Category: Reviews

Music and album reviews

Branch Davidian Pisces E.P. Review

on By

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

Skald In Veum- 1260 Days album Reviews

on By

Skald In Veum

1260 Days

Mund – Vocals
Resh – Guitars, drums
Zhajiin – Guitars, bass guitars
Heth – Spiritual leader and ideologist
  1. Ravens Over Lübenholz

This is merely an introductory track with the sound of ravens cawing for dramatic effect. It is short and to the point to give the listener an idea of what the rest of the album will be handing them. Some straight up blackened Scandinavian metal.

  1. Drunk with Tainted Blood

This song kicks things off right away with rapid blast beats and a black metal feel, buzz saw guitars and the classic black metal vocal styles. We are talking the darkest of blackened metal, you either walk away from this really enjoying what you just listened to, or you go to lock your doors and peer out the windows in fear. They deliver a violently tight song with zero fluff or theatrics.

  1. Inferno

This song has a cool feel to it the way it begins, you have the double bass rolling and the guitars playing some threateningly nightmarish riffs, only to have the vocals enter with what could be called a cult ritual entrance. This is a high energy blackened to the core song, which to any true black metal fan will speak volumes to them. When the song slows to its ominous doom section it leaves the listener enjoying the transition for fast paced to the low and slow section, only to be brought back up to a fast paced final segment of blackened orchestration.

  1. Eden Raped

This song rolls right into a heavy dark rock feel for a few bars, and then the song transitions to a slower feel for the first verse. The song then transitions into blackened blast beats with the terror inducing vocals and buzz saw sounding guitar riffs. That fuzzy and poisonous guitar riff that you can follow along to, and although it is very simple it has so much of an effect to the music. This is a solid blackened incantation with instruments painting a dark and terrifying scene, I thoroughly enjoyed it.

  1. Until My Head Rolls

This song allows you on a brief moment to get yourself acclimated to the situation that is rapid blasting, sinister guitar riffs and fiendish vocals. This song actually reminds me of a Satyricon song with the rhythm. It has a solid groove around the 1:10 minute mark, and maintains that groove for half a minute and then transitions into a blast beat laden section with a lot going on to set the listener up for another ride through that groove again. I really like this song, it builds up and has that groove that you can really enjoy, move to and throw up the horns while you head bang.

  1. Siaren

This song begins with a hauntingly cool guitar riff with the buzz saw distortion and the vocals, they are a blend of fear inducing fiendish vocals that work great for the verses and then the gang vocals for the chorus section reminds me of Old Man’s Child. This is a great song, the blast beats, the guitars and the way this song is being delivered to you sonically it is 6:15 minutes of enjoyable blackened metal.

After listening to this album I must admit I really enjoyed it a lot, and here is the game changer they are an unblack band. For those of you who are not familiar, that means they are not the typical black metal, satanic sacrificing goat butchering bands you come to expect by the sound. These guys are bringing their game faces to the metal scene with this game changer of an album for all the fans of black metal, true black metal. Not the theatrical melodic black metal with keyboards, three guitars a bassist, a drummer, two vocalists one male one female and all the make-up and show effects. This is that dirty grimy witching hour black metal sound but without all the human sacrifices involved. I really enjoyed my time listening to this album, and appreciate the fact that they want to play some solid blackened metal in the Unblack genre.

Album rating 7/10 \m/

1260 Days out 10/30/2015

Skald in Veum on Facebook

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

Born of Osiris Soul Sphere album review

on By

 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

12171377_10206107669705493_1633807632_o

  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

Black Dahlia Murder @bdmmetal Abysmal review \m/

on By

The Black Dahlia Murder

Abysmal review

Brian Eschbach: Guitar, Vocals
Trevor Strnad: Vocals
Ryan Knight: Guitar
Max Lavelle: Bass Guitar
Alan Cassidy: Drums

1: Receipt

This track starts out with an orchestra playing then the guitars fade in with the drums.  A nice little intro to begin the song filled with double bass, blast beats, and a tantalizing riff. When the verse starts Trevor kicks into the classic TBDM high vocals. This verse is strong with a breakneck pace.  The tail end of the verse is filled with blast beats and Trevor’s low vocals. The second verse is much like the first, and the pre chorus has a nice guitar riff with a melodic harmonic feel to it.  Alan is rolling that double bass like a metronomic jackhammer. Around 2:15 Ryan hits us with a cool well rounded guitar solo. The Ryan’s solos style are so properly fitted yet they adhere to no boundaries. When the solo fades in to the next verse, it is again just like the first but does not lack any intensity. The song ends with what sounds like a car wreck and broken glass.

