STRANGER AEONS Magazine...

“’Hellectric’ by Bronx Casket Co.”

With a powerful, Gothic Metal edge, Bronx Casket Co. comes-on like the wicked little brother of the Misfits. Their latest opus, “Hellectric” [Candlelight Records], is a rompin’-stompin’ ride through the guts and glory of darkness. While being extremely melodic, Bronx Casket Co. doesn’t sacrifice intensity to get it. Deep, clean vocals slither through groove bleeding instrumentals. Bronx Casket Co. uses keyboards and other odd flourishes such as bells, harpsichord, and backing angelic female vocals for added moody atmosphere. Pulverizing yet sublime, they have a mesmerizing sound. There is a strong Punk/Hardcore influence as well. The most exceptional tracks include “In My Skin,” the tenebrous brilliance of “Everything I Got,” their amazing, doom drenched version of Lynard Skynard’s “Free Bird,” and “Live For Death.” Bronx Casket Co. is Doom/Gothic Metal excellence. To conclude, Bronx Casket Co. aren’t just killer...they’re hellectric. This one is a BEST of 2006. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Misfits, Bauhaus, Paradise Lost, Anathema, Cathedral, Type O Negative, Evanescence, Acid Bath, Atreyu, Danzig, Stabbing Westward, etc.

"'All Riot’ by Waterdown"

Relentless and exceptional, Waterdown is a band that exceeds expectations. Their 2006 opus, “All Riot” [Victory Records], is a standout amongst the tidal wave of Metalcore releases that hit the hard asphalt in glorious swan-dives of excess this year. Quality is everything. Shrill, growled vocals and clean howls ride the velocity of brutal, melodic aggression. Tight rhythms interlock with blasting guitars, all with a slight experimental edge. Waterdown is tense and perfectly caustic. Songs of note include the battering glory of “'Til The Very End,” “Parasites,” “Sleep Well,” and caustic cool of “Disassembled.” Waterdown is brutal and brilliant. In summary, Waterdown tears a hole in the sky. So is the beauty of the burn. Don’t miss this one. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Darkest Hour, Atreyu, As I Lay Dying, All That Remains, Summer’s End, Lamb Of God, Red Death, Black Dahlia Murder, Zao, Still Remains, Carcass, A18, Freya, It Dies Today, Rotten Sound, Every Time I Die, Agony Scene, Indecision, Earth Crisis, Glass Casket, Cannae, Demon Hunter, Destroy The Runner, etc.

"'The Winter Wake’ by Elvenking"

One of the most unique and captivating releases of 2006 is Elvenking’s “The Winter Wake” [Candlelight Records]. They play a mesmerizing form of Extreme Folk Metal that is dark, epic, and intense. It is far more than one would ever expect it to be. Eerie and powerful, Elvenking uses violins and other Folk instruments to add a surreal edge to their highly melodic brand of Metal. Clean, deep vocals are enhanced with infrequent growls. The totality of Elvenking’s sound is vast, with an epic darkness. The best cuts include the thundering “Devil’s Carriage,” “Swallowtail,” the powerful “The Winter Wake,” and “Neverending Nights.” Elvenking is bleak and beautiful. Overall, Elvenking is stark and stunning with a tenebrous brilliance that is all their own. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Epoch Of Unlight, Ulver, Sahg, Finntroll, Korpiklaani, Skyclad, Otyg, Cruachan, etc.

