Category Archives: Album Reviews
Our unbiased and comprehensive album reviews. We focus more on talking about an album for what it is. We highlight the good points, note the bad, and let you decide for yourself. However, if you really want to see our score look to our “quick hits” list on the right side of our main page and hover your icon over the album’s thumbnail. There, you will see our score based on 1-5. The higher, the better.
Album Review: Pelagial by The Ocean
Pelagial – adj. \pə̇ˈlājēəl\ : 1. of or pertaining to the open seas or oceans. 2. living at or near the surface of the open seas.
If the album title or tracks separated into suites named Epipelagic, Mesopelagic, Bathalpelagic, etc didn’t cue you off to deducing that The Ocean are really putting their namesake at the forefront on their new album, a good listen will. On the Epipelagic level (surface level) this seems like it could end up being a corny and pretentious idea. “Oh, The Ocean are writing a concept album about the ocean. How very clever. snark snark snark”. Coming off of their less than well received Anthropocentric and many fans not too happy about the bands change to a more ‘lighter’ mood, attempting to take on such a project filled with pretense is a risky and daring move that could make or break this German quintet. Would they rise above the waves into the fresh and salty air or be cast down to Hadopelagic level (deepest part of the ocean) to be crushed by the freezing waters which exert 2 tons per square inch? Well, given that I have now listened to Pelagial about 20 times over the course of a few days, the answer on whether the record is a success or not is pretty obvious. But just how good is it?
Album Review: Blood Drive by ASG
There are 3 big points I’ve noticed that really sways my enjoyment of an album, the first and most important how catchy the songs on it are. Whether it be a great vocal hook or a groove that I won’t get out of my mind a songwriters aptitude for writing something that sticks is what will have me keep returning to an album time and time again. Just give a listen to some of my favorite bands like Iron Maiden, Clutch, Black Sabbath, and Opeth. Each album they release contains elements of catchy songwriting that has been engaging me for years on end and don’t show any signs of slowing up. Some genres of rock and metal genres lend themselves better to having more opportunities for damn catchy songs, so, being a stoner hard rock band, today’s band under the microscope happen to already have a few points in their favor. Fortunately, ASG doesn’t rest on their laurels and let the natural catchiness of the genre carry them along. Their new album Blood Drive also features the other 2 bullet points for what I consider a great album; depth and performance. It’s also a fun and uplifting record filled with nice twists and turns that poke at prog rock tendencies and has a nice bit of diversity to keep things interesting. So after my initial spin of the album it was easy for me to say All Systems Go on this highly enjoyable album.
Mini Review: Mortal Form; Grimmortal; Dark Moor; Bakken; Circle of Unexisted
The Reckoning is the forthcoming album from Dutch quintet Mortal Form. The thrash/death inspired band brewed a concoction of brutal riffs, killer double-bass, and vicious vocals. Reminiscent of Death, Kreator, and In Flames; Mortal Form can carry a headbanging harmony, incorporate melodic solos, and also be completely and utterly evil. The Reckoning is about 40 minutes of ferocity with a great deal of appeal to fans of Thrash and Death metal. The entire album is an uncompromising blitz of 10 songs surely to encourage sore necks and broken furniture. It’s nice to see something come out of The Netherlands that isn’t coated with symphonic keyboards and female vocals…not that those bands are a bad thing at all.
Album Review: Kobra and the Lotus – Kobra and the Lotus
Named in part after lead singer Kobra Paige, Kobra and the Lotus create a classic style of metal in the vein of Dio and Iron Maiden with a slight touch of power metal thrown into the mix. I also hear influences from other Canadian bands such as Into Eternity and Annihilator. Her unique vocal style is powerful and after having seen them at Download 2012, she definitely has the chops both in the recording booth and on stage. After their short lead-off performance that year on the second stage I was anxious to pick the album up, but it did not surface on iTunes until now. And sorry to say, I was just too lazy to actually find a place that sells CDs that would probably carry Kobra and the Lotus. Oh shit, there’s this thing called the Internet. I have no excuse! So, without further delay, here are my thoughts on their self-titled sophomore effort…finally.
