Bury Your Dead
Bury Your Dead
Victory Records
33:18 - 11 Tracks
Pretty good new release from these guys. New singer adds a good edge to the band that they didn’t seem to have before. It was pretty trendy in the past, you know with all that metalcore stuff. Now they just fit into the new wave of american metalcore. NWOAM? You know, where the music tries to sound like Meshuggah, but not as technical and more metal. Vocals are good and harsh, with the occasional clean harmonies, but not really whiney and emo.
Empire
Chasing Shadows
Locomotive
48:40 - 10 Tracks
Starting off, this is some run of the mill hard rock with good clean singing vocals, kind of the plain ol power metal/hard rock stuff. Reading up on them a bit, I see Tony Martin sang for them for a few albums, but now they have a new vocalist named Doogie White. He’s been with Rainbow, Yngwie, Royal Hunt. Anyways, these band members have some history in the 90’s hard rock scene with some fairly reputable bands. This recording is pretty solid, some great playing, catchy songs and great production. It is another one of those bands that pass for an updated “Whitesnake” You may hear this on the Mosh Pit
Immortal Dominion
Awakening
Fist Music
59:00 - 14 Tracks
This is a thrashy, deathy, black metal band. They kind of fit all sorts of genres here… that’s what seems to make them stick out a bit. A few layers of vocals in parts make it pretty cool. You’ll have an “anselmo” with some black metal and death metal screamgrowls going on to fill in the background. The music is a bit raw, but it maintains heaviness and a good groove. Some songs just go all out metal, others hold back a bit. It’s neat to hear a band that can do both and make it work without sounding too forced.
Jucifer
L’Autrichienne
Relapse Records
Female fronted hard rock with a punk edge, with some of that Neurosis-esque plodding along music. One song will be noisey speed/angry metal, one will be top-40-ish rock. There is a lot of this back and forth on here. It’ll be interesting to see if it works for them. This is probably an album that has to be digested as a whole, rather than a track at a time. You’ll probably hear some of this on the Mosh Pit
Korpiklaani
Korven Kuningas
Nuclear Blast
74:00 - 15 Tracks
This new album is not much of a departure from their previous works. Finnish folk metal that’s as catchy as can be. A pinch of polka and what I like to call “steerage” music. You know, a reference to the music they played in the lower decks of the Titanic from that movie. It’s bouncy, well produced, but it may just be a bit too corny for the mosh pit fans. We’ll try and get it on the air!
Ministry
Cover Up
13th Planet/Megaforce
55:52 - 12 Tracks
Ministry is retiring. They are going out with a fun bang. A covers album! Covers done only the way that Ministry can do them. These are mostly covers that are newly recorded, but there are a few from past albums thrown in for good measure. The songs stay true to the original, but with that classic Ministry sound. Since I’m a fan of covers, and of Ministry, I know you are too… you’ll hear this stuff on the Mosh Pit!
Red I Flight
The Years
Victory Records
36:58 - 10 Tracks
New debut release for these guys on Victory. I’ll have to say these guys fit in the Brutalcore vein of metal. Heavy, aggressive, fast, and kind of catchy. Some cool breakdowns, some black metal influences too. It’s loud and in your face. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!
Sahg
Sahg II
Regain Records
48:40 - 9 Tracks
These guys are back with their original and logically titled follow up to their debut, I. As you recall, these guys are Norwegian metal and hard rock veterans teaming up to do a hard rock/stoner metal band. They do it well, it of course has some Sabbath references, however, unlike some of the other stoner metal out this week, the riffs don’t seem as meaty and heavy. This is a bit more melodic, and more of the “hard rock” than “stoner metal” It’s still worthy of some airplay, so you’ll be able to hear a track or two on the Mosh Pit.
The Sword
Gods Of The Earth
Kemado Records
47:55 - 11 Tracks
Critically acclaimed, these guys seem to be the buzz band lately. You know, that one that’s cool to say that you like? “yeah, I’m into The Sword, they rock” Well, in this case, it’s not a bad thing. It’s good, loud, stoner metal, songs are put together well, where they don’t ever get boring. You just want to drink some beer and see these guys live and be in awe at how they can do what they do so well. Again, it’s stoner metal and for fans of that type of stuff. The songs have some great riffs, drum fills and like I said, stuff all over the place that keeps it interesting. You will hear this on the Mosh Pit!
Unearthly Trance
Electrocution
Relapse Records
Pretty decent doom/stoner metal going on here. Definitely sludgey and plodding, yet still interesting. Some tracks do get going pretty quick, almost “punky.” I would have to say it’s something for fans along the lines of High on Fire and bands like that. They do fit in the Relapse mold, and I think it’s something you’ll hear on the Mosh Pit!
