Heavy Metal Album Reviews: Week of September 18, 2015
The latest heavy metal album reviews, including releases from Annihilator, Ares Kingdom, Atreyu, Christian Mistress, Crossfaith, Devil City Angels, Funeral Horse, Harlott, Horisont, Infera Bruo, King Heavy, Kraanium, Leaves Eyes, Masters Of Metal, Metal Allegiance, More To Monroe, Nightfell, Obsidian Tongue, One Machine, Pyogenesis, Scale The Summit, Serial Butcher, Skepticism, To Die For, Tsjuder and Witchsorrow.
Genre: Thrash Metal
The latest album from Canadian thrashers Annihilator is pretty much the Jeff Waters show. After vocalist/rhythm guitarist Dave Padden exited the band, Waters took over vocal duties in addition to recording all the guitar and bass. He also produced, mixed and mastered Suicide Society.
Waters did sing lead on some past albums, but not since the late '90s. His singing voice is solid, and of course his guitar work is outstanding. Suicide Society is packed with memorable riffs and numerous searing solos. The album also has elements of prog and groove alongside thrash, adding diversity. It's another excellent release from one of thrash's most underrated bands.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Genre: Heavy Metal
If The Unburiable Dead by Ares Kingdom is your introduction to the band, then get prepared to do some digging because after hearing this absolute rager you'll be wanting more. Their third offering (in 18 years) serves up what can only be described as metal, plain and simple. They've forged an unholy union of thrash, death and black metal aimed right at the heart of the genre's foundations of rebellion, speed and volume.
It's seven tracks of merciless militancy based on the time tested subject of war unleashing wave upon wave of scorching metal full of incendiary solos and a blackened rasp that takes control of your limbs. (Invisible orange!) It's a blistering album full of all the energy and enthusiasm of bands half their age!
Rating: 4
(Matt Hinch)
Genre: Metalcore
After going on hiatus in 2011, Atreyu have regrouped and are releasing Long Live, their sixth studio album and first since 2009.
Musically they pick up right where they left off, writing catchy metalcore songs with aggressive moments and singalong choruses. Many songs are radio-friendly, but there are also plenty of pit-ready tracks. They mix things up well, and the songwriting is a bit more mature after their time away. Atreyu sound re-energized and ready to reclaim their place as one of the genre's most successful and popular bands.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
Genre: Heavy Metal
To Your Death is a bit of a step back from Christian Mistress’s scintillating Possession from 2012, an album in which the Portland, Oregon band thrust themselves above the retro metal storm. To Your Death is a mature sound with songs that are limited in range yet still possess solid quality and a showcase for the marvelous vocals from Christine Davis.
The album is not a wallop to the metal head as a much as a come hither, spend some time and get to know it better. The reward awaits in the time invested.
Rating: 3
(Todd Lyons)
Genre: Metalcore
Crossfaith are a little more exotic than the typical metalcore band. They hail from Japan, and incorporate electronic and groove metal elements into their sound. Xeno is their third full-length album.
The melodies and riffs on the album are strong, and the electronic parts add depth and variety. There are a couple of guest appearances on the record. Caleb Schomo from Beartooth adds an aggressive flavor to "Ghost In The Mirror," while Benji Webbe from Skindred appears on the danceable "Wildfire." This is an excellent metalcore release that definitely exceeded my expectations.
Rating: 4
(Chad Bowar)
Genre: Hard Rock
Devil City Angels unite a few noteworthy bigwigs of hard rock, including Poison drummer Rikki Rockett and Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns fame. With musicians like this in play, the sleaze and swagger of songs like “Bad Decisions” and “Numb” are apparent. These guys are looking for a good time, and will pursue it, consequences be damned.
The endearing ballad “Goodbye Forever” is a cheesy delight, as is the bright and bouncy tempos used on “All I Need.” There’s no deep meanings or avant-garde ideals on their self-titled album, but party tunes that fit the desire of a person who hasn’t left the 1980s in the past just yet.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
Genre: Stoner Rock
Funeral Horse, at least on third album, Divinity for the Wicked sound like one of those local bands that got lucky and got signed. That's more a statement on an abundance of unknown talent than a lack of it. If these fellas dropped in to your local bar, their mix of hard rock, heavy blues and surprises would fit right in.
DftW is loaded with cool, groovy and hard-driving riffs. The catchiness will definitely get toes tappin' but often the songs lack staying power. The bellowed vocals cut through the rawk with ease. The surprises come in the synth/string arrangements, Jethro Tull-y flute, and bagpipes closing out the procession. Overall it's a good time but nothing worth getting hurt for.
