STRATOVARIUS „Elysium”
A quick listen of this “Elysium” dish reveals Stratovarius are aging with grace. Not that the music has lost its emotional heft, because all the songs here are quintessential Stratovarius, but it's great to hear the band in such lean shape considering this is the Finns' 13th studio opus.
WITCHERY „Witchkrieg”
Melody and the brutal burgers are two ingredients that are hard to balance within a particular aural dish. Thanks to a little supergroup magic however, the two coexist most harmonious and explode in hellish fireworks across the 40 odd minutes of Witchkrieg, the uncompromising new album from Swedens preeminent extreme heavy metal, uh, supergroup.
MASTERPLAN „Time To Be King”
Cool Songs: “Far From the End of the World,” “Time To Be King,” “The Sun Is In Your Hands”
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COG „Culling”
Cog have been around for the better part of this decade and to their credit, the sextet easily rank among South East Asias most promising bands. Their sound the sum total of influences whose breadth spans several familiar genres, for this sophomore album titled Culling the band remain ever unpredictable and begin matters on an interesting note with the riveting opener Dissolve. Comparing Cog to any modern band would be difficult, so lets just forget the references and dissect the songs here.
EXODUS „Exhibit B: The Human Condition”
Exodus have developed a taste for subtle intros as of late, thus explaining the soothing start to The Ballad Of Leonard And Charles that fires our anticipation before the brutal stuff commences. As the dueling guitar leads pave the way for the machinegun percussion, Exodus careen headlong into epic territory as Rob Dukes, Gary Holt, and the rest of the gang deliver ultraviolent thrash with all guns blazing.
TESTAMENT, LAMB OF GOD
April 17, 2010, Quezon City, Philippines
AS I LAY DYING „The Powerless Rise”
It doesnt matter if you hate them, because As I Lay Dying will never change. Always metalcore.
DARK FUNERAL „Angelus Exuro Pro Eternus”
Dark Funeral spare no filler when it comes to getting the party started. At the crack of the drums The End Of The Human Race gets underway and gosh, its pretty pestilential.