Imindain/Hate Forest/Eluveitie/Zao/Darkest Hour

And The Living Shall Envy The Dead-Another pretty good doom metal band, with infusions of death metal. The band is a supergroup almost with members coming from bands like: Infant Bite, Maniakal Torment, Iota Draconis, Crepitation, Camel Of Doom, Esoteric, and Disembowelled. I never noticed until recently that the band is from the UK, along with Funeral Doom legends Esoteric. I always thought the band was from USA. A good paced hippie death-doom release. Recommended for fans of: Mountains Became Machines (also from stoke-on-trent), Irreversible, Esoteric, & Ataraxie. Overall Rating: 6.8/10
Battlefields-The better side of Hate Forest that i didn't hear in some of the other releases. This CD concentrates a little more on ukrainian folk elements than the other releases. The release is so popular that they have rereleased it 3 times with different artwork. Probably more favored than the other releases, but not my favorite. Recommended for fans of: Drudkh, Astrofaes, and Blood Of Kingu. Overall Rating: 7.1/10
Spirit-For cliche gothenburg melodic death metal, Eluveitie is actually pretty good. Eluveitie plays "christian safe" melodic death metal infused with folk metal. I love how they mix in the instruments like the hurdy-gurdy and bagpipes, tin whistles and bohdran. This album is really good in moderation. Bands like Soilwork, Arch Enemy, In Flames, Dark Tranquility, Hate Eternal, Carcass, and etc. have slaughtered good melodic death metal. Eluveitie really can only be listened to in small amounts because of these other melo-death bands ruining the image for them. Recommended for fans of: Winter Dome, Soilwork, In Flames, Melo-Death and Folk and Pagan metal. Overall Rating: 7.8/10
Author-Zao's first release to come out to the public. I admit, this thing was really frigin hard to find just on internet copy, let alone a hard copy. The CD is very raw and reminisces of old hardcore influenced Zao. This release is so early for metalcore to hit the scene, that this isn't even considered metalcore. But i truely say, without a doubt, christians created a few genres: Embodyment invented Deathcore, Emery and UnderOath invented new wave emocore, and Zao invented metalcore. Recommended to fans of: Six Feet Deep, Point Of Recognition, and Since Remembered. Overall Rating: 5/10 (rawness of recording and the fact i hate most straight-up hardcore)
So Sedated, So Secure-One of Darkest Hour's early 90's releases. This album is fun, melodic, thrashy, and humorous. The internet copy i burnt has the reissue edition bonus tracks, which are hilarious. Bear Huntin' USA is defenitely the best comedy song i've listened to. Overall, the album wasn't a great rememberence, but it was a fun listen that, again, should be listened to in moderation (like all melo-death). Recommended for fans of: As I Lay Dying, (early) Destroy The Runner, In Flames, Carcass, Arch Enemy, etc. Overall Rating: 6.9/10

Zao/The Ocean/Austrian Death Machine/Emery/As Cities Burn

Liberate Te Ex Inferis (Save Yourself From Hell)-Probably the scariest and dark of all Zao's releases. The album is based on the book "Dante's Inferno" and every two songs are divided into a different ring of hell. (I: Limbo, II: The Lustful, III: The Gluttonous, IV: The Hoarders and the Spendthrifts, V: The Wrathful) The Album's last track is probably the scariest thing i have ever heard aside from some songs by The Axis Of Perdition. This album is great. Recommended to fans of: The Axis Of Perdition. Overall Rating: 8.3/10
Precambrian-The newest release from The Ocean Collective. This one they decided to bring in a cool idea of splitting the album in two. The first disc is their heavier material, more death and sludge material. The second disc is more atmospheric symphonic sludge. The release is very good, and experiments (again) with metalcore and deathcore elements. Recommended to fans of: Irreversible, Atmospheric Sludge, and Death metal. Overall Rating: 7.1/10
Total Brutal-A side project from Tim Lambesis of As I Lay Dying. This album is madddd funny. It is very upbeat, hypey thrash/crossover/metalcore. The album is based on Tim's love for Arnold Schwarzanegger and his movies. The album has many guests, including Destroy The Runner's singer Chad Ackerman doing the impressions. The album has songs based on his movies like: Kindergarten Cop, Predator, Terminator, and others. This album is the best thrash release i have listened to ever. Recommended to fans of: Destroy The Runner, As I Lay Dying. Overall Rating: 8.8/10
While Broken Hearts Prevail-Emery's newest release. An EP release of new songs that will be featured on the new 2009 album. This album has a reissue from their first EP which i was excited about. The EP was supposedly reminiscent of the "Columbus EEP Thee" Ep, but i truly find it as a transition that was missing between their first and second album. I love the release and i'm ready to listen to this CD a million times like my other emery cds :3 Recommended for fans of: Emarosa, Akissforjersey, Youinseries. Overall Rating: 9.9/10
Come Now Sleep-For the longest time i hated this release because i was so upset at the fact their old singer left and their style drastically changed. They went off like Destroy The Runner, where they went from almost all screaming, to almost all singing. The album is very technical/atmospheric/ambient post hardcore. I love the material now that i gave it a chance. I obviously love it for totally different reasons than i love their previous album. Recommended to fans of: Emarosa, Youinseries, Versus The Mirror. Overall Rating: 9.8/10