2: Vlad, Son of the dragon

I absolutely love this song, the riff and the drums are great. I love the pace of this song and the gang vocals “higher, higher” I love it. This is a solid song. The pre chorus has a cool guitar melody and a sound clip “they will fear my very name, I am the dragons son.” The second verse keeps that same pace and intensity. The song hits us again with a sound clip only different this time, “they will fear my very name Dracul, I am the devils son” which is then followed up by “kill them all” then a bridge, and guitar solo.  The last verse is a shorter and straight to the point giving us hearty song with excellent structure, and is quite catchy.

3: Abysmal

Undeniably a mean killer guitar riff and blast beats welcome us into the beginning of this track that sounds simply sinister. I love the way Trevor’s vocals are delivered for the verse, and then the pre chorus actually reminds me of some of their work on the ‘Unhallowed’ album. This is the Black Dahlia Murder I am a sucker for right here, an absolutely systematic masterpiece. I would describe this song as “a fast paced, gritty, blast beat filled hatred hail of harmonious metal.” Right around the half-way point the song takes on a change of chaotic blast filled bars to cue the guitar solo. These guys maintain a level of satisfaction for me with this gem of a song.

4: RE- Faced

This song is bad ass from the get-go. I love that guitar riff and Trevor’s vocals. The mixture of high-low vocals blend perfectly every time. The pre chorus has a harrowing guitar melody; it has a very progressive and enjoyable feel to it.  The little transition into the next verse is nice and the verse is a solid effort. Right around the half-way point the song has a mean breakdown. I love it. This is the type of breakdown that will decimate pits.  I see this as one of my favorite tracks so far. It has a great guitar solo, nothing too over the top. All in all this song is a great tune.

5: Threat level no. 3

A slide on the guitar and a cool drum fill to introduce us to the type of unfiltered song we are going to get.  It has the gift of rapid fire; Trevor lyrical jabs that just keep on giving. The verse is great, a solid delivery of TBDM metal no doubt about it. The guitar solo is cool and sounds like a standard TBDM style guitar solo. The intensity is ferocious as well as on point with this song.  The chorus is incredibly catchy causing me to really dig this tune.

6: The fog

This song starts out with a menacing rhythm to a galloping beat and a melodic guitar riff that keeps the desired pace; the extremities are moving. The sinister feel to this song has this gritty slasher film feel. The pre-chorus is catchy as hell, and the chorus is even more contagious. The guitar solo is simple yet unique, almost as if they wanted the song to sound like the title.  The breakdown is heavy with an organ playing in the background, yet regardless of how catchy this song is, I felt my attention was drifting away from the song. It is a good tune but this may be that one song that is not as good as the others. That’s nothing out of the ordinary for most bands though.

7: Stygiophobic

This song has an eerie ambiance that actually sounds like the water phone that is used in horror movies. Actually to be honest I would not be surprised if in fact it was used. With a sound clip that sounds like Lorraine Warren during an interview for the Amityville horror remake “I hope this is as close to hell as I ever get” then the song brings forth a menacing and charismatic introduction to a slow and brutal song. There is no crazy blast beats, no over the top heavy rapid fire vocals. It maintains that heavy copasetic pace and lays the metal on thick with a very appropriate guitar solo while the song fades out. If Vincent Price were to endorse a metal song, this would be it right here.

8: Asylum

This song starts out with heavy artillery fire of maniacal blast beats and grim guitar riffs. The first verse has that skank blast beat with Trevor’s classic one bar of high vocals one bar of low vocals. Some bands will try this same formula, yet can’t pull it off as well as TBDM. The pre chorus has a very catchy riff and drum fills, that roll into that same rhythm as the intro. The chorus is mind blowing catchy and fun to listen to. This is a great track hands down, unquestionable brutality of incredible blast beats and blistering riffs. This song is the equivalent of the chaotic revolution inside the mind of a Schizophrenic.  I have found myself repeating this track over and over again because it keeps my undivided attention the entire time. The song ends with the same maniacal blast beats and grim guitar riffs that began this great song.