Rating: 3
(Matt Hinch)
Genre: Thrash Metal
Australian thrash obsessed with the innovators of the genre, Harlott are far more in line with groups like Evile and Bonded by Blood. If you’ve heard any albums from either of those two bands, Proliferation will sound all too common. Their pinpoint deadliness resonates, but it’s trapped by conventional songwriting.
There are clear attempts to stray away from just being derivative. Tuneful choruses in “Civil Unrest” and “Means to an End” prove the band’s ear for accessibility, and the occasional melodic introduction acts as a valuable reprieve. Embracing the atypical is the way Harlott can eventually stand out.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
Genre: Hard Rock
After making a name for themselves as solid purveyors of stripped-down old school hard rock, Horisont indulge their wildest prog-rock fantasies on Odyssey. The results are mixed. The album begins with the title track, a rambling, nearly 11-minute opus that could have been chopped in half and still been too long. In fact, the band could have benefitted from some serious self-editing on the album in general.
Odyssey includes 12 songs, a good three or four of which could have been thrown away, and one that’s a repeat from last year’s release. The good news is that Odyssey also includes some real gems, notably “Blind Leder Blind,” “The Night Stalker,” “Stader Brinner” and the final song, “Timmarna,” which at eight minutes actually feels too short.
Rating: 3
(Karen A. Mann)
Genre: Doom/Heavy Metal
And the pit of the diligent and despaired doom band widens further. Welcome, brazen King Heavy, for your self-titled debut has managed to stumble upon a vast and hungry crevasse, eager for the spoils of classic doom metal outfits built upon boisterous vocals and prolonged, galloping riffery.
Your Chilean/Belgian wizardry is apt, but simply no match for a sharpened axe. Ideal for the background, King Heavy serves an old kingdom dutifully, but your deference to such rule has cast you into near obscurity with the arrival of the next zestful sorcerer. An honorable effort, to be sure, but regrettably ancient in its execution. Climb the ladder, King Heavy.
Rating: 3
(Evan Mugford)
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Annihilator - 'Suicide Society' (UDR)
Genre: Thrash Metal
The latest album from Canadian thrashers Annihilator is pretty much the Jeff Waters show. After vocalist/rhythm guitarist Dave Padden exited the band, Waters took over vocal duties in addition to recording all the guitar and bass. He also produced, mixed and mastered Suicide Society.
Waters did sing lead on some past albums, but not since the late '90s. His singing voice is solid, and of course his guitar work is outstanding. Suicide Society is packed with memorable riffs and numerous searing solos. The album also has elements of prog and groove alongside thrash, adding diversity. It's another excellent release from one of thrash's most underrated bands.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Ares Kingdom – 'The Unburiable Dead' (Nuclear War Now!)
Genre: Heavy Metal
If The Unburiable Dead by Ares Kingdom is your introduction to the band, then get prepared to do some digging because after hearing this absolute rager you'll be wanting more. Their third offering (in 18 years) serves up what can only be described as metal, plain and simple. They've forged an unholy union of thrash, death and black metal aimed right at the heart of the genre's foundations of rebellion, speed and volume.
It's seven tracks of merciless militancy based on the time tested subject of war unleashing wave upon wave of scorching metal full of incendiary solos and a blackened rasp that takes control of your limbs. (Invisible orange!) It's a blistering album full of all the energy and enthusiasm of bands half their age!
Rating: 4
(Matt Hinch)
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Atreyu - 'Long Live' (Spinefarm)
Genre: Metalcore
After going on hiatus in 2011, Atreyu have regrouped and are releasing Long Live, their sixth studio album and first since 2009.
Musically they pick up right where they left off, writing catchy metalcore songs with aggressive moments and singalong choruses. Many songs are radio-friendly, but there are also plenty of pit-ready tracks. They mix things up well, and the songwriting is a bit more mature after their time away. Atreyu sound re-energized and ready to reclaim their place as one of the genre's most successful and popular bands.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Christian Mistress - ‘To Your Death’ (Relapse)
Genre: Heavy Metal
To Your Death is a bit of a step back from Christian Mistress’s scintillating Possession from 2012, an album in which the Portland, Oregon band thrust themselves above the retro metal storm. To Your Death is a mature sound with songs that are limited in range yet still possess solid quality and a showcase for the marvelous vocals from Christine Davis.