Hate Forest/The Ocean/Soul Embraced

Sorrow-A good album by hate forest with a title to fit. This album is atmospheric black with hints of ambient and pagan elements. The biggest issue for me is that this album isn't much different from "Scythia" (the album being reviewed below). Besides all that, again, nothing much to say about this release. Recommended for fans of: Drudkh and Astrofaes. Overall Rating: 6/10
Scythia-The bands first demo that has since been reissued multiple times on different labels. This album is a big difference from their other material obviously because it's their first release and they changed in style quite a bit since they started with this album. These albums i've been reviewing recently haven't had much to say about them really. Recommended for fans of: Drudkh and Astrofaes. Overall Rating: 6/10
Aeolian-A very good symphonic sludge release. This band is a collective, and one of the only collectives i listen to. Basically there are core musicians and many many musicians that come and go that add a certain part to the band. I never listen to collectives (grateful dead and other bands of the such) because i don't understand how a band can stay the same style if they don't have the same members all the time. This album is very experimenting in the genres of death, sludge, metalcore, and groove.  Recommended for fans of: Kehlvin, Irreversible, Atmospheric Sludge/death metal. Overall Rating: 8.2/10
Immune-From the man who brought you Living Sacrifice and Shredded Corpse comes Soul Embraced. This is Rocky Gray's side that he formed to get out some pent up emotions aside from Living Sacrifice. This release is very good quality and is very hardcore influenced. It is very melodic and it is half deathcore half death metal. Recommended to fans of: Ancient Existence and Melodeath metal. Overall Rating: 8.3/10
The Most Ancient Ones-Another good Hate Forest release. Not much to say about it, besides that is a pretty damn good release. Recommended to fans of : Drudkh and Astrofaes. Overall Rating: 6/10

Staple/Mortification/Project 86/Zao/Hate Forest

Staple-An ok release. Really on the cutting edge of it's awkward genre of alt-rock meets metalcore meets emocore. Not really too much to say about the release besides that i wouldn't recommend it unless you heard their sophomore release first and liked it. Recommended to fans of: Project 86 and Sordid. Overall Rating: 5/10
Primitive Rhythm Machine-A middle age Mortification release, not really bad, but not amazing. This album is basically a copy of "Relentless" but with tribal influences and guest musicians to fill in the void due to the fact Steve Rowe had no filling members at the time. Not really much to say about this release either besides the fact its another mediocre release. Overall Rating: 5/10
Songs To Burn Your Bridges By-A good followup to the previous album "Truthless Heroes". Sadly their other releases really blew asshole. Their first 2 were too rapcore, and the later ones after the release after this one, i don't know, they just really sucked. This ones best tracks are 1, 3, and 5. Look into those 3 first. The album doesn't really follow a layout like the previous; it has no flow; but it's still rather good. Recommended to fans of: Sordid and Staple. Overall Rating: 5.6/10
(Self-Titled)-A good transitional album. This is where all their material is electronicized but less industrial than previous releases. The album was written in studio by 2 of the 3 members in a short time. Dan weyandt hits his 3rd album mark with the band at this point, and there weren't any original members left in the band at that point. Zao just keeps evolving and changing, and thats why they are likable. Recommended to fans of: Prodigy and Project 86. Overall Rating: 7.8/10
Nietzscheism-A compilation of hard to find HF releases ("Darkness", "Blood And Fire", "Ritual", and "Resistance"). Basically my second favorite release (to the EP "The Gates" of course). I love this album for it's intro track, which is actually "Fortuna Imperatrix Mundi" by Carl Orff, which is an amazing orchestral piece. Recommended for fans of: Drudkh, Pagan/NS black metal. Overall Rating: 8/10