9: The Advent

This song has a quick and cool intro that sends us right into the first verse.   This song maintains a quick tempo feel to it, all the while delivering a brutally heavy attack. The song is actually quite simple in its genetic makeup; they are not trying to over complicate a good thing. The chorus is catchy, the guitar solo is tasteful all in all it’s a solid track that they seemed to want to keep it the way it was without over doing it.

10: That Cannot Die Which Is Eternally Dead

The song starts out like a creepy freak show themed musical box with a twisted organist playing along for about 20 seconds until the song kicks it into meat grinder mode. The guitar riffs and the drums are a mid-paced punchy and menacing feel. The vocals have a level of intensity we don’t often see from Trevor. It really feels like they planned on setting the bar high with this entire album and wanted this last song to be the heaviest and most brutal track. They wanted to end the album leaving the listeners blown away. And that is exactly how I felt; loving this song and can picture the pit when this song is playing; your limbs will be flailing and it will be an all-out metal massacre.

I am putting this album in the category of 2015 best metal albums. This album is start to finish killer badass blasting metal. If you haven’t gotten it yet, go get it, you will not be disappointed.

-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

Nile What Should Not Be Unearthed album Review

on By

Karl Sanders: Guitars, Vocals, Instrumentals
Dallas Toler-Wade: Guitars, Vocals
George Kollias: Drums
Brad Parris: Bass, Vocals

1: Call to Destruction

This song starts out with a small block of blast beats and a long drawn out vocalization.  The beginning riff is a killer fast paced assault on the senses. The words “Call to Destruction” growling on the vocals, set up the first verse.  This has a great death metal feel so far.  The deep low guttural vocals bring that classic Nile tone that we all know. This song is pretty impressive in how it is brutal while keeping the fast pace. The few moments when the song does slow down it has a punchy and heavy feeling to it maintaining that brutal feel. George Kollias is a very impressive drummer and this song broadcasts that well.

2: Negating The Abominable Coils of Apep

This one starts out with a featureless yet heavy and low death metal guitar riff. It has a decent mid paced groove to it that picks up in tempo after a few bars.  It does slow down a bit and go into an unfortunate sludgy feel at times. This song does not keep my energy level where I would want it to be.

3: Liber Stellae Rubeae

This has a good solid groove to make up the introduction of this track.  The verse has a preaching feel to it that leaves me feeling divided on how I feel about this track. On one hand it has a solid groove. On the other hand, the vocals are pretty bland for the verses. For the most part I have been just enjoying the drums. If there is one thing I can say, it’s that George Kollias is the reason I enjoyed this song.

4: In the Name Of Amun

This song starts out with Egyptian wind chimes. A melodic and eerie sound to start the song off, that goes on for almost a minute until George hits us with a drum roll out to kick things off into high gear.  With some solid blast beats and drum fills the song is not too shabby. Right around the half-way point of the song we get a fast shredding guitar solo. However after that solo the song seems to drag out a little bit too long for my liking.

5: What should not be unearthed?

This starts out with a wailing guitar riff and a mean drum intro. The song begins with a slow and sludgy feel to it. The song has a few bars or fast paced blast beats and guitar riffing but goes right back into that slow feel. I am not a fan of the slow sludgy feel to death metal songs. After listening to the entire song I must admit, I was very disappointed in this song.

6: Evil to Cast out Evil

This starts out with a malevolent and threatening guitar riff that is absolutely bad ass. When the verse comes in we see the song pick up slightly in tempo and give us a solid beat we can move to. The second verse is also a nice solid feel, and then goes into a blast beat up-tempo section. I am enjoying this as it reminds me of older Nile. The chorus is solid, “evil to cast out evil” and rolls out nicely back into the intro riff I enjoy. This song may be my favorite off this album. It has more to offer with the complexity of the guitar solo, the catchy riffs, and the solid chorus. Let’s not forget the drums either, as on this track they are very appropriate.

7:  Age of Famine

This song has a slow and sludgy feel to it for almost the entirety of the song and to be honest, I just plain and simple did not enjoy it. The highlight of this song is listening to George on the drums for me.

8: Ushtabi Reanimator

I have always been a fan of Nile when it comes to the Egyptian ambiance, it does add a little flavor to the style metal.  This turns out to be a mellow instrumental that was not too long. In fact the length was spot on as it was pretty straight to the point.

9: Rape Of The Black Earth

The song has a hearty beginning; it has blast beats and a chugging riff to introduce us to the verse. This may not be a very eventful track but there is something about it that I like. Half way in to the song and this song upholds its mission of a direct and persistent attack of blast beats and relentless guitar riffs.  This song is one of the better ones on the album without a doubt.

