This Day Forward - Transient Effects of Light on Water

Eulogy

1. My Unbroken Reflection
2. Cupid's Diary
3. Kissing Perfection's Cheek
4. If I Wore A Mask
5. Writing In Cursive
6. End Of August
7. The Effects of Departure From Ideal Proportions
8. Significant Others
9. Disintigrating Eden

Recently, I have been bored by a lot of the music I've heard. I needed something exciting. This Day Forward is exciting. They never seem to get stuck in any one riff or melody and they don't bore the piss outta me by following the same patterns and structures. Their music is comprised of an assortment of different musical styles, ranging from Hardcore to Metal to Emo-core or screamo or whatever you dorks call it. There's some cry-baby emo-ish parts for you wussies, but it's all good because it is compensated for with 100x more of that good 'ol punishing hardcore for you Saucony wearing youth crew turds. Of course there's a little bit of melody thrown in there, but that aspect mostly consists of Mike screaming over-top of jagged guitar lines. I'd be telling you lies if I said that I had never heard a band like this before, and I like to lie, I really do, but my mom said that lies make the baby Jesus cry, so I'm going to tell you the truth. These guys are just intense and you should try them, for real guys. It's some heartfelt stuff and the lyrics are good as well. -Doug

Nile - Black Seeds Of Vengeance

Relapse

1. Invocation Of The Gate Of Aat-Ankh-Es-En-Amenti
2. Black Seeds Of Vengeance
3. Defiling The Gates Of Ishtar
4. The Black Flame
5. Libation Unto The Shades Who Lurk In The Shadows Of The Temple Of Anhur
6. Masturbating The War God
7. Multitude Of Foes
8. Chapter For Transforming Into A Snake
9. Nas Akhu Khan She En Asbiu
10. To Dream Of Ur
11. The Nameless City Of The Accursed
12. Khetti Satha Shemsu

Egypt. Usually one doens't associate this with death metal, but ever since Nile has risen on the scene, they seem not so far apart. Nile play a unique brand of brutal and complex death metal intertwined with Egyptian themes. I can't say enough about the brutality and speed of the album, thanks to insane drumming from Derek Roddy (who has now joined Hate Eternal), to the extreme guitar riffs and melodic guitar work, to the low, gutteral three vocal attacks of Karl Sanders (guitar), Chief Spires (bass), and Dallas Toler-Wade (guitar). All these mixed in with the Egyptian themes (which make for some beautiful interlude-melodies, with gongs and sitars included) make for one killer death metal experience. If you think you're a death metal fan, you better check out Black Seeds Of Vengeance. -Andrew

In Flames - Clayman

Nuclear Blast

1. Bullet Ride
2. Pinball Map
3. Only For The Weak
4. ...As The Future Repeats Today
5. Square Nothing
6. Clayman
7. Satellites And Astronauts
8. Brush The Dust Away
9. Swim
10. Suburban Me
11. Another Day In The Quicksand

First off, let me say I'm a pretty big In Flames fan. All their stuff is great, so that's what I'm expecting from this disc. Now, since this ablum has been released, I have heard many negative things about it, as in "In Flames has lost it". At first I ws kinda leaning toward that, but then I kept listening to the album more, and it grew on me. From the opening of 'Bullet Ride' to the closing of 'Another Day In the quicksand' you hear plenty of great guitar work in some fucking awesome riffs. I mean, just check out the second track 'Pinball Map', and just wait till you hear the chorus! This album is much more melodic than past albums, and youll have the songs in your heard for the whole day . Now, for the vocals, I do have one little gripe. I'm not a big fan of the slower areas of the songs that have spoken word and not a lot of screamin'. A little of this stuff is cool, but there's more on this album, like the voice effects on 'Satellites and Astronauts'. Not a big fan of that. But I'm happy cause there's not really any filler on the disc (excpet the stupid electronic drum part on 'Bullet Ride'). This is a must buy if you are an In Flames fan, and if not, you should pick it up anyways. -Andrew

Luddite Clone - The Arsonist And The Architect

Relapse

1. Bottom King
2. Circle Template
3. Oratory Of The Jigsaw
4. Anthropod
5. The Contortionist
6. The Arsonist And The Architect

