Band: Warriors, The
Album: War is Hell (Alveran Records)
Year: 2005 (Release Date: 24.01.05)
Website: http://www.thewarriorz.com
Rating: 4.5/10
Hmmm, well I don't really know what to say about this one.
One thing I do know though is they need to do something about the high-pitched vocals, man are they annoying!!! Musically, its hard to tell because the vocals are so up front it drown out everything else. Its a good job that the record is only 29 minutes long because I couldn't have taken much more, there are a few nice touches on here, the chugging riffs and the gang-style vocals do it for me every time, but there's not enough for me to want to play it again.
"War is Hell" is the bands debut album and unfortunately it's going to be one that sits along side many other Hardcore albums, and under a lot of better albums come to mention it. I think if they were to add a bit of variety to the vocals and let the music come through more, things would be a lot more interesting.
Band: W.A.S.P
Album: The Neon God: Part 1 - The Rise (Noise Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.waspnation.com
Rating: 9.5/10
Whilst I've never really been a fan of the band, The legendary Blackie Lawless and W.A.S.P are responsible for such controversial and mind-numbing releases such as The Headless Children, The Crimson Idol, K.F.D, Unholy Terror and the notorious self-titled debut.
2004 not only see's a new album, it also see's further progression in their style. "The Neon God - The Rise" is the first part of a conceptual rock opera based on one boy's search for acceptance and purpose in his existence. The album goes onto tell the story of the abused orphan boy who finds he has the ability to read and manipulate people, I won't go any further as I'll let you discover the story yourselves.
"The Neon God - The Rise" is a very ambitious and complex album, and is an amazing listen throughout. Whether or not die hard fans will agree that this is easily his most accomplished work is debatable. Where as previous releases have been angry and controversial, "TNG" is a labor or love for the band, Blackie's soul-searing vocal performance, raging guitar leads and rhythms from Darrell Roberts, intense percussion and heavy bass lines courtesy of Frankie Banali and Mike Duda respectively create some very moving songs and ballads. Don't take my word for things, "The Neon God" is an album that has to be heard to realize just how good it is.
Band: W.A.S.P
Album: The Neon God: Part 2 - The Demise (Noise Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.waspnation.com
Rating: 9/10
Not much to say about this one really.
This is the follow-up to part one which was released earlier this year, so if you have part one, the there is no question about getting this. Whilst Part 2 is much darker sounding than Part 1, it isn’t as varied an album and the songs and arrangement aren't as catchy, it's still a great listen though. I'm not going to give anything away other than things come to an end with the 13+ minute "The Last Redemption", an amazing end to an amazing story.
Make sure you either get both parts together, or at least get part 1 first. There aren't many heavy metal albums of this quality released nowadays, so make sure you get the story of the Neon God because I guarantee you wont be disappointed.
Band: Wake, The
Album: Ode To My Misery (Spikefarm Records)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.the-wake.com
Rating: 9/10
"Ode To My Misery" is the debut album of Finland's four-piece The Wake, 10 tracks of Technical, Melodic Death Metal similar to bands like Dark Tranquility, Arch Enemy and Burden of Grief.
Despite it being their debut, the young Fin's have made a great album with plenty of tempo changes and melody, yet enough aggression to keep everyone happy. All 10 tracks are beautifully constructed and thought about and are great to listen to, I can safely say that there are no fillers on this album at all. OK, The Wake may not be the most original band, but if your into melodic death, this is a worthy addition to your collection.
Another good thing is that the harsh screamed vocals courtesy of Kaj Michelsson never become monotonous or tedious to listen to. The Wake should be very proud indeed of this album and I urge you to pick up a copy of this as I'm sure it will impress you as much as it did me.
Band: Wall of Sleep
Album: Slow but not Dead (Psychedoomelic Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.wallofsleep.rocks.it
Rating: 8.5/10
Wall of Sleep is the outcome of the demise of the first Hungarian doom band, "Mood". WoS are much more darker and doomier that Mood were, and "Slow but not Dead" see's them pay homage to such bands as Sabbath, Spirit Caravan (and other Wino related projects) & Trouble.