10: To Walk Forth From Flames Unscathed

This song has a cool feel to it, and Georges drumming is top notch. This song hits us with killer guitar riffs, they just have this evil feel to them. While this song may not be a rapid fire blast beat filled, high energy song. It has about the right tempo to get some bodies moving, with sections that are straight up low and slow with a punch.  The guitar solo is just mean, melodic, and menacing. I’m absolutely loving the guitar solo of this song due to the intricacies and emotion behind it.

After listening to this album a few times I must say, there is no equal to Nile. They bring more than just death metal to the table with the whole Egyptian vibe. However, I would find myself wanting to skip to the next song. If it wasn’t for George on the drums I would not rate this well at all. In fact I would go as far as to say George Kollias is the reason the guys are still putting out good music. This album was not a disappointment but I found myself wanting to skip to the next song every now and again.

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

Iron Maiden’s The Book Of Souls album Review

on By

Iron Maiden

The Book Of Souls 2015

Bruce Dickinson : Vocals, Piano

Dave Murray: Guitar

Adrian Smith: Guitar

Janick Gers : Guitar

Steve Harris : Bass, Keyboards

Nicko McBrain : Percussion

1: If Eternity Should Fail  (Dickinson)

A long introduction starts things off, but comes in with a solid groove after. A mid paced tempo keeps me locked in for the ride. The song has good verse, and decent choruses, but the magic really happens when a nice solo section around the 5 minute mark lets loose. This is not a bad song, but ends it with a very odd spoken dialogue that was really unnecessary, theatrical effect was all it was meant for I assume.

2: Speed of light ( Smith , Dickinson)

No long intro like before gets right down to it. This song has more of that classic Maiden feel to it, even though it is not a fast paced song. It has a cool solo section where the guys rotate a few bars each. This is a fun song to listen to. It has all the elements you want from an Iron maiden song, it has dizzying guitar work, and rock solid drumming. The verses are spot on, and the chorus is contagious. This song is not only a great song to listen to, it’s a fun song also, enjoyable really.

3: The Great Unknown ( Smith, Harris)

This song starts out with a slower feel, similar to how fear of the dark starts out with that melodic guitar intro and softly sung lyrics. The rest of the band comes in, and the song really begins to take shape. It has a mid-paced feel to it, and thankfully Bruce can still hit those highs. The song is a very fundamental song in that it is not breaking barriers until the solo section begins.

4: The Red and The Black ( Harris)

The song starts out with a nice bass intro for a few bars, and the song begins full steam.  It has that iron Maiden “gallop” rhythm that you notice in songs like the trooper, however this song is a much slower tempo than the classics. The rhythm is absolutely solid, and Bruce nails the verses down. It has that “whoa” type of chorus that allows all concert goers to get in on the fun when they play live shows. In my honest opinion, I could easily see this song being a fan favorite at live shows.

5: When The River Runs Deep ( Smith, Harris)

It begins with a nice guitar riff, and has a more upbeat tempo to it. The intro for this song would be more appreciated in a live setting, the verses, and the chorus are undeniably catchy, with a good build to this song. The song has moments where it seems to slow down, slightly, but it picks right back up every time, especially going into the guitar solo which is on point. Not a bad song by any means.

6: The Book of Souls ( Gers, Harris)

This song starts out with an acoustic guitar playing a light melody, then the rest of the band joins in. It has a slower, and a symphonic sound to it. The verses follow the tempo and energy, however the song doesn’t grab my attention until the pre chorus. With this song I had to replay it a few times to get the full effect. ¾ of the way when the tempo picks up it got a bit more interesting. This song does not disappoint, the guitar solos are great. This song requires you to make it past the halfway mark to get so much more out of the song. I recommend if you are tempted to skip this song, do yourself the favor and wait. If you make it through the track completely and don’t like it, then at least you gave it a chance.

7: Death or Glory ( Smith, Dickinson)

The way it starts out, with the short intro that rolls right into the rhythm. I am enjoying this song very much on first play. This song has a more upbeat feel to it, very catchy, this so far is my favorite track off the album. The verses, are rock solid, and the chorus is fun and catchy. Nothing over the top about this song, they used a winning formula for the writing of this song. The solo section is great, I love it, and this song is a hit in my opinion.

