This Month In Metal: February 2008

First off, I'll apologize for missing out on the past two months, but at least you got the Top 10 Metal Albums of 2007 article from me, and to be honest, it's not like much happened in December or January.

February hasn't been much of a month for news, but I'll throw some in anyways, and to make up for January... more album reviews than usual. As usual, I haven't got the time (tell UG to employ me full time) to go over all of the 30-odd albums whose release I'm aware of this month, so here's a selection. I'm sure I've missed some good albums, so give me recommendations in the comments, or drop me a message on my UG Profile. Hell, if you have a specific album you want to see featured in this column in the coming months, let me know and I might check it out.

Dismember - Dismember

Release Date: February 18
Label: Regain
Genres: Death Metal

Dismember has released enough quality albums to be considered one of the bigger acts in the Swedish death metal scene. Along with Grave, Entombed and a few more they represent the old school style of Swedish death metal, and this album certainly follows the old school. The album itself sounds like it could've been recorded in 1991, which doesn't harm the album at all. It just complements the overall vibe and fits the album like a glove. The album captures all the charms and harms you could expect from old school Swedish death metal, but sadly it doesn't hold up all the way. Their previous effort “The God That Never Was” came across as much more focused and with stronger material, but “Dismember” lacks that strength and consistency. The highs are still incredible though, and tend to coincide with when the band allows themselves to drift out into what almost seems to be jam-like sections with duel solos and harmonized leads. However, these sections are few and far between. As a whole, the album simply lacks enough quality material to garner much praise. Better luck next time guys.

UG Review

Rating: 6.3

Draconian – Turning Season Within

Release Date: February 29
Label: Napalm
Genres: Doom/Gothic

“Turning Season Within” will be one of those albums I'll forget when I compile my “Best Of 2008” list. Draconian have again managed to capture their dark, grooving, melancholic brand of doom/gothic, but this time around the album leaves a bit to be desired. After several listens, nothing really stands out, and it comes across as an album that just plays it very safe. There are no songs, nor passages or even the occasional bar, that I can label as bad, but nor are there many sections that warrant a raised eyebrow. It's all very nicely written, sections that fit well together and all that, but nothing seems to happen. In short, it's not very captivating. If you look up “workman-like effort” in the dictionary, you should find a reference to this album.

UG Review

Rating: 5.3

Death Angel – Killing Season

Release Date: February 26
Label: Nuclear Blast
Genres: Thrash Metal

When February rolled by, this was one of the releases I was looking forward to the most. Death Angel's 2001 reunion raised several eyebrows, but they nearly pissed it all away with the über-mediocre “The Art Of Dying”. However, knowing their back catalogue and what they're capable of putting together, I was still curious regarding “Killing Season”. Bottom line: these guys still know how to thrash and put together songs that open up circle pits. Working with Nick Raskulinecz (Rush, Foo Fighters, Shadows Fall) seems to have been a great decision by them, as the sound and production of the album is very nice indeed. One might assume that the album would be very slick given the producer, but nay, it in fact is exactly as ugly as it has to be, for us to know that they mean business.

Enough with the accolades: “Killing Season” has several things going for it, such as production, rock-solid performances by the band members and some catchy-ass thrash tunes. But, while they stay true to what we might expect from Death Angel, that also somewhat limits them. No dissing thrash, but albums along the lines of “Killing Season” has been heard many a time before. Also, the material while strong in the opening barrage doesn't hold up all the way. “Killing Season” is a fine thrash album and nothing else, but hey, I suppose they weren't aiming for much more. If you want a lengthier discussion regarding the album, I recommend the excellent UG Team review.

UG Review

Rating: 7

Winds Of Plague – Decimate The Weak

Release Date: February 5
Label: Century Media
Genres: Melodic Death Metal/Hardcore

Bands such as Winds Of Plague seem to come out of the woodwork these days -- mixing the “metalcore” sound with whatever they can come across. Part “metalcore”, part progressive, part power metal, part death metal, “Decimate The Weak” does stretch over several genres, or at least dips into them at some point over the 37-ish long effort. I can't help but smile, because I do love when bands put genres in a blender and just let loose. There's something somewhat awkward yet pleasing about hearing a fairly standard 'core-breakdown, but with keyboards reminiscent of Rhapsody on top. The strength of “Decimate The Weak” definitely lies in the blender-approach, as well as the obvious chops the band puts on display. The guitar melodies and the shred-happy contributions from the two axemen is very well done. The production is very, very slick yet I find the keys to sound somewhat cheap, but that's a minor complaint.

The downside to the album is that the lyrical themes, while occasionally (and intentionally?) humorous are pretty cheesy to these ears. “Reloaded” reeks of the kind of overused hardcore raze-society-rebuild-it-the-right-way-attitude. I'm not opposed to lyrics dealing with social criticism, but I'm incredibly sick and tired of hearing it put that way. Musically, I wish they'd chill on the 'core breakdowns and focus more on mixing in the melodic/symphonic side, which would give them a less generic sound.