They take the early 70's style blues-based doom as their foundation and add tons of groove and heavy rock influences to create a very lead driven, heavy album. They're also not afraid to take the tempo up a notch and create some rocking tracks, but it's songs like "Ornaments of Heaven" and "Sysyphus's Downhill Ride" that really showcase what the band can do.
Fans of Doom in general will appreciate this, and fans of Wino will really see this as a great addition. Groovy as Hell! and it comes highly recommended.
Band: Walrus
Album: Now you Know (Casket Music)
Year: 2003 (Release Date: 03.10.03)
Website: http://www.walrusrock.co.uk
Rating: 8.5/10
From the off, I was expecting some massively political hardcore band, instead I got better. With hints of Workhorse Movement and Clutch, the UK's (yes, the UK's) Walrus have taken me totally by surprise.
"Now you Know" is not only the bands debut album, it's also a breathe of fresh air in stale UK rock/metal scene at the moment, they've got groove, sing-a-long songs, fat riffs and are massively funky, sort of like a heavier Chili Peppers, something I haven't heard from a British band for a long time.
"Now you Know" probably won't be to every one's liking, but personally I think the album is great, I could hardly keep still whilst listening to this. I urge you to check the band out before you dismiss them.
Band: Warrant
Album: Most Wanted (Mausoleum Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.warrantweb.net
Rating: 7/10
Another "Best Of" album featuring re-recorded tracks, and fortunately this is a bit better than the White Lion release I reviewed the other day.
Unlike White Lion, Warrant have pretty much remained true to the originals with one or two modern touches to keep things a little more interesting. Re-Doing the tracks are original members Jani Lane (vocals), Jerry Dixon (bass), Erik Turner (guitar) and joining them are Rick Steiner (guitar), Mitch Dynamite (drums) and Danny Wagner (keyboards) all do a great job in recreating some of that magic of the early years.
There are no tracks missing of this greatest hits compilation that instantly comes to mind, and since they stick to the originals pretty closely, I would recommend this to fans both old and new, as neither will be disappointed. Also thrown in are covers of songs from Bon Jovi (Lay Your Hands on Me), the excellent "Photograph" by Def Leppard, Cheap Trick’s "I Want You To Want Me" and "Free for All" by Ted Nugent. It will be interesting to see what happens now that front man Jani Lane has left the band and replaced with Jaime St. James.
Band: Wasteform
Album: Ignorance Through Sovereignty (Xtreem Music)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.wasteform.com
Rating: 7.5/10
Raw, brutal U.S. style death metal in the vein of Suffocation and Pyrexia.
Although Wasteform are brutal and heavy as hell, there are just no surprises which see's "Ignorance...." become a little dull as the record goes on. There are other influences on the records such as hardcore and a little metalcore left over from their earlier days, but in the end it's not enough to save it. The vocals can also get a little monotonous at times and the record can get just too aggressive.
"Ignorance..." is not at all a bad album, it just doesn't distinguish itself amongst all the other Death Metal band around at the moment, if your new to death metal, this is a good record to pick up, but if like me you have many death metal albums, you will have heard this all before.
Band: Wastoid
Album: Say Your Prayers
Year: 2002
Website: http://www.wastoid.net
Rating: 7.5/10
Everything about Wastoid is over the top. Their big riffs, leather, spandex, huge leads and laser light shows will bring you back to those days when nothing was more important than cranking up your Judas Priest/Manowar records.
With tracks like "Long live Rock and Roll", "Let it Rock" & "Countdown to Rock" I think you know what you are going to get with this.
Only a short review because there isn’t much to say apart from if you like huge leads & Riffs, your music from the 80’s and choruses to sing along to with a beer in your hand, you know what your next CD is going to be!
Band: Watch Them Die
Album: Watch Them Die (Century Media)
Year: 2004 (Release Date: 26.01.04)
Website: http://www.watchthemdie.com
Rating: 6/10
I'm always on the lookout for bands that do things a bit differently, are more leaders than followers. Can you imagine how interested I was when I read that Watch Them Die blended Bay Area Thrash, Grindcore, Crust, Hardcore, Punk and Metal? I nearly pissed my pants!
From the off, "Watch Them Die" is a hard listen, it's raw, aggressive and full of hatred. It's not that the songs are particularly bad, it's just that they clock in between 4-8 minutes each. For some, this album will be hard going. The songs needed to be a bit shorter and more to the point, you will find as the songs go on, especially the longer ones, they lose their potency.
