JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 10/9/07

 

 

STORMRIDER / LUCIFER RISING

 

This is the 2nd full album Swedish Black / Death Metalers Stormrider and this is ever better than “First Battle Won”, their sound is very much traditional Black Metal sounding a bit like Dissection with a touch of early Hypocrisy and Cradle Of Filth and a very fine album it is too.

 

If you like any of the bands I have just mentioned then this CD is the one for you as it may not be groundbreaking or original but it is a very good, sold Metal album that doesn’t know when to let up and with the deep growling vocals, high pitched screams, riff filled speed licks you will be headbanging in no time flat.  Track like “Total Extinction” and “Return Of The Beast “will find their way onto your MP3 player before you can say XY, in fact I have the album on mine and listen to it on the bus on the way to work at 7am it really wakes you up (and I use headphones so as not to wake the dead) because that’s what this album is designed for.

 

You also have to hear “Psychic Vampire”, “Sons Of The North”, “Confilctual Insanity” “Lucifer Rising” and “Dead Lone Of Mine” all essential listing and played on my 102.3 HFM and Pipeline shows, so listen out.  You may have trouble finding this CD but if you go to http://www.metribution.com/ they can send it too  you for a very cool price, worldwide, see I do my research thoroughly, buy and enjoy, given half a chance this band will be BIG.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.stormrider.se/

 

DOWNLOAD            Jesus Christ Dismemberized  & Sons Of The North

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 40 BLACK FILLED mins + 10 TRACKS

 

 

HIGH ON FIRE / DEATH IS THIS DOMINION

 

Its just over 2 and a half years since “Blessed Black Wings” burst onto the scene and I’m glad to report that they guys are sounding as good as ever, their brand of Death tinged Stoner Rock slips down a treat like a fine Bourbon.

 

As usual there are loads of furious, lengthy, riff filled guitar workouts, enough to keep the most ardent Metalhead like me happy, and like its predecessor there it keeps you interested all of the time with some unusual musical instruments used here and there.  The aptly named #”Fury Whip” kicks the proceeding off to a fine style, with 6 minutes of pure Metal filled bliss, its swiftly followed by the eastern flavoured  “Waste Of Tiamat”, which is just as good and when you hear the 8 minutes plus title track you will be totally sold on this album.

 

If you think that all Stoner rock is the same, then High On Fire will make you change your mind, its pure Metallic fury, with plenty of dynamics and faultless playing, will win you over not to mention the passion and conviction that this band possess a plenty.  Listen out for “Cyclopean Scape”, “Rumours Of War”, “Ethereal” and the mighty “Return To NOD” (and no I don’t know what NOD is)

 

WEBSITE      http://www.highonfire.net/ & http://www.relapse.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 57 mins + 11 CLASSIC TRACKS

 

 

NUCLEAR BLAST ALLSTARS / OUT OF THE DARK

 

This is the 2^nd CD from the all star cast to celebrate 20 years of Nuclear Blast label and the premise is the same as the first CD, a nucleus of musicians with different gust singers, this time from the darker side of the Nuclear Blast roster.

 

The main writer of material is from ex Soilwork guitars Peter Wichers and a damn fine job he does to, the first track “Dysfunctional Hours” features Anders Friden from In Flames and as you would expect it rocks like the proverbial mother, as does “My Name Is Pain” which features the talents of Dark Angel singer Mark Osegueda, ex Anthrax man puts in a fine performance of “Paper Trail” and Peter Tagtgren of Hypocrisy does a very fine job on the superb “Schizo”.  Also listen out for “Dawn Of All Time” that features a fine performance from Bjorn "Speed" Strid from Soilwork, full of Melodic angst ridden Metal that could easily be a hit single, not to forget the excellent “Close To The Edge” that has Mnemic singer Guillaume Bideau as the vocalist.

 

As with the first edition “Into The Light” it comes with a 2^nd CD of material the best of which is the Japanese only tracks from Exodus and Chimaira and the US only track from Dimmu Borgir who sadly are missing from this superb compilation and I strongly recommend you get this to go with the first one, what do you mean you didn’t get it, shame on you, listen out for these tracks on my 102.3 HFM and Pipeline Radio shows.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.nuclearblast.de/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 41 mins + 10 GLORIOUS TRACKS