Riot - The Privilege of Power

Since it's been a solid two weeks since my last post, I shall return with an overlooked prog jewel.  This album represents one of those strange moments in almost every bands career when they forget about fan expectation and really let their artistic impulses flow.  There's so many influences showing up here from Power/Classic Metal to Funk Rock and Fusion all expertly executed.  Then there's the whole anti-utopian, cold war concept in the lyrics and way overblown sample intros.  It's honestly hard to tell how serious Riot were trying to be with the concept, but it only adds to the outrageous mystique.  Ok, there are a couple throw-away love songs, but even if you cut those out, you're still left with over 40 minutes of gold.

collecting gifts of metal might

When Tigers Fight - Death Songs

Here's a great, refreshing LP from a new group of Hardcore vets.  Supposedly, members have been in Damnation A.D. and The Promise.  It's definitely evident that these aren't pimple-faced 'tweens here, as Death Songs is indeed tightly played and maturely written.  I hear the grit and muscle of No Warning and Damnation A.D. (of course), but I'm hearing more influence of hook-driven Posi bands like Betrayed and Have Heart.  Theses songs are all catchy and memorable as hell.  There's no complaints in the production department either.  The only thing I'm left wanting is a more intense, heavier attack (something I can really dance to).  Otherwise, this is a very enjoyable and accessible Hardcore record that surely deserves repeated listening.

tiger uppercut

Toxik - World Circus

So I've finally gotten around to posting Toxik's debut album and you know, it turns out I actually like it better than Think This.  The vocals and lyrical content work much better with the consistent Thrash pace of World Circus.  On Think This, I felt that the falsetto singing was just too over-the-top and comical sounding to mesh with the dead serious lyrics and sophisticated musical vision.  World Circus showcases the band at a more comfortable level.  In one way, both albums are exactly the same; the riffs are in an unusually high key.  I'm not literate enough in music theory to tell you what keys exactly, but I can tell that most of the playing is done rather high on the fretboard.  There's a suspicious lack of deep chords here.  That, combined with the high voice can kind of be annoying if (like me) you prefer lower, warmer tones.  You're just gonna have to endure it though if you wanna hear the killer riffs and amazing technique Toxik can offer.

.rar to hell

Toxik - Think This

I guess it's pretty obvious that I've been on a Progressive Thrash kick lately.  It's really luck that I stubled upon this band on youtube, because I never would have given them a shot based on the super-dated and frumpy artwork (I mean, just look at that third-world mullet!).  It would have been my loss as this album is a pristine technical thrashing.  Expect nimble riffs, time changes, vocal melodies, and dynamics galore.  You'll also find the typical socio-political lyrics that were so favorited by Thrash bands of the day.  These up-state boys follow tried-and-true template pretty well, but I do wish the vocals were more gritty and dynamic, instead of the over-the-top Power Metal style.  Some more bottom-heavy "chugging" guitars would be nice too.  When all is said and done, either you love Tech Metal, or you don't.  Luckily, for me, anything technical is like hipster-kryptonite, so shred away!

sorry, Repka. not your best work

twink this

Cattlepress - Hordes to Abolish the Divine

Proof that New York City has more to offer than just great salsa.  Nope, this some raw, midpaced Sludgecore.  This album is about halfway between Neurosis and Brainoil.  Very droney in parts, mathy in others, and I even detect a hint of Metalcore (hey, it was the 90's).  Pretty difficult to describe, but it'll seem very familiar once you hear it.  That's all I got today, just enjoy this album as it's kind of rare.

link courtesy of sketchy russian download site

Battletorn - Terminal Dawn

It's time to go stupid again.  Seriously though, it's pretty stupid how this album was being sold for only 2 dollars.  Oh well, bad for them, but good for me!  Battletorn are from the hipster stronghold of Williamsburg, Brooklyn, but thankfully, they don't sound like it.  Delivered here is some mean, low-IQ Crusty Hardcore.  Like Iron Lung, they're also a power-duo, so they have a concise and lean sound perfect for cutting your head in half.  Musically, they sound pretty similar to late 80's/early 90's Crust like Antischism, if that band had Scott Hull (Pig Destroyer) on vocals.  Expect huge amounts of D-Beat, and never-ending distortion complimented by a clear, yet piercing production.  Sure, prog music is great how it's challenging and stimulates your intellect, but sometimes, you just wanna tweak on some simple brutality.

remember myspace?
tap the Rocky's

Immolation - Unholy Cult

Senior year, nearly finished with highschool and anticipating a whole new era of awful existence.  This "new era" being college, which every adult told me would be fun... wrong!

Unholy Cult was my first exposure to Immolation, and after hearing their other albums, I would say it's their best.  The varied pace, production value, songwriting, it's all there.  The riffs here are satisfyingly discordant and arranged perfectly with the drums.  Alex Hernandez's drumming is on another level in this effort, it's such a shame he left the band the following year.  The production is slighty "crunchy" with a Black Metal-esque ambience, it's quite unique and very fitting.

People like to talk about Here in After or Majesty and Decay alot, but if you ask me, this is the album.  It's as good as anything Morbid Angel has ever done.  Masterful...
 

"Spaceology is a religion NOT A CULT!"

Warzone - Don't Forget the Struggle, Don't Forget the Streets

 For some of you, a band like Warzone might be a guilty pleasure, but there's nothing to feel guilty about with this album, which is easily their best.  To me, this album strikes the perfect balance of all the influences happening in that scene at the time.  You have that solid Hardcore foundation, some sweet metallic riffs and solos, complimentary (but not overdone) gang vocals, and honest lyrics just as much about street life as politics and self-reflection.  This is one of the last golden nuggets made at a time when most of the New York scene was moving into laughable thuggery (Madball). 

It's Your Choice...