Between the Buried and Me – The Great Misdirect (2009) Review 8/10

Here is a band I have a love hate relationship with. Between the Buried and Me is (musically) one of the best progressive death metal bands out there. The Great Misdirect is their sixth studio release and they have reached new heights on this album.

The music that flows out of this band is just insane. This is what Bach and Beethoven would have written if they had distortion. One guitar will start a line and the other will compliment with a different line. Soon we have multiple voices Read more

In Mourning – Monolith (2010) Review 6.5/10

In Mourning plays very modern sounding progressive melodic death metal. Some of their more progressive moments bring to mind Opeth. This is about as good as they get on this album.

I really want to like this music more. There is a lot going on here and the subtly is there as well. That is something that really sets one band apart from another. The nuances. The atmosphere that builds. The layers of intrigue. Sadly, most of the material on this album is more monotonous than interesting.

I guess the biggest let down is knowing that the band is extremely talented. They know how to create atmosphere. I’m mostly passive about what is going on but here and there something will catch my ear. This when I know they can do better. They created something interesting and beautiful for 30 seconds and then it disappeared back into a fog of nothingness.

The Smoke is a great song. If you pick up the disc, start there. Again, I hear a lot of Opeth here.

I also want to note that the cover art was designed by our friend Travis Smith (he created the flaming earth logo for RazeTheWorld). He also does the cover art for Opeth… See where I’m going here.

Let’s hope that they get a bit more creative and dynamic with their songs next time. I know this band can be amazing, but here it is only slightly amazing.  I’d check out the new work from bands like In Vain, Be’lakor, or even Martriden if you are looking for something in this style.

6.5/10

February has Been an Epic Month

Eluveitie, Rotting Christ, Borknagar, Finntroll, Dark Tranquillity, Martriden, Burzum, Kawir, Whispered, Embryo, Shaolin Death Squad, De Profundis, Scythia, Daysend, Throes of Dawn, Jack Slater, Ov Hell, Nydvind, and Immolation have all released CD’s.

I’ll try to give you a one or two sentense preview of each one: Read more

2010 – Best of the New Year (So Far)

2010 is getting off to one hell of a start. January was pure insanity. Here are the ones to look for (IMO):

Ihsahn – After

Mother of God. This album is amazing. Vegard Sverre Tveitan keeps getting better. Now he is on an eight string guitar and the music is just madness.

Ihsahn is Read more

Arsis – Starve for the Devil (2010) Review 8.7/10

In the name of Satan, we are forced to rock! – That pretty much sums it up. This album rocks. Every track rocks. The guitars rock. The vocals rock. The drums are insane. Arsis rocks and this is their most rocking music to date. You can headbang through the entire album.

Arsis plays technical death metal driven by their insane riffing (some of the best in the business). Here and there, the riffs sound like something Slash would do on a G’n'R album. It’s like the guitar has a voice of it’s own. This is, obviously, a lot heaver and way better than anything G’n'R has ever done. Slash would die if he tried to play something this insane.

Starve for the Devil might be the most rocking Arsis album but it’s not their best in my opinion. It’s really hard to pick a favorite Arsis Album. This is the one I will put on when I just want to headbang for a while. If I need melody I migt go with A Diamond for Disease or their last album, We are the Nightmare.

All in all, this is a must have for fans of death metal, technical death metal, thrash, melodic death metal, and anyone who wants an album that will rock the paint off of their walls. Get it now.

8.7/10