REVIEW: PRO-PAIN - SHREDS OF DIGNITY

 

PRO-PAIN - SHREDS OF DIGNITY (Spitfire Recs., 2002)

Produced by Gary meskill and Eric Klinger

Recorded at Audio Images, the Jam Room and Gary´s House

Artwork by Eric Klinger

Tracks: 1- The Shape of Things to Come, 2- Gone Fishin, 3- Down for the cause, 4- No Way Out, 5- Shreds of Dignity, 6- Walk Away, 7- F.O.A.D., 8- Lock ´n´Load, 9- Casualties of War, 10- 24/7, 11- Justice Must be Done, 12- Kill or be killed

Pro-pain is back. As always with the leadership of ex Crumbsucker Gary Meskill on bass and vocals. This time they have returned to some heavier parts that were present on the "Foul Taste of Freedom" album with a total predominance of hardcore riffs. The guitar sounds really raw and it helps to make the tracks more direct like a kick in your head. The songs here are short and very powerful with some really cool riffs like the ones in the bridge of "Gone Fishing". The mix is really loud and you can appreciate both guitars and the bass perfectly. Also the vocals are really up in the mix which is really great to enhance the results. It is great to see bands like Pro-Pain that become better with time. Favorite tracks: "Lock´n´load", "No Way Out" and "Kill or be killed".Contact: www.spitfirerecords.com

REVIEW: PHOBIA - SERENITY THROUGH PAIN

 

PHOBIA - SERENITY THROUGH PAIN (Necropolis/Deathvomit Recs., 2002)

Mastered by Paul Miner

Artwork by Victoria Scalisi

Tracks: 1- God is Grace, 2- Death threat, 3- You Suffer, 4- B.u.s.h., 5- Hurray for Jesus, 6- Poison My Mind, 7- D.F.F.D.,8- Pathetic Minds, 9- Slave to religion, 10- Seig Help. 11- Wounds Through Punishment, 12- Mercy Killing, 13- Closure, 14- Welcome to Violence, 15- White Devil, 16- You, 17- Social Sheep, 18- Rid Self Condemnation, 19- Ways of Destruction, 20- Fueled by Pride, 21- Mental incarceration, 22- Private War, 23- Sovereign

This is a deceiving CD. It starts with an acoustic intro with some clean vocals singing along theguityar and immediately it gets into hyper fast death/Grind with the track called "Death Threat". The first thing that got my attention was the excellent sound quality that this recording has, even better than many of the top bands in the style. Then another thing that hit me was the great riffs that this guys made. In fact they are not going at top speed all the time prefering to do more interesting rhythm changes and emphasizing the heavier than hell rhythms. This riffs that are slower than the grinding blast beat parts are extremely well supported by drummer Matt Mills who is really killer along the whole recording. Heavier than hell. Favorite tracks: "You Suffer", "Poison my Mind" and "Rid Self Condemnation". Contact: www.necropolisrecords.com

REVIEW: OVERBLOOD - OUR BLOOD

 

OVERBLOOD - OUR BLOOD (Kick Promotion Agency, 2001)

Produced by Overblood

Recorded by Overblood

Tracks: 1- Refuse It All, 2- Children Market, 3- Unknown, 4- Mister Crime, 5- Eternal Life, 6- Mortal Love, 7- Politically Insane

A brutal band from Italy playing what I would call modern death/thrash. I call this music in that way because it has elements from all this styles. They have vocals that could be from a death metal band and fast riffs that could be from that style too, then they have some drum patterns and guitar riffs that remind of eighties thrash metal bands. And they also have influences from modern metal bands like Fear Factory, Sepultura and others. The combination of influences gives a great result in this CD and the vocals which are not very guttural and not too clean either gives an original identity to Overblood´s music. There are also slower tracks like "Children Market" (that gets fast after a while). Check this release from this powerful band. Favorite tracks: "Mister Crime", "Mortal Love" and "Refuse It All". Contact: www.kickagency.3000.it

REVIEW: NEEDLERUST - LET´S TALK ABOUT PAIN

 