Album Review: The Circle and the Blue Door by Purson
I really have to tip my hat lately to the metal community for being so accepting and embracing of this psychedelic occult rock resurgence taking place within our preferred genre right now. Really, I would have never imagined a your traditional modern metal head ever getting down to bands like Blood Ceremony or Jess and the Ancient Ones, but alas, that is the case. It may be that the often Satanic and Wiccan theme’s resonate with us and they give us an excuse to really dig of the hallucinogen fueled tunes or that we catch that this style of music has deep roots in the early beginnings of metal and we enjoy it on that level or that we’ve finally found a listenable form of non-growling female vocals in our genre (I personally can’t stand the symphonic Gothic metal crap, and I’m sure I’m not the only one). What ever the case may be, labels have been scooping up occult rock acts like there’s no tomorrow and they’ve been selling quite well. So, occult rock is back for now and seems to be the in-fad. Will its welcome wear out like djent, the retro-thrash revival, and metalcore? Most likely, but of all the fads to hit the scene, this one really hits me hard as a style that is more than a fad to me with many bands I’ve actively sought out, enjoy, and will continue to listen to until I return to the Earth. So, since the occult rock thing is really my bag at the moment, you can see the excitement I had when I found that, amid the copious amounts of power metal and death metal that bombards the Metal State inbox, to find the debut album by a band called Purson (not a misspelling of the word ‘person’, but one of the many names of Mr. Satan himself) that had tags like Pink Floyd, Black Sabbath, Coven, and Led Zeppelin selling the music to me. The inner-hippie in me lit up with excitement as I rushed to pop the record in and now having given it the obligatory 3 spins, I am here to tell you that Purson’s debut record The Circle and the Blue Door is pretty damn groovy.
Album Review: The Mouths of Madness by Orchid
I may be a bit premature in saying this, but I think that the best Black Sabbath album to be released this year will not come from Black Sabbath, but from the Black Sabbath inspired band Orchid. If I didn’t know any better I would swear that their new album, The Mouths of Madness, was released in the 1970s in between the bevy of other iconic Black Sabbath albums and Ozzy was just trying out a new vocal style. From the riffs, the grooves, song structures, down even to the cover art that definitely has a Master of Reality crossed with Vol. 4 look to it, this album is pure Sabbath. And with such blatant stylistic similarities to the fathers of metal, you would imagine that a band could never reach the heights that Black Sabbath did during their peak. Well, if The Mouths of Madness was a legit Black Sabbath album, it would rank as one of my all time favorites up there with Sabbath Bloody Sabbath and the landmark self-titled album. And coming from the huge Black Sabbath fan I am, that’s saying quite a lot.
Mini Reviews: Sinocence; Code of Silence; Godyva; Forlorn Path
Since I started doing reviews, I have come to know Northern Ireland as a nation that spawns quality hardcore acts. Sinocence, however, is more your straightforward Thrash metal band. Their five track album, No Gods, No Masters Vol 1, is a refreshing set of Metallica and Machine Head influenced melodies. On their softer side, throw in a bit of Disturbed and Staind influences and you have a well-balanced album of both hard-hitting and harmonious tempos. Even for just five songs, the album is just under 35 minutes and its strength relies on heavy riffing, artistic guitar solos, and inspired song composition. Overall, No Gods, No Masters Vol 1 kept my attention from beginning to end with Occams Razors being my favorite; also the longest song at over 8 minutes. It’s a strong sophomore album for the Belfast band surely to garner attention on other islands and continents.
Album Review: Godsized – Time
For fans of ZZ Top, Down, Clutch, and Led Zeppelin-styled bands, Godsized should be right up your alley. They employ catchy hooks, clean vocals, and a distinct Southern groove that was instantly likable on their previous EP, Brothers in Arms. It’s a little ironic since they not even from the Southern US; but based out of London, England. After that pivotal release, they have been relentlessly touring; carving out a niche of their own, and growing a following of die-hard fans. Fast-forward a few years (to now) and their long-awaited debut full-length album, Time, is out worldwide. Did they improve upon what they already accomplished? Here are my thoughts on the new album and the band’s progression.
Album Review: The Moth Gatherer – A Bright Celestial Light
The Swedish duo The Moth Gatherer’s debut album is quite interesting with its unconventional style of experimental/sludge/post metal. They have created an ambitious and tasteful mix of different music styles combined with lots of effects, which results in heavily atmospheric songs that aren’t always an easy listen. This is haunting and hypnotic music suited for fans of ISIS, Cult of Luna and Neurosis. It’s very difficult to describe it due to the pure emotional nature of the songs.
EP Review: Balescream – Mark of the Revenant
Balescream – Mark of the Revenant EP
Release Date: 26 Jan 2013
Songs: 4
Length: 19 minutes
Style: Thrash Metal
Career: This is Balescream’s debut EP. They are from Australia and currently unsigned.
Similarities with: Classic Bay Area Thrash