Now I'm not the biggest grind fan in the world, but I found that this a pretty great cd. And you gotta give credit to the guys because, if I'm not mistaken, none of them members can even buy cigarettes yet! This is a short, 6 song EP put out on Relapse Records (joining their fellow statesmen, The Dillinger Escape Plan). From the opener 'Bottom King' to the last and title track 'The Arsonist and the Architect' you given an onslaught of technicality and brutality and this piece o� grind. The cd is full of speed filled, well-thought out riffs that griiiiind into sloooow crushing breakdowns. Another thing that I loved about this disc was the samples scattered throughout. One impaticular was the maniacal laughter sample at the end of the first track. Talk about creepy! And for fans of Ninja Scroll, you might be a bit pleased with the 5th track, �The Contortionist.� I can see that these guys will have a bright future in the world of grind, and I must admit, this may be my first step to being a grind fan. -Andrew

Shadows Fall - Of One Blood

Century Media

1. Pain Glass Vision
2. Crushing Belial
3. Of One Blood
4. The First Noble Truth
5. Fleshold
6. Root Bound Apollo
7. Revel In My Loss
8. Montauk
9. To Ashes
10. Serenity

Most parents will hate this CD, but that doesn't mean you will too, kids. For being a punk loving chick, I dig fast and heavy beats. I'd have to say that "Of One Blood" is a pretty decent CD. It's obvious that the Shadows Fall guys can totally tear it up and really feel what they're bringing with. [insert long rant here--->] One of my pet peeves is bands that write shit for lyrics and sing about shit they don't feel. Sorry for all you Papa Roach fans (notice the piss reference) and Slipknots out there. I'm just telling it like it is. That's not the case with Shadows Fall. They take their music from metal to melodic and back again, just before you turn into a wuss. (don't make me get medievil on your pansy ass). Most of this disc is some heavy stuff... I have to admit the intro is pretty sissified though. "Pain Glass Vision" reminded me of Canada's infamous crap band..YEAH, you guessed it..RUSH [insert regurgitating noises here]. Thank Satan it was only 45 seconds long..whoa I said satan ...am I metal now?!!?!? Overall this is a good jam, even if your not into this type of music check it out. Kids remember you should never miss an oppurtunity to piss off your parents and neighbors. So go out, grab this CD, and do us all a favor..skip track one.. you'll be glad you did -Sara

Ben�mb - Withering Strands Of Hope

Relapse

1. Synopsis Of Ignorance Within The Society At Large
2. Once And Never Again
3. Underbelly
4. Minimum Wage Intellectual
5. Pass The Buck
6. Suffer
7. Epileptic
8. Intergration
9. Realization Of Fact
10. Oxygen Thief
11. Just Short Of The Line
12. Serenity Within Chaos
13. WTO: Disintegration Of The Working Class
14. Three Down, One To Go
15. Laceration Of Belief
16. Survival Between Maggots
17. Amongst The Fallen
18. Articulation Of Hypocrisy
19. Abundant Knowledge, Infinite Stupidity
20. Father To The Fatherless
21. Imminent Departure
22. Flesh For Flesh
23. Dissection Of Grace
24. Embodyment Of Despair
25. Ascend From Persecution
26. Years Of Unjust
27. Cause And Reject
28. Genocide
29. Statistics
30. Division Within Division
31. Successful Failure
32. Closing Argument

Ugh...not more shitty grind. 32 tracks that don't add up to 25 minutes is not my style. BEN�MB: YOU GUYS MAY BE FAST, BUT YOU SUCK! There is absolutely no depth or feeling in the music. That's bad. Now, let us discuss the PROs and CONs of owning this CD, shall we? CON: Biggest waste of money in your life. You'd be more satisfied with naked pictures of Janet Reno. PRO: You have a colorful new coaster. Avoid this like the plauge. -Andrew

Nevermore - Dreaming Neon Black

Century Media

1. Ophidian
2. Beyond Within
3. The Death Of Passion
4. I Am The Dog
5. Dreaming Neon Black
6. Deconstruction
7. The Fault Of The Flesh
8. The Lotus Eaters
9. Poison Godmachine
10. All Play Dead
11. Cenotaph
12. No More Will
13. Forever