"'Triptych’ by Demon Hunter"

In the genre of Extreme Metal, Demon Hunter is a true standout. Their third opus, “Triptych” [Solid State Records], is a monumental work. Powerful and sublime, it guts the safe place of mediocrity and leaves it to bleed-out. Demon Hunter is phenomenal. The overall feel to Demon Hunter’s sound is like a volatile fusion of Sepultura, Fear Factory, and Cold. Twisted melodic elements, such as acoustic instruments and samples, are incorporated into the mix. Dark and melodic, Demon Hunter creates brilliant aggression that is unique and powerful. Death Metal, Hardcore, Gothic, and Industrial are forged together into perfect aggression. Clean and growled vocals wind through precise guitar blasts and pummeling rhythm sections. The grooves are deep and ferocious—burning and tearing simultaneously. The most stunning tracks are the fiery “Undying,” “The Soldier’s Song,” the furious “Fire To My Soul,” and a killer cover of Prong’s “Snap Your Fingers, Snap Your Neck.” The new special edition version has a DVD, plus the tracks “My Throat Is An Open Grave (Acoustic),” “My Heartstrings Come Undone (Acoustic),” “The Tide Began To Rise (Acoustic),” and “Undying (Wild Boar Remix).” Demon Hunter is both ferocious and ethereal. In summary, Demon Hunter has a classic with “Triptych.” Don’t overlook this one. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Sepultura, Agony Scene, Fear Factory, Zao, Still Remains, Atreyu, Carcass, Bleeding Through, Carnal Forge, A18, Skinlab, Eucharist, Arch Enemy, In Flames, Scar Symmetry, etc.

"'Tribulation’ by Skullflower"

Skullflower is Funeral Drone Metal for the last days. Harsh, bleak, and intense: Skullflower is truly oppressive. Their 2006 opus, “Tribulation” [Crucial Blast Records], fuses elements of Trance, Psychedelic (Stoner), Death, Doom, and Drone into a cascading fury of musical torment. (Definitely not for the trendy Metalhead.) Skullflower creates crushing, massive soundscapes that grind the listener into a bloody, quivering puddle. Depressing yet cool, Skullflower takes some backbone (or deafness) to enjoy. So if you’re having a bad day, this ain’t gonna fix it. Songs of note include the punishing “Saragossa,” “Lost In The Blackened Gardens Of Some Vast Star,” “Silver Stars Rot Mindlessly...,” and “Void Of Roses.” Overall, Skullflower is an acquired taste. But for those who love Drone Doom Metal, Skullflower is a revelation. Stay savage. Farewell.

Bethlehem, Boris, Across Tundras, Unsane, Godflesh, Naked City, Merzbow, etc.

"'Katorz’ by Voivod"

The much anticipated return of Voivod, heralded and worried over, is worthy of the hype. The 2006 opus, “Katorz” [The End Records], is the perfect fusion of new and classic Voivod. It’s fiery Progressive Death Thrash with an experimental edge and a Sci-Fi influence. The vocals mix a clean, deep voice and a raspy howl ala Death, Hallow’s Eve, Celtic Frost, and the Possessed. Voivod’s guitars are intricate, but very catchy. All of this with loose rhythms, Progressive extremity, and a cool, weird vibe. The best cuts include the epic edge of “No Angel,” “Red My Mind,” the riotous tripped-out wallop of “Polaroids,” and the Progressive transgression of “After All.” Voivod is even more amazing than they were in their early days. Overall, Voivod is still cool and creative. Unlike many other old Metal bands, they maintain that vibrant brilliance that makes them truly monumental. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Sepultura, Death, Hallow’s Eve, Celtic Frost, Forced Entry, Battered, Slayer, Possessed, Dark Angel, Anacrusis, etc.

"'Our Gang’s Dark Oath’ by Aiden"

The 2006 reissue of Aiden’s “Our Gang’s Dark Oath” [Victory Records] is a solid work of Gothic/Melodic Metalcore with a strong Emo underbelly. Aiden might be thought of by some as the wimpy, snot-nosed little brother of Atreyu, but they are far better than that. Aiden is Emo with a dark, melancholy heart. Clean, emotive howls are punctuated by shrieks and growls. The guitars are catchy, crunchy feel. Songs of note include “Cold December,” the powerful “I Set My Friends On Fire,” “Life I Left Behind,” and “Our Gang’s Dark Oath.” In summary, Aiden is a worthy addition to the darkness. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Atreyu, Bleeding Through, Waterdown, My Chemical Romance, Acid Bath, Freya, Darkest Hour, Zao, A18, Earth Crisis, Trivium, etc.