8: Shadows of the Valley ( Gers, Harris)

This song starts out with a light pattern on a closed high hat, and some finger working on the guitars.   Bruce joins in with vocals progressing along with Nicko’s drums. The first verse is almost as catchy as some choruses, it is simple to follow along to. The chorus is infectious, you can’t help but sing along to the song. If this song doesn’t have you tapping your foot, or tapping on something, playing air drums or air guitar you have missed the boat. The guitar soloing is great, something I have always enjoyed about Iron Maiden is the guitar solos. They are very powerful solos, without going over the top. They are never too flashy, but are not lacklustre either. This is a great song, a very worthwhile listen.

9: Tears of a Clown ( Smith, Harris)

This song, has a great feel to it, strong lyrics, solid verses, catchy pre chorus, and a chorus that will leave you singing along within its first play. It does seem like they have slowed down a bit in their years, but they don’t lose anything by slowing down. In fact I would say it gave them a chance to focus on making this album a stellar addition to the Iron Maiden catalog. I needed to play this song more than once just to get the big picture of what the song had to offer. It’s a solid addition to the album.

10: The Man of Sorrows ( Murray, Harris)

Great intro with the guitar, very melodic and peaceful. It maintains the melodic feel for two minutes, when it picks right up in tempo and intensity. The song almost changes its whole dimension by that time, and both the first half and the second half of the song are great, in their own way very enjoyable. I find myself wanting the melodic first half to be longer, and also the same for the energetic anthem like second half.

11: Empire of the Clouds ( Dickinson)

This song, is a long melodic ballad, written about the 1930 R101 airship crash resulting in mass loss of life aboard the airship. This song we hear Bruce not only singing but playing the piano as well. This is a great song, a powerful song written very well. It almost connects the listener to the day the R101 crashed. The first half of the song is a slower melodic tune, with mostly Bruce and the piano, with guitars accompanying pleasantly without over shadowing anything. By the second half, the song picks up in tempo, with quite a few bars of guitar soloing, and we can hear synthesizers. It seems to give you that chaotic “danger, danger” feel. Maybe it was written to replicate that sense of panic the crew members must have felt. This is an absolutely great song to sit and listen to.

I really enjoy this album, it has all of the classic characteristics of an Iron Maiden album, and seems to have focused much more on the music quality. If Iron Maiden called it a day and hung up their “Irons”   they did so with a great album. I suggest to give this album a few plays, before forming any opinion. The first thing you will notice is the band has slowed down a bit, none of the songs are as energetic as say The Trooper, or Aces high. They don’t sacrifice anything for the fact that they have slowed down, because all of the songs still have the great guitar riffs, and solos. The band seems to have spent more time focusing on the music and wanting to deliver an album that does not have any tracks that you would choose to skip. The hardest part with listening to this album is finding the time to just listen to the songs in order non-stop without interruption to fully enjoy The Book of Souls in its entirety.  Its a great album, and worth the purchase.

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

The Anthropocene Extincion Review @cattledecap @EarsplitPR

on By

This is a little album review I have done for the folks over at The Metal Syndicate

check it out

1: Manufactured extinct

This song starts out with waves crashing on a beach, giving you the refreshing feeling. Then the absolutely sinister guitar riffs kick in. David is delivering a slow creeping pace on the drums. A bloodthirsty growl is dispatched by Travis as the tempo picks it up a notch. “In the beginning, of this!”  The verse is a solid vocal track as the guitar riff is utterly faultless.  David administers a barrage of blast beats that will melt your face. David McGraw may not be the world’s best drummer, but man he can grind the hell out of those blasts. He can make a song like this sound brutal, bad ass, and remarkable. This song has that filthy yet satisfactory feel. The chorus is first class and catchy, which is why I love it.  This song is badass, with a groove you can move to.

2: Prophets of loss

Without delay Travis hits us with a banshee-like scream, while blast beats pummel at our senses. All this is going on and the guitar gives us a great driving riff.  This is a solid quick tempo song without a single blemish. Even during the spoken dialogue the guitars and drums are strategically bad-ass. David McGraw is incredible on the drums, absolutely impressive. This song is brutal and fast all the while maintaining a groove regardless of changes. At 1:30 in, this song has gone from a grim, brutal song to an even more impressive gut wrenching brutal metal track. The chorus is great as Travis is using his unorthodox high pitch guttural vocals to enhance the feel. This song is awesome, I love it.