I suppose it's about my time to spew out this greatly anticipated review, after having this CD for about three weeks and doing absolutely nothing with it. As I first began to listen to this CD I was thinking, "What the hell?! This shit belongs to the Japanese Scatology section of stileproject.com." As it bore on though, it became progressively better. I don't think I have ever heard a better metal tragic story of a lost love than this and I probably won't hear another. If it were up to me to categorize this album I would say it to be emo without a doubt. Now don't start bitching, because just about anything can be emo. Emo coming from the word EMOTION(AL). Such classic emo lyrics on this album: ..."Where are you my love?; I am a lover gone insane/I must be strong, for love burns ever so long; and you are forever in my heart you never died". Just a few of my favorites there. For my ass being emo and all, I think it's pretty safe to say I actually enjoyed this even though there came times when I was wondering why Axl Rose and James Hetfield were doing some of the vocals on this bad boy (ahaha! Joke. They really aren't on there so don't cry). They also scored some major points with me by having the acoustic/spanish guitar parts at the opening curtain of "No More Will". So, if you are metal, a male with longer hair than the average female, have sideburns longer than weens', a Metallica fan or if you are just plain old weenis-like you should run with rusty fish hooks near the eye region to some sort of music store and buy this on CD/vinyl/reel-to-reel/8 track/cassette tape or you can just be a friend of Metallica's and go onto to Napster, download ALL of their songs, and burn it onto cd. AMEN! -Caroline

Iced Earth - Alive In Athens (2 CD set)

Century Media

Disc 1

1. Burning Times
2. Vengeance Is Mine
3. Pure Evil
4. My Own Savior
5. Melancholy (Holy Martyr)
6. Dante's Inferno
7. The Hunter
8. Travel In Stygian
9. Slave To The Dark
10. A Question Of Heaven

Disc 2

1. Dark Saga
2. Last Laugh
3. Last December
4. Watching Over Me
5. Angels Holocaust
6. Stormrider
7. Path I Choose
8. I Died For You
9. Prophecy
10. Birth Of The Wicked
11. The Coming Curse
12. Iced Earth

I've been a fan of this band for a long time and I was excited to hear of a live disc. Then I heard the album and I must congratulate Iced Earth for putting out such a phenomenal CD! This disc was recorded in concert in Athens, Greece on January 23rd and 24th, 1999. This being said becuase the sound quality is SO good that some people might actually think Iced Eearth dubbed in crowd noise. But no! Chants of "ICED EARTH!, ICED EARTH!" rant on and on, but you'll soon know why. This must have been an explosive concert. Matthew Barlow does an excellent job on vocals, giving frontmen such as Bruce Dickinson a run for their high-octave metalness. Another high point of the disc is the stellar guitar work, on such songs as 'Burning Times', 'Stormrider', and the new IE classic, 'The Coming Curse'. Fans of power metal rejoice, for this is one of the best live disc ever recorded. -Andrew

Belphegor - Necrodaemon Terrorsathan

Last Episode

1. Necrodaemon Terrorsathan
2. Vomit Upon The Cross
3. Diabolical Possession
4. Lust Perishes In A Thirst For Blood
5. S.B.S.R.
6. Sadism Unbound
7. Tanzwut Totenges�nge
8. Cremation Of Holiness
9. Necrodaemon Terrorsathan Pt. II

When I first saw this band while flipping through the pages of EMP, I just thought "black metal band, cool logo." and nothing more. Then I stumbled across their ad again, and I became more intrigued. So I was told by friends to give the disc a listen, and boy was it worth the $14! This isn't just your ordinary black metal band. It is a brutal mix of black and death metal that totally knocks the listening off their feet. The music is more oriented towards death metal, but thrown in throughout are obvious black metal influences. That along with the gutteral "Heretic Grunts" ,as the band states, that sound like Lucifer himself is actually present in the singer, make for an EVIL CD. A must buy! -Andrew

Katatonia - Brave Murder Day

Avantgarde Music

1. Brave
2. Murder
3. Day
4. Rainroom
5. 12
6. Endtime

I think "Brave Murder Day" is Katatonia's dopest release to date. The songs are all long like they were "Dance of December Souls," but that's really the only similarity. The style reminds me more of the gothic feel from their "From Funerals to Come" MCD. This release gets points because Mike from Opeth does the vocals. Personally, I would rather listen to Opeth, because the song structures of Katatonia are no where near as diverse. In all honesty, I think the songs are kind of repetetive in that the songs are built around one main riff that carries the song. This band seriously depresses the bile outta me, and I guess that's cool if I'm in the right mood. It's just the epitome of the ultimate depression. That just goes to show how atmosperic they are. I know, this is a 1/2 assed review, but Katatonia is depressing me so much that I have lost the desire to excell. I don't love my life anymore. -Doug

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