This could have been sooooooooo good...... but unfortunately I've had to relegate them to my "If Only" pile. Buy this if you like your songs lengthy and repetitive. Not at all bad for a debut but definitely room for some extra editing.
Band: Wednesday 13's Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13
Album: 6 Years 6 Feet Under the Influence (People Like You Records)
Year: 2004 (Release Date: 15.03.04)
Website: http://www.frankensteindragqueens.com
Rating: 7.5/10
Prior to the Murderdolls, Wednesday 13 was the front man/guitarist of North Carolina's cross-dressing oddity, the Frankenstein Drag Queens from Planet 13.
The band released four albums between 1996 & 2002, and their popularity has risen since the Murderdolls released their debut back in 2002. Co-Incidentally, the majority of the Murderdoll's album contains FDQ songs, so if you like The Murderdolls, many of you may very well find the FDQ of some interest where as other may be a little surprised. Wednesday 13 was keen to stress that "If fans are expecting the Murderdolls, they can think again". The Muderdolls image is way more glam where as the FDQ are full on horror...blood, guts and gore.
Anyway, "6 Years 6 Feet..." is basically a re-recording of previous songs taken from their back catalogue as well as a few new ones. They've got plenty to offer on here, toe-tapping humorous, almost cheesy chaotic punk songs like "Your Mother Sucks", "Rambo" and "I Wanna Rot". Well, I didn't know what to expect with this, but listening through it I was pleasantly surprised. If you were expecting them to sound like the Murderdolls, you are sadly mistaken. I know which one I would rather listen to!
Band: When Love Finishes
Album: Destruction Technique of an Established Order (Vacation House Records)
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.whenlovefinishes.net
Rating: 3/10
When Love Finishes couldn't make their influences or influence any clearer. "Destruction Technique of an Established Order" is a blatant Soulfly rip off. Besides a few, very brief moments, When Love Finishes copy what Soulfly has already done, and have done much better. Through the duration of this album you will hear tribal drums, nu metal breakdowns, nu metal, low guitar tunings, semi-hardcore vocals that sound exactly like Max Cavalera, a bass that is put high into the mix that follows a thump-n-bump rhythm with the drummer, lots of guitar pedal effects, and even a dj scratching.
Fans of Soulfly will most likely love this album. But just the fact that this band so unashamedly copies just about every aspect that Soulfly used to become big, and a closer look will reveal the band not doing it all that well, warrants a poor rating. The new era James Hetfield singing on the album's opener and the lack of smooth transitions are just two examples of an album with severe flaws. For this reviewer, the style alone is enough to make me don a sour face. Review by Darren Cowan
Band: Whispering Gallery
Album: Shades of Sorrow (Burning Star Records)
Year: 2006
Website: http://www.whisperinggallery.nl
Rating: 7.5/10
Could a band possibly pick a more fitting title for an album? "Shades of Sorrow" is an apt description of what the listener will encounter from the album's first track "The Ghost Inside" to the last track "Day Dream (Part II)". Sorrow comes in different forms. Like the meaning of an abstract song lyric, sorrow is not always what it appears to be. Following the conventions of the United Kingdom's iconic doom bands, Holland's Whispering Gallery has given us a musical representation of the different shades of sorrow.
Often, sorrow hides behind a curtain of anger. Vocalist, Reiner Vreeswijk is the face of anger through furious death metal vocals. Anger is rooted in depression, and when it dies, it returns to its roots. Comparable to fellow country doomster, Orphanage (R.I.P.) in the vocal disparity, Whispering Gallery cycles morose clean vocal duets by Pascal Spierings and Huber for Meulen to excruciating death metal vocals, ala Vreeswijk. The death metal parts have an ample amount of guitar crunch that heavily rings out and fat-bottom bass lines. The clean vocal verses are quieter by using acoustic guitar parts, lighter electric guitar notes, violin, and 70's progressive rock keyboards.
