering- Tome 1 Review

on By

Cryptopsy

The Book Of Suffering-Tome 1 E.P. 10/30/2015

Flo Mounier: Drums

Matt McGachy: Vocals

Chrisitian Donaldson: Guitars

Olivier Pinard; Bass

  1. Detritus ( The One They Kept)

The song begins with a sound clip that is precisely appropriate for the E.P. The band joins in with Matt delivering a hauntingly long growl, then sheer brutal technicality ensues with Flo’s precision drumming, and the guitar and bass hitting us with riffs that will leave your head spinning. They first verse begins and you cannot just sit still and listen to this playing, you are head banging, you are moving around. The music takes over and engulfs you, taking you for a 4:33 minute long ride of extreme speeds with changes from not only Matt vocals of his low guttural growls to his highs, but the rest of the band going through the rhythm changes. Right around the 2:15 minute mark the band gives you a little bit of a drawn out transition going into a brutal breakdown of sorts. If bodies are not already flailing around and mashing into each other, this is where absolute chaos erupts in the pit. Such a great song, showcasing the talents of all the members and what they are capable of.

  1. The Knife, The Head and What Remains

This song like some of Cryptopsy’s older songs are written about a true occurrence the name conjures up images of unthinkable horrors, and is based on a true story about a man who beheaded and ingested parts of his victim on a Greyhound bus. His only claim was that God had warned him that this victim was sent to kill him and that he must protect himself and the passengers.  The guitar riff that starts the song off is a creepy sounding erratic riff for a bar and then the band joins in with extreme force. This song has a solid groove, this song sounds like it was engineered, every aspect scrutinized so that the final product would be flawless. This song is great, an absolutely raw and aggressive song that decimates the listener with its intensity.

  1. Halothane Glow
    I love this introductory guitar riff, the first few bars that set the song in motion with the guitars and drums are great. When Matt joins in with the vocals he is delivering some highs with quick transmission. The beginning of this song is mind blowing, I could listen to this song on endless repeat. The vocals around the: 26 second mark are great. Then the guitar strumming at the: 50 second mark. I mean this song is killing it from the very first second. It has a groove that is incomparable to anything you are hearing anywhere else. This is definitely a solid song that I could see being a fan favorite.
  1. Framed By Blood

This song has a slower punchy feel to the beginning with Matt giving us some soulless growls and then spitting some high vocals in quick intervals. This song also possess a groove that is emphasized with Olivier’s bass that really rings out in this song. This song will without a doubt be another crowd detonator for live shows. Then you have this little bridge around the 1:40 mark just showcasing Flo’s ability to deliver an elite blend of percussion. This song also gives the listener a guitar solo that is short and straight to the point. I really enjoyed this track and can see why they end the album with a song like this one especially with the sound clip at the end.

This E.P. I don’t know how I can give this anything other than a 10/10 rating. The sound quality is undeniably sharp, and crisp, being able to Hear Oli’s bass, every string on Chris’s guitar and every drum stroke and the cymbal strike. Matt’s vocal range from the lowest of lows to high banshee like screams, the sound quality captures all of that. None of the songs had anything disappointing about them, never for a moment did I feel like I wanted to skip, in fact I have listened to this E.P. on endless repeat every time I have turned to listen to music, sometimes listening to it for the first 30 seconds and hitting the back button because the beginning of the song is just that great I have to listen to it again, and again, being impressed every time almost as if I am hearing it for the first time. If you were not one of the few like myself who pre ordered this E.P. Do yourself a favor and get it now. This E.P. really displays the talents of the entire band, and also details their ability to raise the bar every time, and to adapt to all the current standards and still outperform.

Check the bandcamp page to order the E.P. at Bandcamp/Cryptopsy   

Also check them out on FACEBOOK \m/

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