3: Plagueborne

This song starts out with a sound clip; just a trashy sounding, fuzzy drum beat. With a 1.2.3.4 on the floor tom and the snare to bring the song into its brutal beginning. A quick drum roll transitions into the first verse. The first verse is a supersonic gravity blast filled section that is pleasing to the listener. The second verse is the same as the first.  The song has a pre chorus that has a rapid fire double bass roll and drum beat. This section exposes a brutal grinding blasting assault. Just when you think the song didn’t get any more brutal, the chorus begins. Travis is rocking those high pitched vocals that could not work for anyone.  For cattle Decapitation, nothing is off limits.  The breakdown has a killer punchy feel to it. Thus begins the double bass rolling and gravity blasting to pick the tempo up. As the song peaks it drops back into the chorus, a slower feel to the song but man those vocals just make it.  After the chorus, Travis is just letting out a low guttural and high pitched vocal mixture. That blends like you wouldn’t expect it to. The conclusion of the song has those high pitched vocals. This is a great song I have found myself listening to over and over again.

4: Clandestine ways (Krokodil Rot)

The song starts out with David blasting away for a few bars with a fill, and then more blasting. A very brief pause sets up the first verse. The verse has a nice up tempo feel, with mid-range vocals. The verse doesn’t seem to last long before it goes into a pre chorus for a few bars. It sets up for a high pitched banshee scream that rings out, while high pitched vocals are laying down some thought provoking lines. There is a short lived setup here and the song slows down to a punchy feel with low guttural vocals. This song has quite a few changes but they are not going overboard with the amount of changes. This song has a cool feel to it. Like a relentless gravity blast serenade of guttural vocals and filth.  This is a cool song, it might not be everyone’s favorite but it has all the characteristics of a great tune.

5: Circo Inhumanitas.

David gives us a quick drum fill which is then followed by blast beats. Immediately after, Travis hits us with the cut-throat mid-range vocals. Every track has a brutal and menacing driving guitar riff.  Those punchy guitar riffs for those moments when bodies are going to be moving hard and heavy are also present. The chorus to this song has those unyielding high pitched vocals that cut deep. With rapid fire double bass and blast beats I’d say David takes home a trophy for his work on this album. At 2:10 this song takes on a change that is just absolutely brutal, a slower feel for a few bars. At the same time Travis is giving us low and mid-range vocals for a few bars and then the high pitched for a bar or two. This is a great song. This album so far has 5 out of 5 songs that are very impressive.

6: The Burden Of Seven Billion

This is a very gloomy, sinister and chilling instrumental track. It has the feel of a murder scene in a horror movie giving you time to contemplate the song title. This is one of those instrumental tracks that is just the right length. Not too short, not too long or drawn out. Without a doubt a great addition to the album.

7: Mammals In Babylon

The way this song starts it has that driving forceful rhythm for a few bars. The verse is a solid tempo that you can move and the second verse is the same as the first in the way that it is solid and on point. By the time the pre chorus hits, it is set up well to the beginnings of a banshee scream, and some blast beats. Following that, Travis hits us with high pitches… guttural high. They are different sounding then the usual high pitched vocals. The chorus is very enjoyable as it is a solid catchy chorus. This song possesses that groove you can really rock out to.  This song is great; an unwavering brutal metal masterpiece.

8: Mutual Assured Destruction

A quick drum introduces us to the feel of the song. Cattle Decapitation does not ease the listener into the blast filled assault they are about to fall victim to. Travis is giving it all with his mid-range vocals all the while as a driving guitar riff engineers to keep the bodies moving. While the pre chorus feels like it is holding something back, the chorus delivers unforgiving brutality.

9: Not Suitable For Life

Travis explodes with growls while vicious drums and a heavy guitar riff hit hard. That seems to be the pattern so far with this album. They get right into the brutality without any fluff. The verse is solid with an even more evil sounding chorus. The lyrical content of the chorus has a villainous feel. The second time the chorus hits we experience a few more bars of this slow, and brutal onslaught. This is definitely a solid and brutal track that I am enjoying.

10: Apex Blasphemy

This song punches its way in with mind numbing guitar riffs and blast beats. The vocals that you hear first are the consistent mid-range vocals.  With the first change I am really enjoying the guitar riff, and then Travis gives us one of those vomitus vocal bursts. The uncompromised high vocals hit us hard and fast. I am personally really enjoying the drums on this song. With how rapid fire this song is, you can still move to it. I am trying to refrain from head banging right now. This song is appropriately titled as it is the apex of blasphemous reverberation.