Synthesizer and piano player, Fred Provoost creates many emotional backdrops. "Darkness Falls" is Provoost at his best, tapping sad piano notes, bereaving organs, and progressive rock synth. The gothic-sprinkled synthesizer on "From the Grave" and "Day Dream (Part II)" has a definite Tiamat "Wildhoney" era sound. The synth sound is very warm and tranquil. "Day Dream" is, as the song title suggests, a great song to listen to while taking a nap. The listener is likely to elude sleep, though, at least until the disc ends. "Shades of Sorrow" is not an album likely to go away after your first listen. This one is highly recommended for fans of gothic music, doom metal, and manic-depressives everywhere. Review by Darren Cowan
Band: Whispering Gallery
Album: Lost As One (Funeral Harvest Records)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.whisperinggallery.nl
Rating: 8/10
"Lost As One" is the second release from Dutch metallers, Whispering Gallery, as well as their best.
Songs like "The Portrait" and "See Beyond The Veil" are just a prelude to what they are capable of creating, taking you on an unforgettable ride through the beauty of acoustic guitars and clean vocals and then crashing you into a brick wall with the powerful growls and amazing riffs. Just in case your sitting there thinking to yourself, "well that seems like just another band switching from soft to hard", you couldn't be more wrong; Whispering Gallery is totally different, the use of keyboards and mixed sounds create an atmosphere like one I haven't heard in any other band and the hard parts are amazing, it makes me wonder why these guys haven't gotten any more press. I didn't really like doom metal until I heard Whispering Gallery, which I think is the greatest accomplishment any band can do.
So, if you're a doom-metal head, or a metal head at all, you will check these guys out. By Cesar Rosales
Band: White Lion
Album: Last Roar (Mausoleum Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.miketramp.com
Rating: 6/10
I'm always a little dubious of bands re-recording songs, never mind having a whole album full.
This CD is actually the "Remembering White Lion" album released back in 1999, which as now been made available in Europe by Mausoleum Records. Mike Tramp is the only original member on here re-doing some of White Lion's greatest hits, and joining him is guitarist Kasper Damgaard, Dan Hammond on the Hammond B-3 Organ, Bassist Nils Kroyer and Bjarne T. Holm of Mercyful Fate and Force of Evil fame on drums. I wouldn't call myself a White Lion fan, but I have heard a few songs over the years (Ah! The theme to Transformers was a great song!) but to try and better you original tracks is tough for any band, one or two are definate highlights and are indeed better that the originals, but if your after heavier, beefed up versions, then this is for you, that is why I would only really recommend this for fans of the band.
The songs have been radically reworked, and I wouldn't call this a best of album. Mike Tramp's got a great voice, and the backup bands do a decent job in trying to recreate the songs, but as I said I'm always dubious and this hasn't changed the fact.
Band: Whore
Album: Unfinished Business (Moribund Records)
Year: 2004
Website: N/A
Rating: 8/10
Ultra offensive, low end, primitive filthgrind of the most gory, serial killer soundbyte infested variety.
Whore is the brainchild of Rob Fornicator (Fornicator, Murder Basket) and is a ruptured colostomy bag of death/grind terrorism. If there is any doubt to their blood soaked debauchery you best examine the cover art by Boiled Angel’s own Mike Diana, the first political art prisoner in the history of the United States. Buy Whore or die of brain cancer.
Raised goats on this end! Review by Ryan Bartek
Band: Wildhearts, The
Album: Coupled With (Gut Records)
Year: 2004 (Release Date: 29.03.04)
Website: http://www.thewildhearts.com
Rating: 7/10
As I said in the last review I did, The Wildhearts have never been a band that really excited me.
Moving onto "Coupled With", on paper it seems like a great idea. An album of B-Sides and previous obscurities seems great on paper, but what is it like I hear you asking? Well, I don't doubt for one second that they can pen some great songs, and there are some great songs on here like "Move On", "6:30 Onwards" and "The People Life Forgot" but for me, The Wildhearts have been rather inconsistent band which is what I'll say about "Coupled With", some very strong tracks mixed in with a couple of throw away songs.
"Coupled With" is a great package that I would recommend to die-hard fans, 20 tracks of rarities and B-Sides to add that finishing touch to their collection. For those unfamiliar with the band, I'd start with one of their studio albums first.
Band: Wildhearts, The
Single: Top of the World (Gut Records)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.thewildhearts.com
Rating: 6/10
The Wilhearts were never a band that really excited me, OK, they had a few good songs, but other than that, I never took much notice.
