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Abaddon Incarnate 'Nadir' (Sentinel)
Following on from the pussy-slaying assault of the 'The Last Supper' debut from these Irish Death dudes, this second platter was an eagerly awaited yin here at Fitted Arse towers. I recall that the review of the first platter went something along the lines of 'akin to being thrown into the bowels of hell'... which meant that it was very very Metal indeed. So, how fares numero duo? Weeellll, it's a tricky one... it's venomous, vicious and punishing, but on first listen it's a little too relentless as a whole, apparently missing the shade and colour that distinguished previous ditties. Most notably, the grind-bastard factor runs strong throughout this album, and the grind assault is a tad OVERKILL, seemingly failing to capture the band's innate individuality. That said, you really need to see/ hear these songs performed live before this album fully clicks into place. Once you've done that, it makes perfect sense. (Spandex)
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Amorphis 'Am Universum' (Nuclear Blast)
If a label seriously expects a review of a promo which contains only snippets of each track, they must be fools. Wise up, folks. (Spandex)
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Annihilator 'Carnival Diablos' (SPV)
Featuring Joe Comeau (last seen in Overkill) on vocals, Carnival Diablos adds to the string of classic Annihilator albums released over the years. It's a step away from the usual blueprint though, as it's less a vehicle for the good Mr Water's guitar virtuosity and more of a 'band' feel this time out. It's the likes of 'Denied' which acts as the solid bedrock of this platter, representing the godlike twin-guitar interplay that Maiden should have pushed harder for in last year's 'Brave New World'. 'The Perfect Virus' casts a more contemporary shadow over the precedings, which melds the quintessential Annihilator sound to a more worldly (if you will) delivery. Also, check out the homage to AC/DC on 'Shallow Grave', which conjures mental pictures of 'Jailbreak'. This album spearkles and gleams, and piles on the mental and musical dexterity, though it may sound a tad too polished for those who've never really appreciated this band. As such, it's unlikely to win this crew any new converts, but it'll have longterm fans such as myself writhing with pleasure. (Spandex)
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Autumn Tears (Dark Symphonies)
A suggestion of Enya, lush vocals juicier than Kate's bush, hints of a less-winsome Ms Amos, and that's the bird. The bloke makes a fleeting appearance hither and thither, and the music itself is quite inspiring in a melancholy context. The aural equivalent of a emotionally-destructive night out followed by sitting alone, watching the weak sunrise and hoping that this new day will bring forth a newfound joie de vivre. Perhaps. For several songs, this is an engaging listen, but then my patience begins to get sorely tested... another classic example of a band never having heard of the 'less is more' law of returns. Still, as a sampler, it's not bad. (Spandex)
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Bal Sagoth 'Atlantis Ascendant' (Nuclear Blast)
'War Metal'. Byron and his merry troupe of gentlemen may have moved on a pasture or two since their 'Starfire...' soundscape days, but fear not as this still tickles and teases those secret places we all have. For the entire month of April, this was my platter of choice at work. A platter so fiendishly over-the-top that it makes Manowar sound like Limp Bizkit. But do you really need another Bal Sagoth album? (Spandex)
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Biohazard 'Uncivilization' (SPV)
Yowsa... this album is mighty. Really. I'm highly pleasantly surprised, as I've always held Biohazard to be a prime example of the triumph of marketing over ability and aptitude. I heard 'Shades of Gray' when our very own Mr Nightmare of Doom and Motorbike Frenzy bought it aeons ago, and I laughed mightily and I laughed loud. It sucked. 'Uncivilization' very definitely doesn't. Biohazard seems to have come on leagues since the early 90's, and this platter is as full as a hoor's kunt with quality ditties. 'Get Away' has shades of a manic Therapy?, the live 'Hate Fuck Fight Kill' is a blast (sounds like Carnivore) and 'Letter Go' even utilises a piano intro than enhances a song and encapsulates a mood, an idea to oft ignored in these Metal times when pianos are ten a penny and most Black Metal bands end up sounding as evil as Richard Clayderman. I guess it's only on 'Last Man Standing' where Biohazard some close to blundering into their mongo-men identities of yore. Equally impressively, the range of guests on 'Uncivilization' (including Phil Anselmo, Slipknot, some of Sepultura and Peter Steel) doesn't turn this into yet another blah-blah-blah record label wankfest. These guys rock harder than much of the Metal reviewed here. (Spandex)
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Burnt By The Sun 'Burnt By The Sun' (Relapse)
Apparently formed by blokes from Human Remains and Discordance Axis, whomever the hell they may have been, B.B.T.S impress mightily. When I hear Metal/ Noise Core I usually yawn and think of those dullards who're too cool to say they like Metal and too cool to say they're bored shitless by Hardcore punk, but this is nowt short of a revelation. The scales falling from mine eyes, my brain writhes in ectasy as it follows the insane tangents that BBTS spew forth. It's akin to sonic geometry I'd say, and the likes of 'Buffy' are sheer crazed me(n)talness. Very very highly recommended. (Spandex)
