BEYOND THE SIXTH SEAL - ''A homicide divine'' MCD
| MUSIC: |   |
LYRICS: | |
 |
Mmm...what
a convenient digi-pack! Beyond the sixth seal are from the states
and this is their first release which offers us 4 songs + 1 bonus
track. One of them is instrumental. Their music is a mainly mid tempo,
melodic blackmetal with deformationed screaming vocals and melodies
ala At The Gates. All together seems like a worse variety of The Year
of Our Lord. I think their vocalist screaming is a little bit too
deformationed, drumming could be a little bit faster, keyboard is
missing and sometimes it becomes a little bit too melodic. A few more
songs wouldn't be a bad idea neither. Otherwise, the songs are quite
good structured and they have really good done winding up parts. Lyrics
are personal, poetic and filled full of blood and pain. VOICE OF LIFE RECORDS, P.O. BOX 1137, 04701 LEISNIG, GERMANY www.voiceoflife.de www.beyondthesixthseal.com |
HOLD REGAINED - ''Die as fast as you can'' 7''
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
I'm
glad I have picked up this 7''! Hold Regained are coming from Germany
and I'm pretty sure they will soon become well known band. They are
playing that kind of music that works on hardcore kids these days.
If you know bands like Shai Hulud or Strongarm you know what I'm talking
about. Good perfected mid tempo rhythms and fast parts, all filled
with melody and energy. Intelligent lyrics about death penalty, army
and one personal song. I hope they will put out a full length soon! BUSHIDO RECORDS, SOESTER STR. 66, 48155 MUNSTER, GERMANY www.bushidorecords.de www.holdregained.de |
DRAGBODY - ''Flip the kill switch'' CD
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
First
I couldn't endure listening to whole album at once. It was too heavy,
too many nails through my ears at once. I needed some time to figure
out the structure. Soon I became painproof and now this is a classic
to me. Comparing to their previous release on LifeForce rec. this
is...hmm...comparing these two releases would be a little silly. In
two years I hadn't been listening to ''An inheritance of detriment''
twice as much as I have been listening to ''Flip the kill switch''
in the past two weeks. This one has much better production, songs
are heavier, more technical, closer to perfection. 10 chaos metal
songs made for ear torturing. Perfect background for rage releasing.
Some kind of mixture between Coalesce, Botch and The Dillinger Escape
Plan. A combination made for my taste! Something that doesn't get
boring in a week. Something you can listen to again and again and
you always found something new. I like all the songs but the song
titled ''Baton rouge/ May 20th'' got out even above. This song is
a total release - it reminds me on Brain (Catharsis) talking. Lyrics
are artistic like the music is. I don't really get any clear message
but I like their sense of poetry. OVERCOME RECORDS, PO BOX 80249, 35102 RENNES, CEDEX 3, FRANCE http://www.overcomrerecords.com http://dragbody.home.mindspring.com/startC.html |
DOWN TO FAIL - ''Monkey suite pt. 1'' 7''
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
I
had some really high expectations for this 7''. I had read somewhere
this is like a mixture between Botch, Creation is Crucifixion and
Coalesce, so I didn't hesitated buying it. Full of expectations I
put it on my gramophone and start to listening. First thing I noticed
was their ugly and confusing vocal. It sucks! This probably ruins
the whole thing here. The music is quite acceptable and it really
has some influences of above mentioned bands, but the vocalist...too
bad. Also the production isn't that good and sometimes I have a feeling
that maybe the vocalist isn't the one to blame. Lyrics are ''I told
you a secret, you told me a lie'', ''free yourself from the illusions''
type and works pretty of a beginner to me. I was a little surprised
when I noticed they are from Sweden cause I'm not used that kind of
bands coming from over there. Anyway, I hope they will fix these inconveniences
I don't like on this record. FLOWERVIOLENCE RECORDS, AUGARTENSTRASSE 15, 68165 MANNHEIM, GERMANY www.flowerviolence.com www.downtofail.com |
POINT OF NO RETURN - ''Sparks'' CD
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
This
Brazilian vegan sxe band really surprised me nicely. I had read some
of their interviews in various fanzines and they always had something
interesting to say but I never though they will impress me so much
with their release. Their music is sometimes straightforward, sometimes
mid tempo, but always with a touch of metal heaviness. The whole thing
reminds me on a Victory rec. band called The Path of Resistance, but
this is way better. They have 2 or 3 vocalists (I'm not sure!) just
like they had. Lyrics are direct, political, filed full of rage -
works really revolutionary! It feels great reading their lyrics and
sing-a-long. There are not all the lyrics in English language and
they are explaining why, but everything is translated and there are
interesting explanations for all the songs. With this booklet they
are showing as a situation they are living in and their views on other
different topics. Really sincere band! Support! ''...we have to bear
in mind that hardcore itself is not revolutionary in itself. We are
the ones that make it revolutionary...'' CATALYST RECORDS, PO BOX 30241, INDIANAPOLIS, IN - 46230-0241, USA www.xcatalystx.com |
INTENSITY - ''The ruins of our future'' LP
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
Nice
lay-out! It reminds me on an sxe old school compilation ''For the
shake of dedication'' I used to listen a couple of years ago. So,
here we have 16 new songs of one of the most well known Swedish band
(at least in Slovenia). Usually it happens that most of the bands
after some years calmed down their fast rhythms and lost their wildness
with ages, but Intensity did something totally opposite. New songs
are faster, more aggressive, they even lost their melodic voice and
melodic guitar melodies. Unfortunately they forgot also on hits they
used to have on their previous releases. It seems like all songs are
in the same line and there is not much diversity between. They had
also some line changes. Sad guitar solos that appear from time to
time, really reminds me on a Swedish band called Burst. Both bands
have a guitar player with the same name so it could be the same person?