The album is not a wallop to the metal head as a much as a come hither, spend some time and get to know it better. The reward awaits in the time invested.
Rating: 3
(Todd Lyons)
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Crossfaith - 'Xeno' (Razor & Tie)
Genre: Metalcore
Crossfaith are a little more exotic than the typical metalcore band. They hail from Japan, and incorporate electronic and groove metal elements into their sound. Xeno is their third full-length album.
The melodies and riffs on the album are strong, and the electronic parts add depth and variety. There are a couple of guest appearances on the record. Caleb Schomo from Beartooth adds an aggressive flavor to "Ghost In The Mirror," while Benji Webbe from Skindred appears on the danceable "Wildfire." This is an excellent metalcore release that definitely exceeded my expectations.
Rating: 4
(Chad Bowar)
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Devil City Angels - ‘Devil City Angels’ (Century Media)
Genre: Hard Rock
Devil City Angels unite a few noteworthy bigwigs of hard rock, including Poison drummer Rikki Rockett and Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns fame. With musicians like this in play, the sleaze and swagger of songs like “Bad Decisions” and “Numb” are apparent. These guys are looking for a good time, and will pursue it, consequences be damned.
The endearing ballad “Goodbye Forever” is a cheesy delight, as is the bright and bouncy tempos used on “All I Need.” There’s no deep meanings or avant-garde ideals on their self-titled album, but party tunes that fit the desire of a person who hasn’t left the 1980s in the past just yet.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
){kind=link}
Funeral Horse – 'Divinity for the Wicked' (Artificial Head)
Genre: Stoner Rock
Funeral Horse, at least on third album, Divinity for the Wicked sound like one of those local bands that got lucky and got signed. That's more a statement on an abundance of unknown talent than a lack of it. If these fellas dropped in to your local bar, their mix of hard rock, heavy blues and surprises would fit right in.
DftW is loaded with cool, groovy and hard-driving riffs. The catchiness will definitely get toes tappin' but often the songs lack staying power. The bellowed vocals cut through the rawk with ease. The surprises come in the synth/string arrangements, Jethro Tull-y flute, and bagpipes closing out the procession. Overall it's a good time but nothing worth getting hurt for.
Rating: 3
(Matt Hinch)
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Harlott - ‘Proliferation’ (Metal Blade)
Genre: Thrash Metal
Australian thrash obsessed with the innovators of the genre, Harlott are far more in line with groups like Evile and Bonded by Blood. If you’ve heard any albums from either of those two bands, Proliferation will sound all too common. Their pinpoint deadliness resonates, but it’s trapped by conventional songwriting.
There are clear attempts to stray away from just being derivative. Tuneful choruses in “Civil Unrest” and “Means to an End” prove the band’s ear for accessibility, and the occasional melodic introduction acts as a valuable reprieve. Embracing the atypical is the way Harlott can eventually stand out.
Rating: 3
(Dan Marsicano)
){kind=link}
Horisont - 'Odyssey' (Rise Above)
Genre: Hard Rock
After making a name for themselves as solid purveyors of stripped-down old school hard rock, Horisont indulge their wildest prog-rock fantasies on Odyssey. The results are mixed. The album begins with the title track, a rambling, nearly 11-minute opus that could have been chopped in half and still been too long. In fact, the band could have benefitted from some serious self-editing on the album in general.
Odyssey includes 12 songs, a good three or four of which could have been thrown away, and one that’s a repeat from last year’s release. The good news is that Odyssey also includes some real gems, notably “Blind Leder Blind,” “The Night Stalker,” “Stader Brinner” and the final song, “Timmarna,” which at eight minutes actually feels too short.
Rating: 3
(Karen A. Mann)
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King Heavy – ‘King Heavy’ (Cruz del Sur)
Genre: Doom/Heavy Metal
And the pit of the diligent and despaired doom band widens further. Welcome, brazen King Heavy, for your self-titled debut has managed to stumble upon a vast and hungry crevasse, eager for the spoils of classic doom metal outfits built upon boisterous vocals and prolonged, galloping riffery.
Your Chilean/Belgian wizardry is apt, but simply no match for a sharpened axe. Ideal for the background, King Heavy serves an old kingdom dutifully, but your deference to such rule has cast you into near obscurity with the arrival of the next zestful sorcerer. An honorable effort, to be sure, but regrettably ancient in its execution. Climb the ladder, King Heavy.
Rating: 3
(Evan Mugford)
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