"'Void’ by Intronaut"

Technical Death Metal is an eclectic, yet fierce genre of Metal. A new standout in this scene is the Los Angeles act Intronaut. Their 2006 opus, “Void” [Goodfellow Records], is a visceral slugfest of Experimental Death Metal with a D.I.Y. Hardcore punch. Intronaut injects noisy, distorted guitars into a tight and energetic instrumental mix. Growled vocals up the ante of razor-sharp aggression with additional, harsh intensity. Intronaut doesn’t waste a single charge of epic mesmerizing brutality. (This band features former members of Uphill Battle, Exhumed, Phobia and Impaled.) Songs of worthy note include the caustic glory of “Gleamer,” “Iceblocks,” the crushing “Teledildonics,” and “Fault Lines.” Intronaut is massive. In summary, Intronaut is a pummeling, punishing ride that leaves a perfect scar. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Lamb Of God, Gardenian, Cannae, Anata, Byzantine, Bloodsimple, Chimaira, Arch Enemy, Carcass, Thine Eyes Bleed, Shadows Fall, Scar Symmetry, etc.

"'Battered’ by Battered"

In 2006, Thrash (Death Thrash) rules the Metal genre. Bands like Trivium and As I Lay Dying are getting tons of spin. But a band like Battered gets largely overlooked because of their more traditional approach. Less trendy and more technical, Battered is extremity in progression. Battered’s self-titled 2006 opus [Tabu/Candlelight Records] is like early Sentenced, a fiery and melodic mutation of Swedish Death Thrash and German Style Death Metal. Shrill, lightly growled vocals dance over fierce, razor sharp guitars. The rhythms are riotous, unrelenting assaults of fury. (Battered features former members of Einherger, and Headblock.) Songs of note include “New Lament,” “Oblivion Awaits,” the brutal groove of “Derelict,” “Dig,” and the frenzied “Industrial Killing.” Battered is pure intensity. Overall, Battered is a solid band that is masterful at being aggressive. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Usurper, Lamb Of God, Trivium, As I Lay Dying, Deceased, Sepultura, Sadus, Killswitch Engage, All That Remains, Testament, Slayer, etc.

"'World Of Lies’ by Berzerker"

Not since Fear Factory was in their prime has Industrial Death Metal been so good. Berzerker has a brilliantly aggressive style, bleeding tons of hook. The 2005 opus, “World Of Lies” [Earache Records], is a frenzied assault of total brutality. Berzerker burns with ferocity. Fiery, blasting rhythms stitch a metallic foundation. Growling vocals roar through the onslaught. Creative samples add a surreal, stark edge to the precision brutality. Berzerker is a musical napalm strike. The best cuts include “Constant Pain,” “Y,” the intensely aggressive “Committed To Nothing,” and “All About You.” Berzerker destroys. In summary, Berzerker burns beyond the good and into being great. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Fear Factory, Killing Spree, Pain, Sybreed, Anorexia Nervosa, Crossbreed, Candiru, Dead World, Meathook Seed, Godflesh, Skold, KMFDM, etc.

"'Julian’ by Swan Christy"

For the truly eclectic and adventurous there’s Swan Christy. Their avant-garde mixture of Neo Classical Metal makes them a true standout. The 2006 opus, “Julian” [Black Lotus/The End Records], is not heavy but is beautifully dark. Swan Christy is weird and wild, with piano, samples, and Classical instruments aloft in this tranquil maelstrom. Clean, deep male vocals fuse the eerie sublimity together. It’s stark and ethereal. Songs of note include “But...That Was Before,” “Old Man's Ego,” and the captivating “Julian Just Died.” Swan Christy is no means brutal, but they are cool. Stay savage. Farewell.