Ancient Existence/Inversion/Zao/Molested

Hate Is The Law-A release i stayed away from for a long time after i burn it to a cd-r, but once listened, i thought was awesome. The music is very new age standard death metal (think of a mix of dismember, darkest hour, in flames, but more slow paced 4/4 standard death). The music didn't really catch my eyes until the vocalist started singing. All he does is low pitched gutterals (relative to standard brutal death metal). Ancient Existence infuses elements of brutal death, old school death, and new school into this new genre or new wave death with melodic elements. A good listen all the way through although it all sounds alike. It gets to almost a bore at some points, but worth listening to if you want to get into melo-death and new school death metal. Recommended to fans of: new wave Dismember, In Flames, Jungle Rot, Darkest Hour. Overall Rating: 6.5/10
The Nature Of Depravity-The rarest release i have yet to find and purchase in the christian death underground. (I found a brazilian site selling it for 30$ but never contacted me back after i conversed with the owner of the store and he promised me the link to his paypal account). This release is very different to other christian releases, it has a different flare and is rather unorthodox. It has elements of some black metal in the tracks, but this is mainly in the vocals. My favorite track was actually acoustic, and i loved how they undertoned in death metal whispers and at the end added a fast paced acoustic part paired with black metal vocals. Recommended to fans of: Dieversion, Discern, Crimson Thorn, old school american christian death metal. Overall Rating: 7/10
The Splinter Shards The Birth Of Separation-Probably my least favorite Zao release. Not too memorable; but if i was to take another listen again, i'd probably remember each song. Recommended to fans of: Six Feet Deep. Overall Rating: 5./10
Blod Draum-Good old school death metal formed by later frontman of Borknagar and Cronian Oystein Brun. The release has some folk elements and is a rare gem that alot people are looking forward to it's rerelease due out early 09 with Stormvold (look below) as a bonus addition. The Cd will be released on Oystein's label Ars Magna, which recently signed Vuurdood. If you want great old school death, this is a must. Recommended for fans of: Demilich. Overall Rating: 5.9/10 (due to it's raw quality)
Stormvold-The last Molested release, and a pretty good one too. I would say not really a change from Blod Draum but still good old school death. The rereleas will be so much more insane. Dan Swano is going to remaster it, so i'm expecting alot of good to come out of something that was great when it was only raw. Recommended for fans of: Demilich. Overall Rating: 5.9/10 (for raw quality again)

Esoteric/Prodigy/Zao/Sectioned

Epistemological Despondency-First off, one of the most metal album titles for a cd. Very quality funeral doom, and the most revered of all funeral doom bands. Esoteric ironically has a very esoteric take on their material. The songs on some occasions escape the cliche "funeral doom" and go on to experimental material with jazz, death, and doom metal all mixed. I'm pretty sure one song had saxophone, but it might be one of their other releases. This Cd has gotten much praise, i personally prefer Ea more than Esoteric, but Esoteric is an excellent band to introduce someone to funeral doom. Their songs range from 10-30 minutes. Their 6 tracks are so long that it had to be released on 2 discs. I look forward to purchasing the release to see this artwork that makes your eyes go crazy. Recommended to fans of: Ataraxie, Ea, Imindain. Overall Rating: 7.5/10
The Fat Of The Land-A release i have grown up listening to. I've had really odd musically influenced roots. (From Bush, to System Of A Down, Prodigy, Rammstein, etc) This release is sometimes considered an industrial masterpiece, but prodigy goes very light on the industrial elements for this release and its all dance music. This is basically a compilation of all their best songs, because none of their other full length albums were good in my view and this was their best album that everyone knows. Everyone knows their songs somehow; "Smack My Bitch Up" was in the movie Charlie's Angels, and "Narayan" was the anthem for a wrestler in the WWF in the 90's named Viscera. I have basically memorized and know all the songs on this release, and it's fun to dance and mosh to, alot of breakbeat elements added into their music. Recommended to fans of: KMFDM, Rammstein, Industrial and Dance fanatics. Overall Rating: 9.4/10Parade Of Chaos-A good zao release, but not in my group of favorites. This release was more of their progression era away from their industrial era ("(Self-Titled)") into the pure metalcore era ("The Funeral Of God") This didn't jump out too far at me, but it did have 2 key tracks i keep on my favorite zao songs list, "Suspend/Suspension" and "Angel Without Wings". I would say if you want to start listening to zao to keep away from this release until you know you will like all their material. Recommended to fans of: "(Self Titled)" era Zao. Overall Rating: 6.7/10