11: Axe Exitium

The sound of waves are crashing again however this has a depressing feel to it. The dismal and somber melody on the guitar lulls you into feelings of hopelessness. Everything about this song is cool except the vocals. I just don’t care for them. I understand the reasoning behind them but I just feel that this song could have been a cool instrumental album ender. It’s definitely not one of those songs you skip past though.

12: Pacific Grim

Just like most of the other tracks it kicks into high gear right out of the gate. By no means do they attempt to hold back. This song has a very solid verse, and the pre chorus is equally as satisfactory.  This song has an unsurpassable groove, which matches the guttural brutality of it. David McGraw handles the drums with surgical precision and grace.

    After all is said and done, this album is a masterpiece. This is one of those few albums that you can listen from start to finish without skipping.  The vocal range that Travis possesses is incredible. He nails the highs, the lows, the guttural deep lows, and the banshee like screeches. David is relentless on the drums, a well executing drum machine. This is one of my top albums of 2015 hands down. This album has all the right qualities that blend perfectly.  This album is damn near perfect. If you haven’t gotten this album yet and are looking for a great album to buy, make this be the one.

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

Haunted Cellar – Infernal Delusions Review

on By

Haunted cellar : INFERNAL DELUSIONS

Haunted Cellar is:

Khodor Nashar – Lead Guitar & Backing Vocals.
Rodi Mestrih- Drums & Percussion.
Walid Sandakly – Lead Vocals.
Aboud Kabbas – Bass Guitar.

1: The Divinity of Loneliness

The song starts out with a wholesome and melodic, guitar rhythm being played for about 18 seconds until the distorted guitars and drums jump in. This has a mid tempo feel to it, for a few bars, and then as the drums stop playing, the guitars give us a riff that builds up to the first verse. The vocals for the verse are a low almost guttural sound to them. The recording quality is not the greatest. I am really enjoying this tempo and when the chorus approaches, I am noticing that it is catchy as hell. I could easily find myself humming, whistling, or singing along. After the chorus the song slows down, to give it a more punchy attack. The guitar solo is a simple yet tasteful addition to the song. When the other guitar comes in the harmonics of this section are cool. This song is a good tune, I have enjoyed it during my time listening.

2:The Way of the Swarm

This song starts out with a 1-2 cymbal splash and then a cymbal crash beginning the slow and stringent rhythm. The song goes through a few changes in the drum patterns before the verse begins. This song has a slower feel for the most part until the first verse lets loose. Going into the next verse, it has the same structure, until right out of the second verse. The song slows down to give you a slower punchy feel, more than how the song began. Right around the half-way point, the song takes on a change that is actually the highlight of the song in my opinion. I like the double bass and driving beat it has to it. The vocals are a little higher and tighter. At 3:28 seconds the song transitions back in to the feel and pattern that made up the first verse. It then picks up into a death metal rhythm with a blast beat laden breakdown. This carries on for a solid minute until it slows and abruptly stops.

3 Path to Oblivion

This song has what sounds like a really gritty distortion on the guitars. A riff that sounds like it is going to fade out for only a brief moment until it comes right back in and plays a fluid, mid tempo riff. The vocals join in and it takes on an old school death metal feel. We get hit by a bar of blast beats then winds down to the guitar solo. Not a bad song by any means, but this is the one song that started to lose me.

4: Haunted Cellar

This song has a darker approach to it, with a cool guitar riff in the background then vacates to open up for a solid driving guitar riff, mid tempo drums, and a nice feel to it. The vocals are low and grim sounding. This song maintains the sludgy death metal feel and mid tempo pace for the entire song. Not bad, maybe not the best track they have in my opinion.

These guys have some serious potential and it sounds like they recorded this themselves. One thing I do want to point out is that this band is from Syria. This is not a band on U.S soil where there are tons of places and studios to do recording mixing and mastering. In fact I was only able to find one studio. So take that into consideration when you listen to these guys. Metal may not be the most accepted art form over there, and the resources are not easy to come by either. Especially when it comes to metal band recording studios. If these guys had a chance with more of a variety of studios these songs may sound different. I think they sound pretty damn good considering. They are fresh and have plenty to offer, if this is just a debut of their sound. We could definitely see some serious metal coming from these guys in the future. I personally cant wait to hear more from these guys and see what they have up their sleeves.

you can check them out on facebook

on soundcloud/Haunted-Cellar

and twitter.com/Haunted_Cellar

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