"'The Continuum Hypothesis’ by Epoch Of Unlight"

The return of Epoch Of Unlight is a welcome one. Their 2005 opus, “The Continuum Hypothesis” [The End Records], rejuvenates a stagnate Black Metal genre. Their unique brand of Melodic Blackened Death Thrash is both lush and powerful. Complex, eerie, and intense: Epoch Of Unlight twists labyrinthine melodies into wicked glories. Shrill growls, harsh rhythms, and intricate and fierce guitars mix fluidly together into a sublime darkness. Brilliance thrives in the night.... The most compelling cuts include the euphonious fury of “Under Starside Skies,” “The Scarlet Thread,” the epic frenzy of “Aberrant Shadows,” and “Denubrum.” Epoch Of Unlight is relentlessly perfect. Overall, Epoch Of Unlight is an act of beautiful aggression. Be in wonder. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Emperor, Acheron, Dark Throne, Mystic Circle, Children Of Bodom, Throcult, Dismal Euphony, Khold, Cadaver Inc., Mayhem, Borknagar, Sigh, Arcturus, Aeon, Serpent Obscene, Dimmu Borgir, Viking Crown, etc.

"'Trashed, Lost And Strungout’ by Children Of Bodom"

Evolution is everything. Over the years, Children Of Bodom has surpassed being a mere Melodic Black Metal band. Instead, they became an exemplary form of Melodic Swedish Death Metal. Their 2005 EP, “Trashed, Lost And Strungout” [Nuclear Blast Records], is a euphonious assault with epic keyboard solos and a Blackened lilt. Children Of Bodom take a little four track outting and make it killer. While keyboards often come-off wimpy, Children Of Bodom make even this element cool. As a contrasting feature, the Gothic keys play nicely against their furious brand of Swedish Death. Shrill growls, virtuoso quality guitar leads, and tight rhythms are the grand design, but with tons of bloody grooves. All the songs are excellent. “Knuckleduster” and their cover of Andrew W.K.'s “She's So Beautiful” are both good. The best, though, are the fiery “Trashed, Lost And Strungout” and their stunning rendition of Alice Cooper's “Bed Of Nails.” This is one of the best Alice Cooper covers ever made. Children Of Bodom has a stark, severe brilliance beyond dark.... In conclusion, Children Of Bodom have created one of 2005's best in “Trashed, Lost And Strungout.” It's small, but fierce. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Carcass, Cadaver, Sentenced, Manntiss, Evemaster, Rising Moon, Single Bullet Theory, Divine Souls, Arch Enemy, Glass Casket, Summer's End, In Flames, Haunted, etc.

"'Kiss The Pig’ by Today Is The Day"

Today Is The Day charges violently ahead in musical extremes, but without becoming soulless. Their 2005 opus, “Kiss The Pig” [Relapse Records], is hook-driven brutality that has smart aggression. It’s not packaged brutality ready made for eMpTy-V (MTV). Today Is The Day is a fusion of Noisecore, Metalcore, and Grindcore Metal. Utilizing shrill yelled growls, the vocals hammer through dense, moody rhythms and blasting guitar waves. Tribal elements add a little quirky edge at times. It’s massive. Songs of note include the crushing “This Machine Kills Fascists,” “Kiss The Pig,” the 40-second shrieking Grind ode “Train Train,” and Tribal flavored hulk of “Birthright.” Today Is The Day is utterly unique and killer. Overall, Today Is The Day is ferocious. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Unsane, Mastodon, Nasum, Acid Bath, Pig Destroyer, Rotten Sound, Zao, Skinless, Canvas, etc.

"'The Anatomy Of' by Between The Buried And Me"