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Company of Snakes 'Here They Go Again... Live' (SPV)
Dammit, I'd a real smart-ass review written for this, then I only went and lost it. As convincing as a poor Whitesnake covers band. Which essentially is what this sorry round-up of ex-snake dudes is. (Spandex)
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Custard 'For My King' (B.O Records/ Grind Media Syndicate)
Ever feel like you're wilfully walking into the role of becoming the victim of a practical joke that even a child could see through? Well, this is what reviewing this album is like. Like, how can you possibly call your band 'Custard' and expect to get away with it? Or is that the whole point? Whatever, the music: well, it's heroic Power Metal in the best helium-piped vein of Germany's finest Helloween tradition, with a spoonful of Grave Digger and a contemporary sound suspiciously akin to that of Hammerfall. Expect them to be blown off-stage by Bird's Dream Topping on the forthcoming 'Demonic Afters Holocaust' tour. (Spandex)
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Dark Angel 'We Have Arrived' (Axe Killer)
Prostrate thy worthless self and pledge allegiance to Dark Angel... one of thee Supreme Deities of the religion that is Thrash. Musically, not on a par with the later Ron Reinhardt/ Gene Hoglan era platters such as 'Leave Scars', but the sheer enthusiasm and maniacal glee on this debut is immense. Released originally in 1984, this represented one of the first platters of the US 'second wave' of thrash... more violent and claustrophobic than those that went before. 'We Have Arrived' does sound somewhat KAMP here what with Don Doty's Agent-Steel-esque octave range, but jeez, check out 'Welcome to the Slaughterhouse' and 'Falling from the Sky'... klassiks in all senses of said word. (Spandex)
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Darkane 'Insanity' (Nuclear Blast)
'Futuristic progressive Thrash Death Metal', proclaims the promo sheet in a spasm of adjective overkill. 'Shite', says I. If all the acts in this section were in the class on 2001, Darkane would be the drooling retard at the back of the class. Candyass rubbish. Waste of space. (Spandex)
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Dimmu Borgir 'Puritanical Euphoric Misanthropis' (Nuclear Blast)
An enormously overblown and over-rated band they may be, but this is actually rather listenable. This must mean that I am gay. The last platter I heard was 'Enthrone Darkness Triumphant' which was fun but which grated pretty quickly thereafter (too much keyboard histrionics). It's highly accessible, and therefore likely to upset those who throw tantrums when others like 'their music' (like, they never listened to Maiden or anything, of course they jumped straight into Mayhem et al). There's a good solid range of styles and atmospherics here. Nothing at all is either startling or novel, but it's a solid album. Two songs stand out... the instrumental-outro 'Perfection or Vanity' (expect this to become the opener for a thousand bands across the UK in coming months) and the 'Devil's Path' cover. (Spandex)
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Dreamside, The 'Mirror Moon' (Serenades)
Dreamy, gothic (ie ethereal bird-gothic, not mighty Paradise Lost-gothic) soundscape music, which brings to mind Bjork and other stuff. Not bad as background music but absolutely no place for this sort of fluffy keek in this zine. Music produced by vast banks of machinery somewhere in the German mountains, programmed by ugly lovelorn students shunned by decent society. Metal my arse. (Spandex)
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Emperor 'Prometheus- the Discipline of Fire and Demise' (Candlelight)
Hell's teeth, whilst writing this issue Emperor have decided to pull the plug after ten years of oft astonishing output. I didn't listen to this Norwegian crew until '96, which gave me the pleasure of retrospectively seeking out their fayre. Mmm... 'In the Nightside Eclipse' still blinds! The opening brace of 'The Eruption' and 'Depraved' are simply godlike (man, check out those leads), with followers such as 'The Tongue of Fire' and the suffocatingly epic 'In the Wordless Chamber' continuing to demand nowt less than yer full attention. The overall vibe is a much more open and pleasurable one than that displayed on the fiendishly difficult 'Anthems...' platter that I've still to commit to cranium, though of course there are moments were the album's ascendancy does fade. A convincing swansong, shame they're going to concentrate on their dodgy side-projects instead. (Spandex)
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Enthroned 'Armoured Bestial Hell' (Blackend)
A lot of anger, a lot of frenzied hate, but not a lot of distinguishing features. Pity. (Spandex)
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Freedom Call 'Crystal Empire' (SPV)
Sublime... the most luxurious morsel of true Metal to nibble my ears this year. Freedom Call have produced one of the most stunningly monstrous albums this issue... call it blatant contrivance, rampant opportunism... whatever... these guys know exactly how to put together an opus of gravitas and this hits ALL the right buttons... pomposity, swathes of aural ecstasy, horn samples. It's goddam HERO METAL. Check out 'Freedom Call' itself.. ah, gorgeous. If klassik Helloween et al gave you a woody, then yer troosers'll fly right off with this 'un. (Spandex)
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