NEEDLERUST - LET´S TALK ABOUT PAIN (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Needlerust

Recorded at Chaos Practice Studios

Artwork by Daniel Albertsson

Tracks: 1- Where we Differ, 2- Missing Link, 3- For this Deceit

An amazing CD !!! This guys have a ll the elements to become a real success in the underground metal scene. And they have the main thing: ORIGINAL IDEAS. In fatc what I liked most of this band is the way in which they combine a lot of elements to obtain a type of death metal that is extremely original. From the technical guitar parts (which emphasize melodies and dark phrases) to the keyboards that are all over the songs here adding harmony to brutality and subtle elments to powerful music. Also the drummer is killer and knows how to accentuate the riffs in order to make the music here much more interesting. This band is going to become one of my favorites if I listen more from them. Favorite tracks: the whole CD. Contact: http://www.metalprovider.com/needlerust

REVIEW: NECROPHILISM - PERVERSE CHAOTIC REIGN

 

NECROPHILISM - PERVERSE CHAOTIC REIGN(Kick Promotion Agency, 2001)

Produced by Necrophilism

Tracks: 1- Raped by Chainsaw, 2- The Ancient Cemetary, 3- Tze, tze, tze Bloup, 4- Flesh Feast

Necrophilism inmerse the listener in their brutal world of death/grind metal going for the most extreme side of music. Speed? You have it here in a lot of parts. Technique? Well, this guys can play from the fastest riff to the more rhythmic ones perfectly and without difficulties (they reminded me of bands like Myopia because of this changes combined with the guttural vocals). The overall sound in this recording is fairly good. Maybe they could have made sound better the drums (the guitars are killer) and that would have gave extra points to the recording. This CD and the band are brutality guaranteed for the listener. Favorite tracks: "The Ancient Cemetary" and "Flesh Feast" Contact: http://necrophilism.cjb.net or www.kickagency.3000.it

REVIEW: NECROFLESH - PROMO 2001

 

NECROFLESH - PROMO 2001(Independent, 2001)

Produced by Necroflesh

Tracks: 1- Beyond The Dark Stars, 2- Temptation, 3- Supreme Vengeance

A super fast blast beat along with a speedy guitar riff opens this CD from this italian band. Necroflesh are lovers of the most brutal death metal in Earth and they add to the style a lot of their technical habilities. Their music is quite complex because of the breaks and the tempo changes. In fact I think that I have to remark the great work that the drummer makes here (specially in certain complicated double bass patterns). The band sounds extremely tight and it seems that they have rhearsed a lot the tracks because of the great way in which all the changes are played. I hope this band gets a deal soon and releases more material. They are really good in their style !!. Favorite tracks: "Beyond The Dark Stars" and "Supreme Vengeance"

REVIEW: MIDNIGHT SCREAM - FALLEN FAITH

 

MIDNIGHT SCREAM - FALLEN FAITH (Independent, 2001)

Produced by Mike Galiatsos and Lukas Bergis

Artwork by Chris Chiotis

Tracks: 1- Lost in the dark, 2- Veil of Darkness, 3- Twisted Soul, 4- Fallen Faith

The opening of this CD really fooled me,. It starts with a riff in the vein of some power metal bands, but after some seconds it turns to death metal !! And it sounds really good. I mean the blend of this type of riffs and the more brutal vocals typical in death metal is a good combination !! But this guys through some other interesting things too. For example some super fast riffs like on "Veil of Darkness!", and some riffs that are quite more complex and give a different feeling to the tracks. I think Midnight Scream´s music has a lot of atmosphere because of the way the guitarist interacts (as an example listen to the change in "Veil of Darkness" at 2:02. This MCD contains four tracks from a promisory brutal band. Favorite tracks. The four songs contained here. Contact: http://welcome.to/midnightscream

REVIEW: MENTAL HORROR - PROCLAIMING VENGEANCE

 

MENTAL HORROR - PROCLAIMING VENGEANCE (Necropolis Recs., 2002)