Between The Buried And Me is one of the best Metalcore acts around. Their 2006 opus, "The Anatomy Of" [Victory Records], is an excellent collection of cover songs. Sometimes they stick too closely to the original sound though, instead of letting their brutality shine. The bands that Between The Buried And Me covered include Pantera, Soundgarden, Metallica, Motley Crue, Queen, Sepultura, Earth Crisis, King Crimson, and Smashing Pumpkins among others. From clean and pristine to brutal and fiery, Between The Buried And Me hit a broad range here. And they do it successfully. Between The Buried And Me are at their best on cuts including the growling "Blackened", "Territory", the airy "Three Of A Perfect Pair","Day I Tried To Live", and "Forced March". In summary, Between The Buried And Me has created a killer collection of their favorite covers. It is an unconventional but brilliant effort. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Acid Bath, Closer Than Kin, Hatebreed, Earth Crisis, Zao, Agony Scene, Freya, Perfect Murder, Martyr A.D., A18, Atreyu, Sworn Enemy, Haste, Turmoil, Glasseater, Stretch Arm Strong, Haste, Figure Four, Scar Culture, Silverstein, Every Time I Die, Avenged Sevenfold, Unearth, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Eighteen Visions, Poison The Well, Chimaira, Bleeding Through, etc.

"'Tempest Of Torment' by Relentless"

One of the best new Death Metal bands around has to be Relentless. None of that overdone Melodic Swedish Death, just rock-solid Brutal Deathrock with a Thrash underbelly is their style. On their 2006 opus, "Tempest Of Torment" [Crash Music, Inc.], Relentless does it with a fury that is phenomenal. Relentless uses brutal growls, crowning bone-cracking rhythms and smashing guitar leads. Melodic flashes are used sparingly, Relentless is all about deep grooves and intensity. It is fierce. Songs of worthy note include "Lethal Apparition", the kinetic "At War", "Furious", "Dreadful", and the ferocious "Zombified Genocide". Overall, Relentless is decidedly killer. This one will become a classic. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Konkhra, Entombed, Dominus, Grope, Single Bullet Theory, Hedfirst, etc

"'Time Like Vines' by She Said Destroy"

Grindcore, it's all about brutality. She Said Destroy has that down cold. Their 2006 opus, "Time Like Vines" [Candlelight Records], is a razorblade whirlwind of eclectic, disjointed Grind with acoustic touches. She Said Destroy does with a vicious grace. She Said Destroy use deep growls and shrieks, exploding through tidal-waves of distortion, crushing guitars, and fierce rhythms. Tempos vary electrically from slow to manic. She Said Destroy kills. The best cuts include the harsh "Armageddon, Anyone? (I)", "Shapeshifter", the punishing "I Sense A Tempest Arising (II)", and "Swallow My Tongue (IV)". She Said Destroy is intense aggression with a jagged edge and a twisted smile. Overall, She Said Destroy obliterates. Stay savage. Farewell

Related Bands: Rotten Sound, Acid Bath, Fear Factory, Phobia, Circle Of Dead Children, Scar Culture, Pig Destroyer, Nasum, Mindrot, Agoraphobic Nosebleed, Morbid Angel, Godflesh, A.C., Napalm Death, Acheron, Exit 13, Candiru, Naked

"'Empires Of The World' by Biomechanical"

Biomechanical is a full-on, chaos explosion of bloody styles. Imagine Pantera crossed with Fear Factory and Judas Priest. Their 2005 release, "Empires Of The World" [Earache Records], is a dynamic fusion of power and darkness, melody and crunch. It's Progressive/Powercore/Industrial/Gothic Death Metal, and it is implemented excellently. Strange as it sounds, Biomechanical does it all well. Screams, Powercore growls, and clean howls juxtapose and contrast fluidly through the maelstrom. Chunky guitars, keyboards, and frenzied rhythms burn in this musical crucible. The best cuts include "Long Time Dead","Survival", the fiery "Empires Of The Worlds", and "Enemy Within". Biomechanical destroys.... In summary, Biomechanical is hybridization and motion. It's aggression in evolution. Stay savage. Farewell.

Pantera, Fear Factory, Judas Priest, Godflesh, Acid Bath, Exhorder, Seven Witches, etc.