All in all, “Decimate The Weak” should be viewed as a fun album, an album you can mosh along to one second and the other air-guitar while your mate pretends the kitchen table is a keyboard. It has its up and downs, but it'll be interesting to see what these guys can conjure up a few years down the road.

UG Review

Rating: 7

MyGrain – Signs Of Existence

Release Date: February 13
Label: Spinefarm
Genres: Melodic Death Metal

The Nordic countries seem to churn out more death metal bands than the rest of the world combined. MyGrain's second album sits firmly in the melodic death genre, mixing death growls, screaming and clean-ish singing with keyboards and detuned riffing. The best comparison I can think of would be Gothenburg's Dark Tranquillity, but vocally it's often more guttural than Mikael Stanne. So, is it any good? Well, all the guys and the keyboard gal are competent musicians. The playing leaves nothing to be desired, it's well produced (if a bit predictable) and that's about it.

Song-wise, there're some pretty catchy choruses, like “Walk Puppet Walk” which would be a certain party hit in my neck of the woods (hey, we like to do gang choruses!). “Asphyxiated And Inflammable” also features a nice, big chorus, and “Final Frontier” with its piano interlude is a nice closer. The problem, yet again, is that the album plays it safe. Which in turn means that when you've heard a hundred albums like this, it's pretty damn boring. Competent, but safe.

Rating: 6

Sculptured – Embodiment: Collapsing Under The Weight Of God

Release Date: February 19
Label: The End
Genres: Progressive, Avant-garde Metal

8 years after releasing what many consider their masterpiece “Apollo”, Sculptured return with yet another slab of avant-garde metal for your finely tuned ears. Clocking in at almost 40 minutes spread out on 5 tracks, this is obviously no meat-and-potatoes-metal album with the compulsory four-minute hit. Choruses are practically nowhere to be found, so the charm and catchiness, if you can call it that, lies in the complexity of the pieces and the performances of the musicians. Drummer Dave Murray, not of Iron Maiden fame, is quite a time keeper. Tight as a metronome, despite being all over the place. Vocally, it's often growled, but I must say Walling's vocals, while being somewhat of an aquired taste, leave some to be desired.

So, is it any good? Of course it is, but I'd say it fails to reach as high as one might expect (or as other reviewers think it has). I find that it becomes almost too jam-like at times, and then you lose that cool vibe you get when something more structured ventures into a jam-section. It's often too “weird” all the time, if you get my drift. It could've been better balanced and better produced (it's a bit dry, a bit skin and bones-y sounding), but when you look at it from a larger perspective... it's still damn good. “Embodiment” is a very difficult record to listen to and appreciate, but with every listen something new emerges that you can find a place for, and thus it grows.

“Embodiment” is not as great as one could expect, but it's still a quality slab of avant-garde metal that should be a contender for 2008s Top 10.

Rating: 8

News And Tidbits From The Past Month

Tim 'Ripper' Owens (ex-Judas Priest, ex-Iced Earth, Beyond Fear) has swapped one control-freak (Jon Schaffer) for another, that person being none other than Swedish virtuoso Yngwie Malmsteen. Tim, who has previously collaborated with Yngwie on a cover of the Ozzy Osbourne classic “Mr Crowley”, will reportedly sing on the new Yngwie album, but won't write anything (surprising). He also expects to tour in support for the record, but notes that it's essentially a one-off. The album is tentatively due in June 2008.

Pain-members were assaulted in Germany last weekend, when on tour in support of Nightwish. Several members, including famous producer/writer/musician Peter Tagtgren, were beaten up by a gang who assaulted them outside their tour bus. The gig in Leipzig the day after had to be cancelled, as drummer David Wallin suffered several stitches and a concussion. However, the guys picked themselves up quickly and resumed the tour only a few days afterwards. There is no word on arrests for the culprits.

According to drummer Tommy Lee, Motley Crue will embark on a world tour starting July 4, in support of their new album. Around the same time an album based on the book “The Dirt” is rumored to hit the shelves, and a single will be on radio in early May.

A list of songs supposedly used by American troops in Iraq while interrogating POWs has been revealed. Somewhat unexpectedly, yet maybe not, Deicide is featured on top of this list, with the song “F--k Your God”, from their 2004 album “Scars Of The Crucifix”. Deicide drummer Steve Asheim commented: "It's cool. If we're upto military standards of audio abuse, it makes me feel like Decide's doing our part for the troops." Other artists featured on the playlist were Rage Against the Machine, Metallica, Eminem, Prince... and the themesong to Barney the Dinosaur.

Well, that's all for this month. Next month we'll be looking at releases from Meshuggah, the new In Flames EP, and more...

POSTED: 03/07/2008 - 02:54 am

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Comments

[BFMVrrule]

yay first post i think.. most of them sound good.. waitin on the new in flames EP

[nick_b]

Blooddrunk?

[webbtje]

^Yeah, no CoB mention? Tut, tut...

Must admit I've never heard of some of these. Might check out MyGrain, they sound cool... even if that's one of the worst band names I've ever heard.

