DEAD TO FALL „Villany & Virtue”
Chicagos Dead to Fall pretty much floored me with their 2002 debut Everything I Touch Falls to Pieces. Certainly it was one of the finest melodic death/metalcore albums of that year.
ZILLION „s/t”
Again a project, I thought. But actually I don´t care about that, if something great is the output.
CIPHER SYSTEM / BY NIGHT „Split Ep”
This release is somewhat of a departure for Germanys Lifeforce label. Predominately a Metalcore label (and one of the better ones), most of their roster is made up of local German, American or UK acts.
LAKE OF TEARS „Black Brick Road”
I must admit Ive never been a huge fan of Swedens Lake of Tears. Not that I dont think theyre any good, its just that Ive never gone out of my way to purchase any of their material.
PSYCHOTIC WALTZ „Box Set Remasters”
There have been a handful of metal acts that never received the recognition they were due. I still shake my head in disgust at the lack of exposure US Thrash act Holy Terror received in the late 80s Anacrusis, Solitude Aeturnus, Only Living Witness and even Armored Saint are members of the same club.
NECROPHAGIST „Epitaph”
Some five years ago, a guy by the name of Muhammad Suicmez released Onset of Putrefaction (Velvet records) working under the band name Necrophagist, the album was hailed as an underground classic, although it basically went unheard by 90% of the genres fan base. Now signed to the mighty Relapse roster, Necrophagist have returned with a full line up and with what is possibly the progressive death metal album of the year in album No.2, Epitaph.
TERROR „One with the Underdogs”
There are those in the Hardcore scene that truly rate Terrors debut album Lowest of the Low as one of the most aggressive records ever. A big call that.
CROWN, THE „Crowned Unholy”
It seems that The Crown were not all that impressed with their initial recording of 2002s Crowned in Terror. Quite strange really, considering that most metal folk held it in rather high regard.