JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 5/11/07

 

cLAY DOWN ROTTEN / RECONQUERING THE PIT

 

I have to say to my shame, I have not come across this German Death Metal band before but now they are signed to Metal blade records their exposure to the Metal world in general has just quadrupled.

 

This is modern Death Metal at its best, nothing too fancy, just honest to goodness Metal that pulls all the right punches and knows just where to kick you to get your full attention.  The guitar riffs are fast and furio9us and as tight as the proverbial ducks bottom, with just a touch of melody but nothing to overbearing, their sound is a mix of all the classic Death bands like SFU, Decapitated, Cannibal Corpse and the like with the typical gruff vocal style and a rhythm section second to none.  If you don’t enjoy the like of “Reconquering The Pit”, “Bitter Thoughts”, “Sound Of Breaking Bones”, ”Nihil” or “Unholy Alliance” then you cant call yourself a true Metal fan, like the current Impaled Nazare album there is nothing new on offer here or genre deifying but it is damn fine Metal that deserves your attention and if you like this track down their previous album “Breeding Insanity” like  I did, its just as good, another fine album of the week.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.laydownrotten.com/ & http://www.metalblade.de/

 

DOWNLOAD            “Reconquering The Pit”

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 42 mins + 9 DEATH FILLED TRACKS

 

IMPALED NAZARENE / MENIFESTO

 

This is the Finish bands 14^th album and they can still manage to produce an excellent Black Metal album, full of powerful songs that rock like hell and leave most of the competition wanting.

 

One listen to “Planet Nazarene”, “The Calling”, or “The Original Pig Rig” will convince you that these guys mean business and take on prisoners, this is Black Metal at its uncompromising best, simple, bludgeoning effective and stuffed to bursting with superb Metal riffs. There is nothing original or different on the CD but when the songs are this good they don’t have to be and with titles like “Funeral For A Despicable Pig” and “Die Insane” you know exactly what your letting yourself in for, top notch Black Metal at its absolute best.

 

If your looking for a damned fine Black Metal album then “Manifesto” is the one for you and it wont fail to impress you, if you haven’t come across Impaled Nazarene before then your in for a treat as this is the best they have done since “Absence Of War”.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.campnazarene.com/ & http://www.osmoseproductions.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 51 mins + 16 TRACKS

 

 

DEMON HUNTER / STORM THE GATES OF HELL

 

Christian Metal band Demon Hunter are living proof that the devil doesn’t have all the best tunes, this is the bands 4^th album and these guys just keep getting better and better.

 

Demon Hunter’s sound is Hardcore at times similar to Killswitch Engage with a touch of Pantera and even Korn like in places and this gives them a very hard edged sound than the rest of the Christian bands around with a couple of exceptions and you cant mention Christian Metal with mentioning King’s X who have been an influence on many a band.  The multitude of different bands that have influenced the band makes for a very interesting listen as they are really heavy on some songs and have a lighter, more Melodic touch on others that make s for a very commercial sound but they still have that Heavier style dominating.  The lyrical content reflects their beliefs but doesn’t preach, they just see things from the perspective of what they believe, which in itself makes them different from other Metal bands and gives them an edge, listen to “Lead Us Home”, the really heavy “Storm The Gates Of Hell”, “Thorns” or “Follow The Wolves” for proof. 

 

If you put aside the bands religious beliefs what you have left is a very fine modern Metal album that will stand against any of all their contemporise and give all of the others a good run for their money, the messages that the songs convey is just an added bonus and al in all an album that is worthy of being in your collection, if the music in Church was like this all the while I would be there, every Sunday.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.demonhunter.com/ & http://www.solidstaterecords.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 51 mins + 12 TRACKS