Zao/Secret And Whisper/Bubblegum Octopus/Mortal Treason

Where Blood And Fire Bring Rest-The pinnacle of Zao. This album is considered by magazines as the most influential album of 1995. It is blasting melodic hardcore mixed with dark metal/metalcore. This album is before Self-Titled where they actually added a drum machine and industrial (so it was their pre-industrial era), but you see how some of their material on the album have some industrial tendencies. One of my 3 favorite Zao albums. I love how some of the songs have whispering and just blast in. This album is so brutal. If i was to make a cover album, i would defenitely cover a song off this CD. Recommended to fans of: Training For Utopia, (early) Demon Hunter. Overall Rating: 11/10
Great White Whale-Very reminescent of Stutterfly, but totally different at the same time. This is the follow-up to the band's old project Stutterfly. Their singer had decided to leave and they got a new singer and their style totally change, but stayed the same somehow. They dropped all the scream vocals, but their vocals have a higher range that doesn't go low like the Stutterfly material; which has alot more of a really "full" range on vocals. The album is really catchy and beautiful. One of my favorites for 2008. Recommended to fans of: Stutterfly. Overall Rating: 300000/10
This is not an actual Bubblegum Octopus release, but it is a mix disc of close to all of his recorded songs. I keep this so i can hear all the material that he won't end up including on the project's first release. I really hate the genre "computergrind" aka "Compucore" (etc.); But M@ the C@ has alot of my respect. He was one of the main influences on present day Compucore, with bands that play video-game/bubblegum poppy based material. He has also been in plenty of bands, atleast 15-20 by what i know. I'm really excited to hear this local musician's CD. It will hopefully come out by next month (December 08). Recommended to fans of: One Oreo Killed My Reeses, Shove Your Dick In A Meat Grinder, That Ain't Your Grandpa's Rifle, 1000 Dead Rabbits, all computercore/bubblegum pop/8-bit. Overall Rating: 9.8/10
Sunrise Over A Sea Of Blood-Good melo-death/black metal. Not as good as the original album, but has a totally different luster to the release compared to the first. It has a more epic feel, but i just wasn't really into the album. Recommended to fans of: Soul Embraced, Abigail Williams, The Black Dahlia Murder. Overall Rating: 6/10

Sinai Beach/Bloodlined Calligraphy/Vulvectomy/Project 86

Wolves In Sheeps Clothing-The main reason i got into Sinai. Their CD cover was just so awesome that i bought it on impulse and fell in love with it. The Cd holds my favorite Sinai track (self titled "Wolves In Sheeps Clothing"). This EP is fast, hard-hitting, and surprisingly better than their first full length album. This is a must-have for all metalcore kids. Recommended to fans of: Sea Of Treachery, As I Lay Dying, Darkest Hour. Overall Rating: 8.5/10
They Want You Silent-I've always looked at Bloodlined Calligraphy as female fronted hardcore. But alot of people consider it metalcore, even metalheads. I solemn disagree with a band not being "metal-enough" thats on metal-archives.com; but this is one of the handful. I got into this Cd because i went through phase of listening to metalcore influenced hardcore (Sinai Beach, Figure Four, Point Of Recognition) and Bloodlined was on the list. I only like this album for some reason. The male vocals on the first album weren't interesting, it was just hardcore (which i hate). And the album released after this one had a different female vocalist who had no strength to her voice. Now they have another new singer (who used to sing for melo-death band Mary Shaw) who hopefully lives up to Ally French's material. Recommended to fans of: Figure Four, Sinai Beach, As I Lay Dying, Point Of Recognition, No Innocent Victim. Overall Rating: 8/10
Putrescent Clitoral Fermentation-One of the most perverse of all Cd's in my collection; although sadly, i do not have a hard copy yet. This release is straight up, in your face, italian brutal death metal. The lyrics and images used are obviously suggestive to many; but to me its the music that matters. This band pumps out some good, blasty brutal death. Italy has a great BDM scene (Hour of Penance being the main export). This band is perverse like any brutal grind band would be, but this band is more along the lines of slam death. Really, i find them alot different than the other pervBDM bands because no standard BDM really has such perverse lyrics, mainly its brutal deathgrind that covers that. Not safe for your family, but if your some pervert with italian heritage, listen to it, it's enjoyable. Recommended to fans of: Ancient Existence, Waking The Cadaver, Kronos, Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement, Hour Of Penance, Pyaemia. Overall Rating: 8.4/10
Syphilic Dismembered Slut-The 2 track promo by italian BDM fanatics Vulvectomy (a process in which the vulva (the external female genitalia seen by the naked eye) is partially, or completely removed. Most of the time it's performed to stop cancer, but rapists have also been known to perform vulvectomies on female victims). This promo blows the full length out of the water. I love the intros, the blasting drums/bass/and vocals, the interludes, and guitars. This is something real Brutal DM fans should look for if you want to hear some good, heavy, brutal DM. Recommended to fans of: Pyaemia, Ministros Del Santuario, Infantiphagia, Impending Doom. Overall Rating: 9/10
Truthless Heroes-For something labeled as "rapcore" it surely then redefines it. This band pushes the limits of music, and don't really form into just 1 genre. When i used to listen to them, i heard it as ultramelodic altrock with core elements, relative to the band Staple. But there is something totally different, but also just like Staple. Project 86 actually contains alot of slowed down mathcore, alt rock, alt metalcore, hard rock, industrial, ambient, and experimental into this album. This album has so much depth in it. When i listened to it so many times before, it sounded like nothing compared to this newest time. This band needs alot of listens to comprehend the complexity, and to be able to decipher the matter. Recommended to fans of: Staple, Blindside, and P.O.D. Overall Rating: 9/10

