JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 7/9/09

 

INSOMNIUM / ACROSS THE DARK

 

This is the 4th album from Finnish Melodic Death Metal Insomnium and is their best to date, full of beautiful, mournful melodies coupled with some great Metal riffs and some very good guitar playing, all this makes for a very special album.

 

The bands previous albums have hinted at how good the band could be and all the elements for a fantastic album have come together on this excellent album if you enjoyed the recent Susperia and Ghost Brigade albums you will be well impressed by the likes of “The Harrowing Years” and “Down With The Sun”.  If your looking for a something longer and more downbeat then look no further than “Weighted Down With Sorrow” or the lengthy but powerful, sombre tones of “Lay Of The Autumn” with portrays the beauty and the decay of Autumn really well. 

 

If your looking for a truly good Melodic Death Metal album then look no further than this one, you will have to go a long way to do better, or even as good, also listen out for “When The Last Wave Broke”, “Into The Woods” and “The New Beginning”.  Initial copies also come with a free DVD.

 

WEBSITE     http://www.insomnium.net/ & http://www.candlelightrecords.co.uk

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 58 mins + 10 EXCELLENT TRACKS

 

 

MEGADETH / ENDGAME

 

Let’s face it, the release of a new Megadeth album is always cause for celebration, but when it’s as good as this one is its cause for a double celebration, when Dave Mustane is on form no one can touch them.

 

The Thrash Metal is back with a vengeance and the lyrics are full of caustic social, political and religious commentary, in short this is Megadeth as it was and as it should be, just listen to the passion that is on display during “Headcrusher” or the title track “Endgame” and that’s just for starters.  If your want to hear how good the band are in 2009 then check out the storming track “1320” all about car racing, Dave sings with such passion and conviction he has to be a petrol head, also listen out for “44 Minutes” that’s like a CNN news report about a robbery that went horrible wrong.  Also check out the awesome tracks “This Time We Fight”, “Bite The Hand” and “Bodies”.

 

If you thought that 2007’S United Abominations was a good album the you have to get this as, this is  even better, Dave Mustane has been quoted as saying that he has made the album of his career, that may be a little strong but its not far off the mark, unless the next one is even better, only time will tell, an essential buy and just shows how good Thrash Metal can be in the 21st century, an easy album of the week and you cant call yourself a Metal fan and not own this.

 

WEBSITE     http://www.megadeth.com & http://www.roadrunnerrecords.co.uk

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 45 mins + 11 TRACKS