Lyrics are written in English, Swedish and Spanish language, which
I think it's really cool. They are dealing with human greed/hypocrisy,
racism, capitalistic system and other similar diseases found in daily
life. P.F.C., RODRIGO ALFARO, BOX 7092, S-200 42 MALMO, SWEDEN http://fly.to/putridfilth |
HELDBACK - ''Kill'em all'' 7''
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
Pretty
cool Swedish old school hardcore. Melodic and fast...combination that
cling old school bands these days. Besides that, they filled their
music also with some double bass pieces (which I think is really cool)
and some more punk rhythms. What really attract me here are their
fast parts and the guitar melodies. Their vocals sometimes reminds
me on Section 8 but otherwise I can't remember any band I could compare
them with... maybe 7 Seconds? Like we can grasp already from the lay-out,
the lyrics dealing mostly with anti-racism. Not bad! SEVEN RECORDS, c/o FLYCHT, TORGATAN 1C, 641 51 KATRINEHOLM, SWEDEN www.heldback.nu |
SCARED - ''New songs'' 7''
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
New
songs are here and they kick ass! I like it even more than their older
stuff. They have changed a little their style so punkrock rhythms
turned into more rocking and powerful substance. Now they sounds similar
to Plastic Pride but much, much better. They have some really great
melodies and their vocalist has the sweetest voice around...it just
couldn't be better. I'm wondering why they never add any lyrics sheets?
I'm really sensitive about that kind of things. Lucky I found them
on their website. Lyrics are quite original and dealing with society
they are living in. What else can I say? Nice lay-out, nice music,
nice lyrics, nice people (I hope?) DESTINATION RECORDINGS, GLANSBAGGEV. 6, 444 46 STENUNGSUND, SWEDEN www.destrec.cjb.net www.scared.cjb.net |
SEVERED HEAD OF STATE - ''s/t'' 7''
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
As
I know Severed Head of State is a new band formed by some ex His Hero
is Gone members. The name is different but music and lyrics points
into the same direction. If I'm a little bit more specific it sounds
just like the most driving punk parts from His Hero is Gone releases.
Very dirty and gruff sound. Musically I like especially first side
of the record. EBULLITION RECORDS, PO BOX 680, GOLETA, CA 93116, USA www.ebullition.com |
ENVY - ''Burning out the memories'' 10''
| MUSIC: | |
LYRICS: | |
 |
Amazing
layout. Very simple done but it couldn't be better. I have to mention
also vinyl which is so massive that you could almost break hazel nuts
with it. I never saw something like that. Ok. Lets switch to the band
now. Envy are from Japan and I must admit they are one of the rare
bands from over there I'm familiar with. As I know they are existing
for quite a long time and by now they released a bunch of releases.
My first contact with them was a split 7'' with Endeavor. That was
quite a long time ago but I still remember how much I loved it. The
music on this 10'' is different. Desperate screaming is still present
but music is more ''emotional'' and melodic. Still very interesting
and different. Reminds me a lot on French emocore bands. Lyrics are
personal and full of metaphors. The sound quality is not really perfect
but that doesn't ruin my good opinion concerning this release. MOLARIE INDUSTRIES, THEVENOT FABIEN, 86 RUE DE MEYRIN, 01210 FERNEY, VOLTAIRE, FRANCE |
