| CALLOUSED - VIOLENCE 101 (INDIE) |
| Here's a band from Seattle, Washington that defines Heavy Metal. Calloused a five man band who im sure will slowly make a name for themselves.( if not mainstream then through the underground Metal scene for sure) Violence 101, the bands latest CD, is a Heavy as Hell disc all the way through to track 16. Faves which stand out - "Cyberchrist", the Title Track, as well as the very entertaining "Canni-ballistic" show us that Calloused is truly in a League of their own in the Underground Metal Community. Maybe 16 tracks is a bit much, but why not strive for quantity and quality at the same time? Years after grunge, bands like Calloused prove there's more to Seattle than you might think. This could be the next Nevermore in the making. Metal Mike.................................................................8.5/10 |
| FATAL SMILE - BEYOND REALITY (GMR MUSIC) |
| Fatal Smile comes from Sweden which at first will remind you of In Flames or Arch Enemy but Fatal Smile sound nothing like those two bands. Instead what you get is an incredible balls to the wall pure hard rock album that will burn a hole through your speakers. The first track "Bad Kharma" introduces you to the bands tight explosive sound, and "The Saviour" grooves kinda like California based band Love/Hate. "Warfear" also gives you a taste of Fatal Smiles Hard Rock/Metal style, always delivered with an edge. What I love most about this band is that they keep a style of Hard Rock/Metal sound going after everyone probably thought it was dead and buried over a decade ago. Fatal Smile bring Hard Rock/Metal back to life from the underground and Beyond Reality. Metal Mike..................................................................8/10 |
| POWERCAGE - 2001 EP (INDIE) |
| This 3 song EP is one of two bands presented by deadly drummer Yngve Jacobsen (Tonka being the other). Black Sabbath/ Mercyfull Fate and Iron Maiden are big influences upon first listen. Power Metal can be called the bands overall sound with Maiden like solo's. Check out the sounds of "Cries of the Damned" and see what I mean. Powercage hands out riffs of real Heavy Metal going back to the late 70's early 80's NWOBHM. No wonder they named it Powercage, you get what you ask for, and Yngve and Powercage deliver real Metal no questions asked. Metal Mike..............................................................7.5/10 |
| TONKA - ...THIS PRESENT DARKNESS... (INDIE) |
| Here's Yngve Jacobsen's other project called Tonka. A much more upbeat band then Powercage, with faster more progressive riffs which gives quite a sound of its own. Lead vocalist Teo is right on track as he screams with a dark edge on "The Last Abduction" as well as "N.N.S.B.T." . Just being themselves brings out their own unique sound and it shows. Tonka show the importance of staying true to yourself as well as Heavy Metal, by doing so success will come and Tonka have all the tools to be just that. Lets hope they get rewarded for working hard to keep Metal alive... we're all in this together. All hail Tonka and Yngve Jacobsen, true Metal from Norway. Metal Mike.................................................................8/10 |
| WITHOUT END - WITHOUT END (INDIE) 3 SONG PROMO |
| Here's a 3 song Promo from a 3 piece band called Without End. A pounding Heavy Metal experience from what looks like a new Label Pseudo Plasma Records. Furious powerfull Riffs that any Metal fan will enjoy. Adam Tranquilli vocalist/guitarist adds a Punk feel to the Vocals with his style, as lead off track "You'll stink in the end" displays this. Not that thats a bad thing but after a couple listens you will like what you hear as Without End blasts through your speakers as you hope the self titled debut album comes as soon as possible. Just another reason why Metal has a great future ahead just like Without End. Metal Mike............................................................7.5/10 |
| SOULFORGE - DUALITY (GWN RECORDS) |
| Formed in 1997 originaly known as Haunted, comes a Canadian band called Soulforge. Soulforge brings a melodic yet fresh sound from a Canadian Metal act. At first I thought this would sound more like Kataklysm or Cryptopsy, but that is not the case as they blend Guitar riffs and solo's that fit perfectly with the bands style as Keyboards give an almost goth like sound but still stay true to their Heavy roots. Favourite's include lead off track "Loophole" as well as "Bloodline" and "Be my guest". Truly Metal, this is still a young band and Soulforge has a lot to look forward too as label Great White North Records may have just discovered something big here. Metal Mike.......................................................8.5/10 |
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| PRAETORIA - THE HOLLOW (INDIE) |
| Praetoria, a band from Toronto, offer us a five song E.P. titled "The Hallow" with strong, tight vocals and riffs throughout. This is probably one of the few Canadian bands out there who's music grabs you from the start. Favourites include "early" "Crimson Dawning" and "In Silence" an enjoyable song even if it does clock at over 12 minutes long with a hidden track at the end. More solid young Canadian talent that hopefully wont be overlooked in the future. Metal Mike........................................................8/10 |
| CONSPIRACY - 4 SONG DEMO (MAD MESSIAH MUSIC) |
| If your looking for straight up no no nonsense Heavy Metal thenlook no further. Conspiracy who hail from Traverse city, Michigan hit hard even when your down for the count on this 4 song Demo with 80's era Metallica riffs. Some nice solo's on the disc as heard on "Trapped" and "Believe". Adding another Guitarist in the future wouldn't hurt, but as of right now Conspiracy does well as a 4 man Heavy Metal band. No lack of creativity here as I look forward to more from the band and its future. Metal Mike......................................................7.5/10 |
| HUMAN RITUAL - OFFERING (INDIE) |
| Human Ritual explode with heavy as hell riffs on "Offering" the latest CD from this 7 member kick ass metal band from Kansas State. Two Bass Players and two females are part of this very unique band. Together they fuse it all onto one 4 song E.P. to give you the heaviest Metal anyone's ever crammed into an E.P. "Less than human" and "Mansect" tell the story better than I do. The Underground Metal scene survives because of bands like Human Ritual. Make sure you do your part and show your support. Metal Mike.....................................................8.5/10 |
| BLOOD OF CHRIST - AS THE RAIN GENTLY FALLS (SKYSCRAPER) |
| Blood of Christ release this Dark/Black Metal disc full of interesting heavy yet melodic riffs you might not expect from a Canadian band. B.O.C., originaly from London, Ontario who choose not to be labeled, prove on "As the rain gently falls" that they should get noticed and get worldwide success just like bands like Kataklysm and Cryptopsy have of late. B.O.C. deserve to be mentioned just the same. Yet B.O.C. feature more acoustic sounds on this album which more Dark/Death Metal bands dont do a lot of. Songs like "Immaculate Decay" "Beneath the Beauty of Darkness" as well as "The Swamp Song" show the bands creative side as they are not afraid to try things and come up with different idea's as they expand the bands sound. Blood of Christ now features most recent member Dan Hulse on vocals as he puts down the bass to take over for former singer Conan who has parted ways with the band as the Longo brother's Jeff and Jason have been with the band since begining in '93. As Purveyors of Epic Dark Metal, Blood of Christ look to the future with a new album and sound ready for what lies ahead. Metal Mike.......................................................8.5/10 |
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