N Reviews

NEUROSIS - SOVEREIGN

This may only be a 4 song EP but it still clocks in at over 30 minutes. For a band that continues to re-invent themselves with every album, Sovereign goes on to prove that the entity known as Neurosis is one of the most talented and brilliant musical forces ever. In the first song, low guitars and quiet vocals slowly add heavy percussion which all builds to one of the hugest and heaviest song break - in ever recorded. Sovereign goes on to showcase their incredible songwriting skills, and their unique and on point percussion styles. The disc also has a bevy of multimedia you can toy around with on your computer. Live, Neurosis has amazing video samples and carefully crafted light shows to accompany songs, and this disc tries to incorporate some of that with a home listening experience. I recognized most of the video stuff from the last show I saw them play. Not a fast album, by any means, but definitely one of the heaviest of the year. (NEUROT RECORDINGS) -MB

NEVERMORE - DEAD HEART IN A DEAD WORLD

When I first heard that Tim left the band (on good terms) I was not really sure what to think. I really did not know how good Jeff Loomis was. My props go out to him. He is a much better guitarist than I gave him credit for. Some of the stuff he wrote is amazing, his well crafted solos being the biggest surprise. Well W. DANE stills sounds like no other singer out there, and that my friends is a good thing. If you love metal check this out if you need a little more to go by METAL WITH A PROGRESSIVE SIDE AND AT TIMES VERY GLOOMY LYRICS THAT MAKE YOU THINK! THIS ALBUM GOES DOWN IN MY BOOK AS ONE OF THE TOP FIVE METAL ALBUMS OF THIS YEAR!  (CENTURY MEDIA) -AC

NIGHTWISH - WISHMASTER

Imagine a world where metal is king, and metal vocalists are female and operatic. Welcome to the world of Nightwish. As much as I would like to draw paralells to Tristania, I'm not going to because there are no dissonant male vocals in Nightwish. It works well for Tristania, but Nightwish are able to hone a sound all their own in the abcense of any heavier vocals. Good musicianship and songwriting skill throughout the album. I wish there were more bands around like this. ( CENTURY MEDIA ) -MB

NOKTURNE - EMBRACER OF THE DARK AGES

Yet another solid release from the new titans on the block! Very well done black metal. Varying speeds and tempos keep the release very interesting! A cross between Immortal and Marduk. (ww3 records ) -AC