Produced by Robles Dresch

Recorded and mixed in porto Alegre

Artwork by M. Miler

Tracks: 1- Intro of Vengeance, 2- Burning Alive, 3- Genocidal Inquisition, 4-Black Spiritual Void, 5- Rising from Chaos, 6- Screams of Tiamat, 7- Flagellum Forms, 8- Anguish Seas, 9- Tortured (Bleeding for the plague), 10- Profane Spawn, 11- Proclaiming Vengeance

How brutal can a band be? I think that not much more than Mental Horror with his extreme death metal. The core of Mental Horror´s sound is the crushing wall of sound that their guitars are, the guttural vocals that are all over their tracks and the blast beats and extremely fast drum patterns that the drummer plays through all the compositions. Death metal in its purest form. This is how I would describe Mental Horror´s music. This band has no mercy and there are only a few moments where they slow down (like in "Anguish Seas, a short interlude). I would like the band to make a clearer mix, specially on the guitars that sound a little bit opaque. There are some maniac guitar solos that add more twisted feelings to the music contained on this CD. Here you have brutality in its highest level. Favorite tracks: "Flagellum Forms", "Genocidal Inquisition" and "Profane Spawn". Contact: www.necropolisrecords.com

REVIEW: MACHINE HEAD - SUPERCHARGER

 

MACHINE HEAD - SUPERCHARGER (Roadrunner Recs., 2001)

Produced by Johnny K.

Recorded at Mad Dog Studios

Artwork by P.R. Brown

Tracks: 1- Declaration, 2- Bulldoxer, 3- White Knuckle Blackout, 4- Crashing Around You, 5- Kick You When You´re Down, 6- Only the Names, 7- All In Your Head, 8- American High, 9- Brown Acid, 10-Nausea, 11- Blank Generation, 12-Trephination, 13- Deafening Silence, 14- Supercharger, 15- Hople In the Sky, 16- Ten Fold, 17- The Blood, The sweat and the tears (live), 18- Desire to Fire (live)

Machine Head is Back! Blasting with their cutting riffs and their thunderous drum beats here is one of America´s most powerful bands. Starting with a noisy intro followed by a great drums opening before the band enters with their ultra heavy and modern brand of metal. The sound on this release has made a big progress from the one in "the Burning Red" their previous albums and also Rob Flynn and company have made an effort on doing better tracks here. As powerful as always this is Machine Head´s fourth album and is one of the heaviest up to date. The great combination of crushing riffs, screams and singing vocals is omniprescent on this release as on their previous ones. If you like modern metal you should check this CD. Favorite tracks: "Crashing Around You", "American High" and " Deafening Silence". Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com

REVIEW: KING DIAMOND - ABIGAIL II THE REVENGE

 

KING DIAMOND - ABIGAIL II THE REVENGE (Roadrunner Recs., 2002)

Produced by Kol Marshall, King Diamond and Andy La Rocque

Recorded at Nomad Recording Studio

Artwork by Travis Smith

Tracks: 1- Spare this Life, 2- The Storm, 3- Mansion In Sorrow, 4- Miriam, 5- Little One, 6- Slippery Stairs, 7- The Crypt, 8- Broken Glass, 9- More Than Pain, 10- The Wheelchair, 11- Spirits, 12- Mommy, 13- Sorry dear

 The voice of O´Brian of the Black horsemen along with a keyboard intro starts this new King Diamond CD. The story goes along the path started by the first "Abigail" album, lyrically and also musically. I like the way King Diamond does his music with all the guitar riffs and solos. It is true that all his latest albums have been really similar but it is his own style. My favourite musician here is Andy La Rocque who is a really versatile guitarist and is the one who put the flesh in King Diamond´s song (as Hank Sherman is the one who does it in Mercyful Fate). There are not many nrew elements here. The sound is much better than on the first part (there are 14 years between one part and the other). Fans of the King will be delighted. Favorite tracks: "Mansion in Sorrow", "Little One" and " More Than Pain". Contact: www.roadrunnerrecords.com