As Cities Burn/Sordid

Demo review time!!!

First off is As Cities Burn's Self titled 2002 demo. This demo really shows the roots of ACB, obviously because it's their first release. The CD shows alot more of early 90's emotive music (although they formed in 02). They don't have anywhere as much screaming as their first album (Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest). The CD has alot of good material that was recycled into the album though. I hate when bands just trash some old demos; the least you could do is reissue it as a demo version as a bonus track for people who can't find the demo online or can't find a hard copy. Recommended to fans of: Sunny Day Real Estate and Saetia. Overall Rating: 6.9/10

Secondly is As Cities Burn's extremely rare "The White" demo. There is no proof this was ever an official release; but this surely can't be any other band than As Cities Burn. You can just tell if your an ACB fan. This demo was nowhere near as heavy as the first album, it was actually even lighter than the bands first demo. Most of these tracks were demos lamenting about the loss of the cody and Tj Bonnette's (ex-vocalist and guitarist/(now)vocalist) father (who left them as children (or that's atleast what the lyrics state)). Now this material i think was favored over most of the other demo material. It really didn't represent ACB in anyway, not even as an evolutionary stage. It seemed like the musicians may have just been stuck in a rut and depressed when recording this release. Although no one knows about it, you all should go out and search for a internet download and listen to this lost gem. Recommended to fans of: Sunny Day Real Estate and A Silver Mt. Zion. Overall Rating: 7.5/10

Thirdly is As Cities Burn's 2003 demo. This demo really sheds light on ACB's material. This is really their evolution stage towards "Son, I Loved You At Your Darkest". This material progresses alot more into screamo with emotive elements that start to dwindle away a little bit. This is really a rough-cut 3 track demo that was rerecorded in the full length. There were alot less screams and "The Nothing That Kills" was different, and slightly shorter than it's album version. This demo really shows that they pushed to get their sound, there's alot of drive and balls put into it. The guys deserve recognition, because they did a good job for what has become known as more of a promo demo. This demo got marketed to tooth and nail records and luckily got them signed to it. The guys deserve it for such hard work. Recommended to fans of: Saetia, Tunes For Bears To Dance To, and Do Androids Dream Of Electric Sheep?. Overall Rating: 7/10

Fourthly and finally for As Cities Burn is their 2007 promo demo. This release came as a promo for the people that pre-ordered their '07 sophomore album "Come Now, Sleep". The CD has demos of their 3 main singles for the album "The Hoard", "New Sun", and "Tides"; and also included a live acoustic set of "The Widow" being played at the Cornerstone christian rock festival in early summer of 2007. The only reason i downloaded it was because i looked down upon the new album. I'll explain: ACB went through a tumultuous phase in 2006 (ironically right after the show i ended up missing out on). The band stated they were going to break up because TJ was leaving to get married and move in with his new wife while Pascal (bassist) also left the band. TJ's brother cody took over on vocals. He originally did all the clean vocals; which totally changed the style for the upcoming sophomore album. That is the main reason i didn't like it. But now i've been to thinking, and i sort of have picked up on liking the new album because it really embodies this new genre of post-screamo that has been put on earth by the band's labelmates MewithoutYou. Recommended to fans of: Death Cab For Cutie (transatlanticism/plans phase), Dance Gavin Dance, and MewithoutYou. Overall Rating: 7.2/10

