Since that last review was so long, I'll keep this one super short. Dutch Crossover/Proto-Grind similar to the old masters S.O.D. and Cryptic Slaughter but with a more modern (louder) production. Either you like it or you don't. It's a 26 minute circle pit.
I'm serving to you three reviews that are gonna be short and sweet, instead of making you wait even longer for the paragraph-long reviews I'm known for. Thinking up entertaining reviews is what keeps me posting so seldomly, as I rarely have time or motivation to write them. Would you guys be more receptive to more frequent posts that have shorter reviews, or would you rather things stay the same?
Here's a rare side of Death Metal beef (two puns!) that I found while searching Metal Archives. Gorelust tread the familiar waters of "plain Jane" Death Metal. Not offering anything new (even in 1995), but providing sufficiently heavy sounds for effective headbanging. It's vaguely reminiscent of Cannibal Corpse and Suffocation with a bonus of very good drumming.
This record is far better than you would think, coming from a band named after an expulsion of gas. In My Embrace is an overlooked gem of early Death Metal for sure. There's plenty of great riffs and sick, retching vocals to be had here. This could even be a classic had there been more interesting drumming and better arrangement. But, this album must be appreciated for what it is: good, thrashy Death Metal.
Of course, I can never go too long without posting some moshable Deathwish-style Hardcore. Songs about Straightedge pride, being stabbed in the back, and destroying your enemies are all par for this course. The lyrics maybe "old hat", but there's just enough variety and "freshness" to keep things entertaining and energetic. There's a lot to like if you're into the late 80's fast crossover style, or the mid 90's mid-paced mosh. It's hard, it's tough, and it gets you're blood flowin'. That should be good enough for your chunky, mouse-potato ass.
I don't think I've come across a band that fits so well into the Prog Metal mold (and all it's implied cliches) than Imperium. Once you get past the "pitchy" vocals, nonsensical lyrics and geek-tastic cover art you'll find plenty of satisfyingy potent music. For me, it's always the instrumental section that makes anything "Prog" worth while, and Imperium definitely deliver. This album contains some of the best rhythms and rapid-fire picking I've heard in ages. The guitars have an amazingly clear, yet meaty tone. The overall production is masterful, considering how little-known this band is. They've achieved the ideal balance of tone and clarity, with only slight cymbal harshness to complain about. Sure, some parts are a bit "overblown", but that comes with the territory. If you've even read this far, I'm sure you're more than accustomed to bombast. If you're into this sort of thing, you know what to do. And thanks to "Anonymous" for recommending this!
It's surprising that I haven't posted about this band sooner, as they're the most underrated Dutch Death Metal band ever. Sure Asphyx and Pestilence may have created seminal albums that get more "scene cred", but throughout the 90's Sinister was releasing quality, blistering albums consistently. You can think of them as a Dutch Malevolent Creation (minus the overt racism). Even though released in '98, the band's old-school roots are evident. The thrashy, tight riffs and 80's-style blast-beats are there in spades. This album is somewhat condemned by fans as being too "commercial". I don't get that at all. It may have kind of a dumb cover and be too "bright" and clean sounding, but those flaws are trivial (at most). At least you're not trying to decipher whether that "rumble" you're hearing is the vocals or a bass-drum. The arrogant, "kvlt" nerds can listen to Deceased cassettes all they want... I'll listen to Death Metal that actually sounds like something.
More tech shit to scare the "skinny jeans" off your spindly legs. Expulsion are from the cult favorite of Death Metal countries, the Netherlands, although they sound like they would be from the US or Canada. To be really brief, this is what Unique Leader bands would sound like if they knew how to write music. Almost any brutal Death Metal band can claim to be "tight" or "tech" or whatever, but rarely can they produce anything remotely memorable or unique. Expulsion actually achieves those things, at least in the guitar department anyway. Not since Dave Mustaine have I heard such biting tone and furiously nimble playing. Sure, these guys have yet to prove they have the songwriting repetoire of 'Ol Dave, but they show huge promise. As that comparison would also suggest, the melodic tendencies are also there, which makes for an equally listenable and brutal experience. If you're a true Death Metal fan, you can appreciate the sophisticated stuff as well as the dirty muddbath stuff, and you're in for some haute musique here. If you're into mid-era Monstrosity, Quo Vadis, Decrepit Birth and like, you should go crazy for this.