"'Ravenous Deathworship' by The Deviant"

The Deviant are old school Death Metal to the gritty extreme raspy, gut-wrenching howls pouring through groove bleeding Thrash. This is German Style Death, visceral and unadulterated. Their 2006 opus, "Ravenous Deathworship" [Candlelight Records], is simply killer. Think raw and cheesy-melody free Death Thrash. It's tenebrous and harsh, with a Blackened edge. The Deviant is relentless, pure aggression. Songs of note include "Purity Of Hate", "Merciless", and the blistering "Serpent". So much for happy days.... Overall, The Deviant revives that Old School aggression. And it is violent, grimy goodness. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands:Usurper, Impaled, Deceased, Diabolic,Sepultura, At The Gates, The Dark, Aeon, etc.

"'Revelations Of The Unsung' by Autumn Offering"

The best Metalcore band to come along in ages is the mesmerizing and ferocious Autumn Offering. Their 2006 opus, "Revelations Of The Unsung" [Victory Records], welds powerful grooves into the Metalcore aggression with a melodic glimmer. Think Konkhra meets Atreyu, except heavier.... Autumn Offering fuses guttural growls, shrieks, and deep yells into a crushing assault. Tons of dark melodies intertwine with intense, intricate leads and blast-beats. The rhythms are addictively punishing. Softer moments add extra depth, but are used sparingly. There is a Gothic influence as well. Autumn Offering is dark, brilliant, and uncompromising. The most amazing of these bruisers includes "Revelation," the tenebrous roar of "Shadows Of Betrayal," "Beginning's End," "Last Desperado," and the intense and beautifully bleak "Doomed Generation." Autumn Offering is stunning. In conclusion, Autumn Offering has unleashed one of the BEST release of 2006 with "Revelations Of The Unsung." Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Acid Bath, Closer Than Kin, Hatebreed, Earth Crisis, Zao, Agony Scene, Freya, A Perfect Murder, Martyr A.D., A18, Between The Buried And Me, Turmoil, Glasseater, Stretch Arm Strong, Haste, Figure Four, Scar Culture, Silverstein, Everytime I Die, Avenged Sevenfold, Unearth, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Eighteen Visions, Poison The Well, Chimaira, Bleeding Through, Atreyu, Konkhra, Ligeia, Trivium, Agony Scene, 36 Crazyfists, etc.

"'Ascendancy' by Trivium"

Beautiful and brutal, Trivium takes a current popular style that is really overdone and still creates a better beast. Their 2005 opus, "Ascendancy" [Roadrunner Records], is a primal mixture of melody and maelstrom. It's Melodic Swedish Death Metal with a soul. Trivium spirals into radiant darkness, charging Swedish Death is Hardcore chunkiness. Melodic grooves hardened the contrast between aggression and euphonious abysm. Clean vocals scrape against shrill growls. The guitars are both brutal and beautiful, a vicious virtuoso of perfect downcast glory. The best songs include "Pull Harder On The Strings Of Your Martyr," "Drowned And Torn Asunder," the punishing "Rain," "Blinding Tears Will Break The Skies," and my favorite "Dying In Your Arms." Trivium surpasses the pack. The new special edition adds extra tracks and a DVD, with "Master of Puppets" [Metallica cover], "Dying In Your Arms (Live)" [DVD], "Washing Away Me In The Tides," as well as tons more. In summary, Trivium kills. This is one of the best releases of the year. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Carcass, Darkest Hour, Dead To Fall, All That Remains, Killswitch Engage, Silent Civilian, Summer's End, At The Gates, Sentenced, Haunted, Arch Enemy, Cadaver, Soilwork, Eucharist, Mantiss, etc.

"'If You Speak Any Faster' by June"

Melodic and energetic, June take Emo to a new level. Their 2005 release, "If You Speak Any Faster" [Victory Records], is a solid Hardcore riot. It's no frills, all Emocore. June uses a clean vocal style, fused with a euphonious, hook-drenched guitar stomp. The rhythms are loose, but powerful. June livens-up the Emocore malaise with intensity and a sharp wit. Tracks of note include "OK Corral," "Speak Up," the melodic angst of "I've Got The Time If You Have The Argument," and "You Had It Coming But This Time You're A Dead Man." June adds humor to the hurt.... Overall, June is as good as Emocore gets. Fans of the genre will be well pleased. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Jimmy Eats World, Hurt Process, Box Car Racer, My Chemical Romance, Used, Coheed And Cambria, etc.