This single is number 1 of a set of 3 singles and contains the rather repetitive "Top of the World", the much heavier, more riff orientated "6:30 Onwards" and the pacey "Eager to Leave 'Er". I've had a quick listen to their new album, "The Wildhearts Must be Destroyed", and to put it bluntly, was repetitive, weak and there wasn't anything that got me going, it's a shame that they didn't put these other two tracks on here as they probably would be the best on there.
I think that many of the "hardcore" Wildheart fans maybe disappointed by this.
Band: Winds
Album: The Imaginary Direction Of Time (The End Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.winds.ws
Rating: 8.5/10
Yah, I could start this off with something lame like "Winds will blow you away" but I’m sure plenty have already butchered that gag to death.
Winds are from Norway and jam some top-notch art metal. Hellhammer is in the mix (Jan Axel von Blomberg to the uninitiated) so you already know this thing is going to be of expert craftsmanship. The Winds sound is a combination of classical music and prog metal. They maintain the downtrodden beauty of Anathema, the hypnotic qualities of Agalloch,the off kilter compositions of Arcturus, the heaviness of Opthalamia, orchestrated passages, lavish keyboards and a Victorian aura all around. "The Imaginary Direction of Time" is colossal in it’s own right, many years before its time. This one’s sure to fall of deaf ears but those who get it will cherish its overall ingenuity. The only holdback is the curse of prog.
Sometimes the songwriting lacks full coherence, but who am I to bitch? This is a very unique band that will remain an obscure cult classic for the duration of the metal empire. Review by Ryan Bartek
Band: Wintersun
Album: Wintersun (Nuclear Blast)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.wintermadness.net
Rating: 8.5/10
Wow! the bands self-titled debut album has taken me by total surprise, I didn't really know what to expect, but I never imagined it would be this good.
Wintersun is the new project of singer and multi instrumentalist Jari Maenpaa, who recently left his former band Ensiferum, he handles all the duties apart from the drums which are performed by Kai Hahto. "Wintersun" is powerful and majestic with a lot of energy and complexity, the music mainly flows with great melodies influenced by folk and Scandinavian traditional music. If your into early Amorphis, Children of Bodom, Finntroll or indeed Ensiferum, then you are bound to find this interesting. In fact, fans of Melodic Black and Death in general, and open minded power metal fans will also appreciate this.
With an album like this under their belt, Wintersun fully deserve to be pleased with what they've done so far. It's without doubt their will be a few more quality albums coming our way from Finland's newest masters of Epic and melody.
Band: Witchcraft
Album: Witchcraft (Rise Above Records)
Year: 2004 (Release Date: 08.03.04)
Website: http://www.witchcrafthome.com
Rating: 9/10
If you walked into a room with this playing, you would be forgiven thinking that it was something from the 70's.
Their Sabbath/Pentagram/Jethro Tull sounding classic rock/doom is just a pleasure to listen to. The whole album is well written and constructed, they churn out riffs like there's no tomorrow, the almost hypnotic drum work and the heavy bass-lines are just a couple of other great things to expect. Not only will this please 70's rock fans, there is also hints of Stoner and Doom to create an interesting vintage sounding album from start to finish.
I can see Witchcraft achieving some great things this year, and this, their debut album is going to be remembered for years to come. As the press sheet said, "it's safe to say that they were born at least 30 years too late" and I couldn't agree more. There aren't that many bands recreating that classic era, but already Witchcraft are one of the best!
Band: Witchery
Album: Don't Fear the Reaper (Century Media)
Year: 2006
Website:
Rating: 8.5/10
Previous Witchery albums, although certainly evil sounding in their own right, often maintained a morbid sense of humor about them that gave the impression the band didn’t always take themselves too seriously.
