Album of the month: March! GOD FORBID 2012

With all these new albums coming out every month its not fair to pick favorites too early. I also don't want to wait to the almost mandatory end of year list. So after an albums been out for a few months, I've decided to let my playlist counter speak the truth on what I really enjoy listening to that month.

There were a lot of records that came out this month of my birth that I was very happy to hear. There was so many to choose from.With releases from CANNIBAL CORPSE-Torture, MESHUGGAH- Kollos, FLYING COLORS - S/T to OVERKILLS- The Electric Age, SOULFLY-Enslaved and LULLACRYS Where Angels Fear. Were some of the albums I played often this month. 

However, the most surprising release for me has to be GOD FORBID- Equilibrium. I thought I knew what to expect with all their other albums, but man, this record went left when I thought it was gonna go right! Its a good thing when a bands been out for a while and still surprises you.

Off the top, lead singer, Byron Davis has now joined my list of favorite vocalists! He sung and actually sang his ass off. I had no clue he could sing so damned good! Doc Coyle & Byron killed it on "Scraping the Walls", they compliment each other so well. Depending on the day or my mood "Equilibrium" and "Pages" are the top songs of this album. If they do another video, one of these songs need to be showcased! (Little did I know when I wrote this they had the same idea!)

The not so new guy, Matt Wicklund is a so damned good, you want to hate him. He's one of those guys that join a band and make you forget there was someone before him. He fits that well the rhythm section of Corey Pierce  (Drums) and John Outcalt (Bass) are on point and tighter then ever.This record deserves to be heard. It makes me want to headbang and smile at the same time! In a perfect world this record should push them to that next level they should be at. Let's go Victory Records, make it happen!

SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA : ALBUM REVIEW

Here's a few album reviews I did over the last year for Metal Army. Sarah Jezebel Deva!!!

ALBUM REVIEW: SARAH JEZEBEL DEVA

OBLIVION: ALBUM REVIEW

I'm back writing reviews again. so here's some of my latest post from Metal Army. OBLIVION from the Bay Area!! Enjoy!

ALBUM REVIEW: OBLIVION

Mayhemfest 2012

 My review for The Rockstar Energy Mayhemfest is up and ready to be read!

I made this show my 10 year old sons 1st festival. Find out 

why inside!

 

http://www.metaldistro.com/blogs/metal-army/6460694-live-review-rockstar-energy-drink-mayhem-festival

Ephel Duath-

The review I did for the new EPHEL DUATH EP is out The New Metal Army site!

  If your a fan of Crisis then you'll love this!

http://www.metaldistro.com/blogs/metal-army/6427630-album-review-ephel-duath-ep

BENT SEA - NOSTALGIA

This is a review I wrote a few months ago for Metal Army America. I dig this album a lot and think it deserves to be heard. So here it is! 

With drums & guitars done in Clevland Oh, bass in Vancover and vocals laid down in Tel Aviv, this is truly an international album! It's grindcore at its best, clocking in at 17 minutes it gets to the point on every song. Dirk Verbeuren (SOILWORK) is doing double duty with the guitar, it shows he's more then just a drummer. He wrote the damned album! Devin Townsend (DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT) laid down some solid bass lines & Sven De Caluwe (ABORTED,SYSTEMS DIVIDE) well, does what Sven does!

The booklet has one sentence intros to each song, just so your not mislead by anything. From songs about blast beats, Blast Beat Barrage and technological advances, Digital Disaster, your also treated to all the social commentary you'd expect with grind since this is just one big ole love letter. It basically says that in the Nostalgia title track. “An homage to grindcore and noise” As fun as short songs are I do wish the song “In One Word” was longer, I would've loved to hear what other band names they could toss in there. I think it's because of the basslines, “Sustained Idiocy” just makes me want to punch something. Dirk's SOILWORK bandmate Sylvain Coudret, comes in and throws a solo in your face on “Dead Meat”. Fool for Life is the longest track (4:06) and gives the album some added weight. It ends with a lovely rendition of “ Bullshit Propaganda” in honor of the mighty EXTREME NOISE TERROR.

They manage to cram this album full of greatness in a short amount of time. Not sure if throw back is the right description for this but this does make ya remember the early days of grind. (Only with better production. Thank you Devy!) With Nostalgia, BENT SEA came, saw and kicked ass. Not only did I like it, I bought it.

OJayy- B+

Find it here, bentsea 

Album of the month: January! BIOHAZARD

With all these new albums coming out every month its not fair to pick favorites too early. I also don't want to wait to the almost mandatory end of year list. So after an albums been out for a few months, I've decided to let my playlist counter speak the truth on what I really enjoy listening to that month.

As the new year began there was only ONE album was coming out that I was super stoked to hear. (Sorry LAMB OF GOD & ABORTED, you were #2 &3) BIOHAZARD-Reborn In Defiance. I'm a DFL fan for sure. I have all their previous releases, that's right,  ALL of them! I dug all the post Bobby albums. New World Disorder is my favorite Bobby-less album. This record just kicks you right in the teeth after the heart beat intro & it doesn't let up till its over. Favorite tracks so far: "Vengeance is Mine", "Decay" & "Skull Crusher".


They sound fresh young hungry and pissed off.  Bassist/ vocals Evan Seinfeld & rhythm guitarist/vocals Billy (Graziadei) sound like beasts out for blood. Drummer, Danny Schuler's just a powerhouse of intensity while Bobby Hambel makes you wish all hardcore bands had guitar solos. This is a very FULL sounding production. It's metal enough for the metal heads and hardcore enough for, well...the hardcore heads. 




I was very lucky I was able to see the last NYC show with the original lineup. I've seen them with all the previous guitar players and never have I seen sooo much energy from them. Yeah, Billy always ran around, but now with Bobby, if you blink they've switched sides or doing something like hanging upside down from the stage. These guys enjoy what they do you can hear & see it clearly.



Sadly Evan bowed out of the band before the release of Reborn..., but thankfully former lead guitarist Scott (Means To An End record) Roberts stepped up to the challenge and hit it out of the park live. I know it must not be an easy thing going from guitar to bass. But his attitude and skills make it seem natural.He's got some pretty nice foot work too!

If you weren't a fan before, this probably won't change your mind. However, if you were a fan who fell off on them , this will make you go 'what the hell have I been missing!?'