"'Farsotstider' by Thyrfing""

Diverse and harsh, Thyrfing makes their own brand of powerful Black Metal unique as well as monumental. Beyond the tired efforts of acts like Cradle Of Filth, Thyrfing keeps the genre electric. Their 2006 opus, "Farsotstider" [Regain/Candlelight Records], is highly charged by fusing Blackened Death Metal with Folk, Neo Classical, and Industrial Metal. Thyrfing has a vibrant, tenebrous style that is melodic and intense. Shrieks and guttural yells dance across the funereal bleakness. Thyrfing is beautiful and hellish, a true wonder of the dark. The most mesmerizing cuts include the brilliant and euphonious extremity of "Elddagjamning," "Far At Helvete," the powerful "Farsotstider." This is a fierce, epic assault. Overall, the Swedish Black Metal band Thyrfing is truly monumental. And this is their masterpiece. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Siebenburgen, Naglfar, Khold, Dismal Euphony, Samael, Children Of Bodom, Acheron, etc.

"'New Age Of Chaos' by Vile"

Returning from the depths, Vile unleashes a new age of chaos. Their 2006 opus, "New Age Of Chaos" [Unique Leader/Crash Music, Inc.], is some of the finest Death/Grind out there. Dark, and with grooves as thick as cold blood, it's a powerful experience. Vile is utterly intense, with abysmal hooks that sink-in deep and dismember. Doom drenched and uniquely brutal, Vile crushes. Using a combination of deep growls and raspy roars, they create a stark sublimity. Blast-beats interlace with virtuoso skill leads. The best cuts include the grinding "New Age Of Chaos," the surreal and tenebrous instrumental "Forlorn," "Worldhunt," the ominous stomp of "Sentenced To Live," and the crushing "Burning Shrines." Vile kills.... In summary, Vile is aggression in unstoppable momentum. They are obliterating. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Cianide, Rotten Sound, Acid Bath, Deeds Of Flesh, Nasum, Mindrot, Godflesh, Fear Factory, Sorrow, etc.

"'Deathgrip On Yesterday' by Atreyu"

Atreyu is darkness and brutality, these are the things that make them such a great Metalcore band. Intense and unrelenting, Atreyu has left a bloody wake of cataclysmic creativity that few could ever match. They are the best Metalcore outfit yet. Their 2006 opus, "Deathgrip On Yesterday" [Victory Records], is Gothic Metalcore built on the splendid wreckage of the dying light. It's a short but monumental work--powerful, sublime, and bleakly poetic. Atreyu's sound enthralls-dark, harsh guitars with a melancholic spirit fuse with tight, frenzied rhythms. Shrill, intense growls are interlaced with clean, emotive yells and guttural roars. Bleeding melody and power, Atreyu has a dark glory that is epic. Atreyu is an apotheosis of beautiful brutality. This 29 minute opus is a blistering, tenebrous bleed of aggression. The best of the beasts includes ferocious "Creature," "Ex's And Oh's," the pummeling blast of "Your Private War," and the melodic maelstrom of "My Fork In The Road (Your Knife In My Back)." Atreyu is fierce and fearless. Atreyu is, without a doubt, the apex Metalcore standard. Everything else is mere shadows. Stay savage. Farewell.

Related Bands: Acid Bath, Closer Than Kin, Hatebreed, Earth Crisis, Zao, Agony Scene, Freya, A Perfect Murder, Martyr A.D., A18, Between The Buried And Me, Turmoil, Glasseater, Stretch Arm Strong, Haste, Figure Four, Scar Culture, Silverstein, Every Time I Die, Avenged Sevenfold, Unearth, As I Lay Dying, Killswitch Engage, Eighteen Visions, Poison The Well, Chimaira, Bleeding Through, Autumn Offering, etc.

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