Around five years has passed since the release of the group’s last studio effort, "Symphony For The Devil" and Witchery has grown a great deal more serious in the meantime. "Don't Fear The Reaper" is easily the band’s darkest themed record yet. As always, Tue Madsen makes the difference at the mixing desk and for the first time, the band has managed to come up with a record that you need not be a Witchery fan to appreciate out-of-hand. Seeking a musical middle ground in comparison to their past efforts, "Don't Fear The Reaper" sees Witchery taking advantage of slower tempos at times but the primary shift in the band's songwriting focus lies in the arrangements in particular, with the band making a conscious effort to shift between sounds from track to track, giving the album as a whole a diabolical yet defined character. One of the most exciting aspects of the album is Witchery’s continued commitment to old school thrash metal riffs and rhythms. It is such fodder that creates the proverbial backbone of the group, with great attention being taken to meter out chugging riffs, leaving the band's sound appearing right in the groove and completely unrushed. But although you’ll hear classic "...And Justice For All"-style Metallica rhythms in the opening instrumental, "Don’t Fear The Reaper" leans even moreso toward the power grooving sounds of mid-nineties Metallica as well. Fans of the band expect such influences to crop up and during some instances, unsurprisingly, a bit of Slayer creeps in as well. Those expecting a classic Witchery sound should be pleased by "Stigmatized" (come on, the is "Am I Evil" at the end, guys) as well as tracks like "Plague Rider", which is often distinctly more reminiscent of the group's classic sound. A quick cover of "Legion Of Hades", originally penned by Witchery precursors Satanic Slaughter strikes swiftly and proves to be deadly in its utter finality. "Ashes" proves gloomy and foreboding, with a hell-chant chorus from vocalist Toxine that resounds as being delightfully wicked. Surely, the gem here is "The Ritual", where the band’s music takes on a feeling similar to bassist Sharlee D'Angelo's other breadwinner, Arch Enemy. Here, the group shows maturity and restraint in creating a near-perfect metal track whit a head banging beat suitable for separating skull from spine.
Such highlights illustrate the amount of hard work and dedication that Witchery put into this record and further underline that fact that Witchery has taken their craft to entirely new levels. Review by Erin Fox
Band: Within Y
Album: Extended Mental Dimensions (Karmageddon Media)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.withiny.tk
Rating: 8/10
Hailing from Gothenburg, Within Y plays straight forward melodic death metal converging with hints of American influence.
Their Like The Black Dahlia Murder grinded down to their U.S. roots juxtaposed with Shadows Fall, In Flames, Centinex, Nightrage and God Forbid. It’s a nice combo that helps beat the average Gothenburg formula. The production is crisp, top notch and distinguishable, allowing the material to maintain its raw power. This album flat out rocks and gets everyone moving in the process.
This was a huge surprise for me, being a junkie of this particular style. Technically proficient and well executed, "Extended Mental Dimensions" is going to be making plenty of waves. Highly recommended. Review by Ryan Bartek
Band: Wojczech
Album: Sedimente (Selfmadegod Records )
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.myspace.com/wojczech13
Rating: 9/10
After almost a decade of existence, they finally unleash their long awaited debut album.
Well, it looks like Selfmadegod have done it again with yet another Grind band of the highest calibre, this time round its Germany's Wojczech. As soon as you listen to "Sedimente", you'll realize that these guys are not just your usual run-of-the-mill Grind band, they infuse things with hints of crust, hardcore, death metal and punk to create a really surprising and first-class album. First of all, the drummer is amazing, his ability to change from blast beats, to a slower groovy style and then a more irregular pattern is remarkable. What also impressed me is that whilst things sound aggressive, it is also very easy to listen to over and over again. There are plenty of breakdowns and slower, more groovier riffs and bass-lines, even some melody and actual guitar leads make an appearance.
Comes highly recommended to those into Grind, especially fans of Assuck, Nasum and His Hero is Gone and maybe even those who maybe aren't into it as heavily and just take a passing liking. Wojczech really are one of the highlights of the genre.
Band: Wolfen Society
Album: Conquer Divine (House of Death Records )
Year: 2002
Website: http://www.wolfensociety.com
Rating: 8/10
Wolfen Society is/was a conceptual project based on misanthropy - that is to say, the hating of mankind as a whole.
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Consisting of members of Incantation, Dark Funeral, Acheron & Electric Hellfire Club, you can probably expect the quality of the music to be excellent, which it is. Style range from fast, raw death metal to slower breaks with a heavy thrash metal feel to it. The only problem I have is it is only 4 damn songs long.
These four songs will keep you gripped, but longing for more, which will hopefully come with their full-length album “Misanthropic Race”, which interestingly should have been released but instead they chose to release this EP. |
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I would have preferred to hear a full-length effort, but this EP will have to do for now. A great EP at that, which will definitely gain fans of the band for their forthcoming album.
