Reviews of the latest heavy metal, extreme, hardcore and hard rock CDs in 50 words or less from Chad Bowar.
Scoring
95-100: One of the best albums of the year (A+)
90-94: A (excellent)
80-89: B (good)
70-79: C (average)
60-69: D (disappointing or below average)
59 and below: F (sucks!)
If you have a CD you'd like reviewed on this site, contact the editor.
Not many people buy an album because of the bass player, but former Megadeth bassist David Elleson is a member of F5. The album is melodic metal, chock full of crunchy guitars and pop hooks. It's in the same vein as Sevendust or Disturbed. There's also an interesting cover version of the '80s song "What I Am."
posted by Chad Bowar @ 5:37 PM
Gothic metal by design is full of drama and emotion, and Beseech utilizes those elements to the fullest. The Swedish band's songs are complex and diverse with both male and female vocals. It's a wide-ranging album with many different tempos, textures and instruments. Recommended especially for fans of groups like Lacuna Coil and Evanescence.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 4:49 PM
The Swedish vampiric metal band Siebenburgen are back with another demonic dose of darkness. Growling male vocals mixed with melodic female vocals tell grim tales over epic guitar riffs and ominous keyboards. It's black metal combined with power and traditional metal elements. They also do one song in their native Swedish, which is an interesting twist.
Grade: 84
posted by Chad Bowar @ 4:29 PM
Four years after their debut, former Bang Tango singer Joe LeSte and his band Beautiful Creatures are back with a new album. Their brand of hard rock/metal is in the same vein as their first record, with melodic hooks, catchy chorus and plenty of guitars. Roll down the windows and crank it up.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 10:20 AM
Known as "ninentendocore" because of their keyboards that sound like an '80s video game, Horse The Band returns with an unusual and interesting sophomore album. Their music is hardcore mixed with some thrash metal and the ever present keyboards. They are heavy, fast and intense, but also very creative and unique.
Grade: 87
posted by Chad Bowar @ 10:04 AM
Even though Nikki Sixx has gone back to Motley Crue, Brides of Destruction's second album is even better than their debut. Veteran guitarist Tracii Guns is in top form with some great solos, and vocalist London LeGrande is solid. Their sound has evolved into an appealing combination of retro metal mixed with modern rock and some grunge.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 9:53 AM
Almost 15 years into their career, the Swedish death metal band Hypocrisy has released one of their strongest albums to date. It's filled with devastating drums, shredding guitars and growling vocals. They combine death metal with thrash and grind and play at maximum tempo and intensity. A great return to form.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 1:39 PM
If you want to get a party going, play this CD. It's kick ass hard rock/metal with the raspy vocals of Blaine Cartwright and the great guitar work of his wife Ruyter Suys. Their lyrics are funny, the grooves are excellent, and it makes you want to grab a cold one and whoop it up.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 11:01 AM
After nearly imploding a couple years back, the Finnish melodic band Straovarius have returned. Their latest CD isn't anything groundbreaking, but it is heavier than some of their more recent stuff, and the songs are less epic and more focused. It's power/progressive metal with soaring vocals, melodic hooks and plenty of guitar solos.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 4:50 PM
I'm not sure about guilt, but it certainly seems there is a lifetime supply of melodic death metal bands from Sweden. The Duskfall's latest release showcases some great thrash metal riffs to go along with the death metal vocals and power metal melodies. The production by Daniel Bergstrand (In Flames, Meshuggah) is top-notch.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 4:18 PM
The UK mathcore band Beecher have recorded a complex and creative album. It is a roller coaster of tempo and time signature changes, progressive interludes and crushing riffs and precise musicianship. Beecher stands out in the metalcore field for their uniqueness and willingness to experiment. The album was produced by Converge's Kurt Ballou.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 1:15 PM
There seem to be a lot of bands mixing punk, hardcore and metal. Caldwell is one of them, and their debut album doesn't break much musical ground. The riffs are decent, but the vocals are mediocre. The hardcore screaming is okay, but the melodic singing definitely needs improvement.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 12:52 PM
The Swedish band Scar Symmetry combines death metal with power metal on their debut album. Clean vocals alternate with death metal howls that are reasonably understandable. Along with the metal riffs you'll get a healthy dose of keyboards and plenty of guitar solos. Fans of groups like Soilwork should dig this album.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 12:33 PM
Watch Them Die fulfill their name perfectly as they bludgeon the listener to death with their latest brutal effort. From beginning to end it is nonstop intensity with influences of old school thrash, hardcore and death metal. Extra props for paying tribute to the late Quorthon by covering Bathory's "Armageddon."
posted by Chad Bowar @ 6:46 PM
There are always high expectations for Opeth's albums, and they don't disappoint with their latest effort. Ghost Reveries is unbelievably diverse, both musically and vocally. Heavy riffs, acoustic interludes, tempo and key changes, screaming and clean vocals, this album has it all. You'll hear something new every time you listen.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 6:04 PM
The German power metal band Symphorce is back with another excellent album. Vocalist Andy B. Franck is very versatile, sounding great in the lower, middle and high registers. Their music combines power metal with progressive influences. They can pull off both melodic soaring ballads and heavy, more intense songs.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 5:41 PM
Even though the pounding of drummer Dave Gentry is what initially draws your attention, the rest of the band's skills come into focus quickly. Trigger Point's debut album is packed with great metal riffs and hooks. Vocalist Taylor Wallace transitions easily from screaming to melodic vocals and back again.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 3:45 PM
The band features members of Switched, Erase The Grey and Genitorturers, and was produced by Switched vocalist Ben Schigel. Their debut EP is diverse, with elements of metal, industrial and grunge. It's both melodic and dissonant, with interesting keyboard samples and distortion blended with the riffs. The songs are radio friendly, yet intense enough for your average metalhead.
posted by Chad Bowar @ 3:12 PM
Bowar is a freelance music writer and the heavy metal editor for About.com, a New York Times company. He has written for Outburn, Amp, Loud Fast Rules, Caustic Truths, Snaggletooth, Explicity Intense and many other print and online publications.