Lastly is my friend's band Sordid's demo. I was in florida just chilling on vacation. I came down for a swim while wearing my new norma jean shirt that i bought all the way from indonesia (it sadly only lasted 3-4 wearings b4 i grew out of it because it was small). I walked past this guy and he commented me on the shirt. I went to the bar and had a nice talk to him about mathcore (because thats what i was into in 2006/2007 haha). I contacted him and added his band after i got home and stuff and he ended up mailing me a free demo and everything. Sordid's music is rather odd though. I don't know whether to consider them metal or hard-rock. They have alot of metal elements and screaming; but yet their vocals that come in totally throw it off. I really consider Sordid as a really ambitious Alternative metal band. They have alot of potential; it's just, the right people haven't discovered them yet. I had a good laugh when i found out there was a bonus track hidden in the 3 track demo. It was a alt metal/metalcore cover of "Paint It Black" by The Rolling Stones; which was rather enjoyable, although short. Hopefully i can purchase their full length... if they don't have anymore setbacks to the point that they'll never release it haha. Recommended to fans of: Machine Head. Overall Rating: 7/10

Brutal Sacrifice/Reggie And The Full Effect/Sigur Ros/Sinai Beach

Bruxos De Gadara-A genre of music that is rare to find in it's pure form in the country of brazil. Brazil is riddled with death/thrash, thrash, and black metal. Brutal Sacrifice is one of the few that play straight on death metal. This album is pretty mediocre, but it is worth buying. Recommended to fans of: Bestir and Berith. Overall Rating: 5.6/10
Songs Not To Get Married To-Another great release by RATFE. This is the Cd that got me into ratfe. Key tracks are "Love Reality" and "Take Me Home" which i assure to any person who has listened to pop music in the past 10 years, has definitely heard 1 of those 2. A great release in the eyes of the emo, hardcore, and electronica genres. Overall Rating: 10/10
( )-Sigur Ros' untitled album. This is my 3rd favorite release to Takk and their new 2008 album. This Cd is really good, but i have only been able to pick out 1-2 tracks i really like, while i like the whole albums of the other 2. Overall Rating: 7.5/10
When Breath Escapes-A rerelease of their first full length. This was the last Cd to be released from Sinai Beach. This reminisces of their old material. I laughed when i read reviews and people were saying "this was the scariest release ever". The Cd was good, but nowhere near scary. This is probably the reason why metalheads edge away from calling sinai metal. This release is more reliant on hardcore with thrash/groove/metalcore tendencies. Recommended to fans of: Zao. Overall Rating: 7.2/10

Shredded Corpse/Dead End/Shredded Corpse/Bloodwork

Exhumed And Molested-A fairly good release by infamous rocky gray from bands like: living sacrifice, soul embraced, and evanescence. This was his pre-christian music, and it was really centered on gore and anti-christian themes. This release is good old school death, but it wasn't all that amazing. There were obviously some parts they could of improved on; but then again, what can you expect when a band is only 2 members? Recommended to fans of: Death, Cynic, Atheist, Possessed, Dismember, Nihilist, Entombed, old school death metal. Overall rating: 6.5/10 (for anti-christian themes, and the fact that their other release was better.