Band: Wolverine
Album: Cold Light of Monday (Elitist Records)
Year: 2003 (Release Date: 17.11.03)
Website: http://www.wolverine-overdose.com
Rating: 10/10
I've been listening to this album for a while now, and it gets better with every play.
"Cold Light of Monday" is basically a concept album following the sad journey of a girl called Sarah, I won't go into the story as I will let you discover it for yourself. The album is a very intricate album with very competent songwriting skills and musicianship, there is so much to listen to and you simply cannot listen to one or two songs at a time, the whole album has to be played from start to finish. The only way I could really describe this album is it's like reading a book or watching a film, if you skip one track, it's like missing one chapter of a book.
Albums like this are far and few between, Wolverine deserve great things releasing albums of this quality. The band have always had great reviews and nothing but compliments, and as this is my first experience of Wolverine and I can see why, this could very well be the prog album of the year. There is nothing more I can say about this, as words cannot describe how highly I rate this album. Miss this and it's your loss.
Band: Wonderfools
Album: Future Classic (Wild Kingdom)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.thewonderfools.com
Rating: 6.5/10
I've really got into the whole Scandinavian Rock thing as of late, and I've been fortunate to receive some great music by some amazing bands.
Well, the latest album by these Norwegians gets off to a great start with the pacey and catchy "Secrets and Lies" and a couple of others before everything starts to become a little familiar and repetitive, a noticeable exception though is "Hangin In, Hanging Out". The change in tempo is just what the album needed to break things up a little, and keep it a bit more interesting.
There are some damn infectious riffs, leads and dual guitar work on here, but the album just sounds too much like you've heard it before. If your into the pop/rock thing and not bothered to much about originality or are looking for something fun in general, Wonderfools are worth checking out.
Band: World Burns to Death
Album: Sucking of the Missile Cock (Hardcore Holocaust)
Year: 2004
Website: N/A
Rating: 5/10
World Burns to Death have got some good press reviews behind them, but to me, I couldn't see what all the fuss was about.
Package wise, it's another great Hardcore Holocaust release, it includes the LP, the band first two 7" and some unreleased tracks, which for fans and people new to the band this is a great purchase. It's raw punk with some hardcore influences, which I found hard to digest in one listen and the vocals soon became tedious after a while. It's fast and aggressive and I'm not ashamed to say that I couldn't handle it, after about 6 or 7 tracks it got a bit monotonous for my liking and soon became a little boring.
Fast and aggressive hardcore/punk that has gained some good attention for the band, if you're familiar with the scene, you probably know about WBTD, but for those unfamiliar, I'd definitely suggest listening before purchasing. A few interesting tracks but nothing more that could keep my attention.
Band: Wurdulak
Album: Severed Eyes of Possession (Season of Mist)
Year: 2002
Website: http://www.necrophagia.com/wurdulak.html
Rating: 9/10
Frediablo and Killjoy formed Wurdulak in the year 2000, releasing their debut recording "Ceremony in Flames" through Baphomet / Housecore Records, which received great reviews worldwide from magazines and webzines alike. Containing a harrowing lineup featuring some of the most prominent names in the extreme metal underground, including Killjoy (Necrophagia, Ravenous) and Maniac (Mayhem) on "vo-kills", the searing attack of Frediablo (Gorelord), Ihizahg, Fug, and Iscariah (Immortal, Pain), all backed by the ungodly beatings of Jehmod (Bloodthorn) on percussion.
Wurdulak combine brutal Black and Death Metal which is well produced, hard hitting and straight to the point. Fans of Killjoy, Necrophagia, Gorelord etc, will know what to expect so I'm not going to ramble on and should snap this up straight away. For the rest of you, who maybe you don't know who Killjoy or Maniac are, or you have never heard of Necrophagia or Gorelord, you should be ashamed of yourselves! Go out now and get this and you'll realise what you have been missing out on.
The Wurdulak sound has progressed alot since their debut effort, and other notable change is that Killjoy and Maniac are singing at completely seperate times and on different songs than each other, which is a big change from "Ceremony in Flames" where they both sang together on most of the material.
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