Dead End 4 track demo-This was an exciting CD for me. It was my first bands official release. I was really upset that the bassist bailed and we broke up the day of the release. He left me for another local band Mayella, who i ended up obtaining my drummer and guitarist of my new band Arbiter Of War from. We recorded the CD in 2 days. It sucked because the guitarist only could come one day, so we couldn't write in studio and make more than 4 tracks. Basically our cd was 2 acoustic emo tracks i created and then a cover of Taking Back Sunday's "Makedamnsure". Our lineup was Alec on guitar (for Makedamnsure), Sean on bass, Me on acoustic guitar and drums, and our friend billy filled in on soloing guitar for 2 tracks. I got set back 100$ for paying to record and printing the cd's myself (although it was only 10 copies). I gave all of them away as fast as i could because i was pissed that the band called it quits. I recently found an old friend who still had a copy and she gave it back. I was so excited that i just grabbed it and my grandmother and i chilled on it on our car ride home from rutherford. I promise to my Arbiter Of War fans that we will reissue 1 or 2 of the acoustic songs as AOW songs. We also just released a small 5 copy pressing of a really raw split release with AOW's demo (that i recorded by myself without the band while going through a harsh time last month) and Dead End's CD. I have the rights to the tracks. If anyone wants a copy, contact me @ carcassXcutter@aim.com or hit the band myspace up @ Myspace.com/arbiterofwarnj. The demo is sorta raw and has a couple of amatuer f-ups and no vocals (we were 12 at the time). Recommended to fans of: Armor For Sleep, Taking Back Sunday (mainly), and The Get Up Kids. Overall Rating: 8/10
Discography-This to me was alot better than Exhumed and Molested. I really only keep that CD for it's collectibility value, because this CD has Exhumed and Molested on it. This CD is that release, plus all their demos (excluding a couple songs from their release "Human Obliteration"). This CD is alot better because it shows the bands evolution. Some songs were 25 second long death/grind masterpieces, while others were bumping groovy old school death metal. I was really surprised that in one track, there was an interlude with a man saying "now it's time for a breakdown" and a deathcore-ish breakdown bashes your face in. It was so odd, but extremely enjoyable. Because i have never heard an old school DM band play deathcore, and also that this band were around 5-6 years before deathcore surfaced (with christian brutal deathcore, turned deathcore band Embodyment). The Cd is a great 30 tracks, and if you see it at your local Cd store, definitely pick it up and buy it. I was lucky to find it at my favorite store vintage vinyl. This Cd is a rare gem released by wild rags records. Wild Rags was a great label and i recommend snooping around metal-archives.com and looking at bands on their label. (all mad good death metal). Recommended to fans of: Autumn's Dawn, Death, Crimson Thorn. Overall Rating: 8.9/10
Insufficient Flesh-Standard death metal. The only reason i picked it up was because they are christians. The band is talented, but their music is so blaze, insipid, and lame. It needs more pizazz though. I bought this also due to its collectibility. I was planning to buy their 2-track demo from a brazilian distro, but the owner never contacted me back. I would of loved to get my hands on it because it was 1/50 copies ever pressed of that demo. Recommended to fans of: early Mortification and Crimson Thorn. Overall Rating: 5/10

Cybergrind/Between The Buried And Me/Reggie And The Full Effect/Killswitch Engage/Isis

Transcend-Always considered to me as a lame side project from carlisle and forsberg who used to be in mortification. The album comes off as grindy hardcore influenced death metal with hints of punk. The album wasn't anything special, and thats why it's sold so cheap. This cd is basically one you buy and you just let sit on the cd rack until you are really bored or haven't reviewed it yet and want to get the listening over with. I never understood why they put and intro track and then track 2 which was titled "Portal (intro)". They did the same thing with the last two tracks. An intro to an intro and an outro to the outro. It was probably the dumbest idea a musician has fabricated. Recommended to fans of: Mortification and Martyrs Shrine. Overall Rating: 5/10

Between The Buried And Me-The album that started it all. This album shows some of their heavier elements that were shed off later in their career. Although they didn't have too many breakdowns, you can consider it metalcore w/i deathcore elements. BTBAM started off the whole craze of progcore (along with converge) and since we have seen these shitty crossovercore bands that are influenced by BTBAM and have no true metal influence at all (ie: august burns red, drop dead gorgeous, He Is Legend!, Sky Eats Airplane, etc). In this cd you also hear some good raw light material relative to "The Silent Circus" light material. My key part of the album is the song with the power metal vocals that show up for a short couple of lines in it. I'm hopeful that they will take those vocals and use them again in a new album. Recommended to fans of: As I Lay Dying, late 90's/early 90's metalcore. Overall Rating: 7.4/10
Promotional Copy-People look at we weirdly when i tell them i love RATFE. I usually never think humor should belong in music; but sometimes you just need an escape from music when you're addicted to it as i am. This album, i never really understood, or really cared for. I listened to it recently and laughed and now i really like it and i can grasp it differently. It was funny when i read that this CD wasn't even ever supposed to be released. Someone found the master demos and then deewees (ratfe's core member) approved to make all the stuff into the album; some of the songs didn't even have titles so they just gave it a name that seemed fit. This album is really happy-go-lucky and shows that anyone can have fun with anything and anyone. Recommended to fans of: The Postal Service, The Get Up Kids, Converge, Electronicore, and Emocore. Overall Rating: 7.2/10
As Daylight Dies-I've had a real hard time accepting this release. I really hate mainstream music and music that is extremely popular. I bought this back in my metalcore phase with high hopes. I listened to it nonstop for weeks. Then some faggy kids started annoying me and i started getting bored of the repetitiveness of the CD, which compromised why i gave it to my sister. I was sick of hearing it. Recently, i decided, while actually looking for my Armor For Sleep CD i gave my sister, to take back the CD and give it another chance. I was surprised that i still remember most of the lyrics and the songs. It's quite enjoyable now that i've had a long time away from it. I just got to remember that too much of this band makes them = pop shit emocore. I advise to only listen to this on occasion, no more than a couple times a month. Recommended to fans of: Hatebreed, As I Lay Dying, Disturbed, All That Remains, shit metalcore/hard rock. Overall Rating: 7.6/10
Panopticon-I never liked isis that much; never gave them a chance until my bassist started liking them recently. I listened to his favorite songs and loved them. So i downloaded their whole library online and then went out to buy Panopticon. I can really consider this my favorite Atmospheric Sludge release as of now. The CD is a complexity of 5/4 and 3/4 time frames, alternating respectively; where in some songs i lose where i am. The CD shows the talent and beauty by the musicians. Recommended to fans of: Mountains Became Machines, Bossk, Irreversible, Pelican, Russian Circles, all key atmospheric sludge bands. Overall Rating: 10/10

Jasad/MewithoutYou/Jasad/Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement

Witness Of Perfect Torture-Indonesia is obsessed with brutal death metal. For some reason, probably because they have nothing to live for (haha just kidding), they just love brutal death metal and death metal in general. I scrolled through 90 bands on metal archives and 90% of those 90 bands were brutal death/death metal. i only found about for or 5 black/heavy/thrash metal bands. Jasad (meaning soul in malaysian) is at the forefront and was one of the earlier brutal death metal bands in the bandung, indonesia and Indonesia's general metal scene. This album comes off to me as more of an experimental brutal death project than standard brutal death. I heard alot of groove, hardcore, grind, and thrash elements. The music most of the time sounded like death metal but with a little bit tighter drums. I can understand with people why they're considered brutal death though. Recommended to fans of: Death Harmonic, Banaspati, Siksakubur, Symbiotic In Theory, and all brutal death from indonesia. Overall Rating: 8.1/10

PS - an extra plus for the 3 demo tracks that came with the CD.
Catch For Us The Foxes-MewithoutYou's 4th release and sophomore full length release. I really embrace this as my favorite MWY album. The band really embraces their Indie roots and also show alot of old school screamo being revived in their material. I found out that the singer and guitarist's mother believes in Sufism, a certain sub-religion in islamic culture. The band as a whole, are all christian. The album itself really strikes a nerve with their lighter material. It is full of praise and uplifting but lamentful love for God. Key tracks i would say are the opening 3, and then the last half of the album. The center of it is good, but the power of love in the 2nd half is just so much stronger. Recommended to fans of: Death cab for cutie, Circle takes the square, Love like electrocution, and especially Saetia. Overall Rating:9.3/10
Annihilate The Enemy-Much more professional for their sophomore release. Jasad shows their real brutal death metal capabilities. This album being centered on brutal death instead of being experimental. For some reason, I am calmed by the fact Jasad dropped their experimental influences. Sometimes i just need to escape from my avant-garde music and hear some standard material (even sometimes, some cliche-ish material). Surely Jasad has mastered the art, but something im hoping they add to the album their writing right now is maybe some more blastbeats in the music alltogether. Recommended to fans of: Bandung brutal death, and Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement.
As The Shroud Of Suffering Suffocates The Land-One-of-a-kind brutal death metal. Amazing artwork, amazing lyrical theme, amazing logo. Shuriken Cadaveric Entwinement is a 2 member project with Jay Barnes (Lust Of Decay) and Jordan Varela (Lust Of Decay, Debodified, Lividity, Domination Through Impurity, Carcinogenic, Cesspool Of Vermin, and Epic Of Empyrea) at the helm. The band is the only brutal death band that plays music about ninjas, the genma, and samurais. Every song is pretty similar and reminds you more of old school death metal because it is sugar coated in groove metal riffs. Jordan does all the guitar, bass, and drum work on the album. He did an amazing job. Jay showed his great range of screams pitched from high to low. He harmonized high and lows throughout most of the album; and that just gives the whole album that much more strength. Every song the drums go out on a standard slow machine gun pace double bass pedal whamming and then has sound bytes of samurais and ninjas in giant epic battles, sword fighting. You hear people screaming in agony, being stabbed, people fighting with anger and rage and screaming. SCE really grasped the whole aspect of the genma very well. I was surprised that american brutal death musicians could write material so good about a country that is thousands of miles from north carolina. Recommended to fans of: Dismember, Lividity, Jasad, Lust Of Decay, Debodified, etc. Overall Rating: 9.8/10