[Azzy666]

im glad i clicked on this thread.. its nice to discover bands i havent heard of before (excluding death angel).
and i laughed when i read bout the songs used on POWs, now thats funny... barney lmao!
btw im not saying its right, war is a horrible thing

[sevenchurches]

Children of Bodom are ****ing shite, they deserve no such mention

[sevenchurches]

And obZen is quite good fo far

[RZK88]

sevenchurches wrote:

Children of Bodom are ****ing shite, they deserve no such mention

The new album sucks. Better forget it ASAP

[Mr Montana]

sevenchurches wrote:

Children of Bodom are ****ing shite, they deserve no such mention

You listen to Rights Of Spring, back at you.

Never got into In Flames however some of their new stuff sounds promising

[Reviewer Pete]

Yo dudes, Bodom ain't out until April 9th.

[Magero]

^He has a point haha.
But I "predict" it will be a step up from AYDY....yes...predict...
Also, didnt realise WoP's new album was out, better be a step up from the demo. God that was awful.

[Megallica666]

i somehow already have their new album i think its pretty good.

[lilboisX3]

i have it. the new cob album. its good.

[Masonpwiley]

Haven't heard of any of these besides Dismember

[Fama]

No mention of Stam1na? Oh well, I guess they aren't very well known outside Finland. But damn I love that band.

[Captain Chaos]

The Art of Dying is not a mediocre album. Give it a listen!

[Lastresort]

check out "the life i know"- gwen stacy.

[Reviewer Pete]

Fama wrote:

No mention of Stam1na? Oh well, I guess they aren't very well known outside Finland. But damn I love that band.

I've heard good things about them, but ultimately I decided against reviewing them because they sing in a language I don't understand. Lyrics are important to me, so if I can't understand a word, I'll have a hard time listening to it.

[teo_huat]

how about all shall perish??

[MexiChriS]

AHAHAHAHA wow man, PETE, look the roots back up on bands a bit, meaning that towards Winds Of Plague. Just so you don't drive away some people that can be fans to 'em cause of some things said in your review.

Great review on 'em, but those breakdowns... they lead to something in the past, so there no generic band OR one of those out of the woodshed bands how all these other bands "like them" that keep coming out. These guys know there shit, had there shit, and all under a rap before most of this other shitty new deathcore bands that came up. They should of came up long before this time.

AS FOR EVERYONE if you hear about them now, look back in there past, they changed a lot to where they are now. NOT IN A BAD WAY in a pleasing way for there old and new fans! I honestly prefer the past style, grew up on it, but the new style is still good solid and has my support none a less.

Anyways, They were mainly justified as a hardcore band in CA, running the sickest shows around for quite some time AND having the sickest army of kids following 'em in support, still to this day, i know cause i followed 'em since Bleak December(old band name). They did however have that dark sound, that black metal vibe to it, which stood them out for sometime and for them to gain many fans, even before they had there name changed later in like '04/'05ish to Winds Of Plague. YES the sound they have now, they had back then, its just very much toned up to a masterpiece now. So it was a long hard road of gaining a crowd/respect for WOP!

SO HONESTLY if your gonna rant on how they had cheesy 'core breakdowns, which you wish they would cut back on a bit. Just know, they pretty much set a different standard on that shit from the ground on up to where they are now... i know many bands that have came up with them and take upon a lot of writing from them. They seriously had there shit in the raps long before now, yet they took so long to come up for some reason when every show they had was basically over flooded with a gang of fans.



ANYWAYS that was just to clear things up on the whole Winds Of Plague "core breakdowns" "style sounding" whatever thing since NO ONE (AT LEAST VERY FEW!) know why the **** they have it in there music or how it came to be... cause everyone thinks its cheesy or a "trend" now or just something every other band does now.



So PETE run the net a bit on bands you don't have very much knowledge on, study on there past music (and other bands that came up with them from those times), hear present time tunes, and then write a review! That should help towards writing a solid positive feedback on a bands record... cause from what i know, resource is gained from gathering information, get some from past/ESPECIALLY MIDDLE TIME INFORMATION/present. But like i said, great review none a less! Also helped me find 1 new band on your CD review!

So you got yourself a devoted fan reader, i will although lay down my notes on your stuff from now on though, thats just what i do to hope you do better and to improve from ones opinion ya know?

So keep it up, cause i barely see much metal rants on hear about news/cd reviews. Or else I'm a start writing shit of my own, gotta spread that metal man!

P.S. looking forward to next months Meshuggah review! And yes, i wrote this in both your comments and review just so i hope you get this from me.)

[MexiChriS]

So you got yourself a devoted fan reader, i will although lay down my notes on your stuff from now on though, thats just what i do to hope you do better and to improve from ones opinion ya know?

So keep it up, cause i barely see much metal rants on hear about news/cd reviews. Or else I'm a start writing shit of my own, gotta spread that metal man!

P.S. looking forward to next months Meshuggah review! And yes, i wrote this in both your comments and review just so i hope you get this from me.)

[fitbband]

every single one of those bands suck, review some mastodon, tera melos, something good.

[MexiChriS]

DIDN'T MEAN TO CUT THE LAST PART UP AND RE-SEND!

[MexiChriS]

fitbband wrote:

every single one of those bands suck, review some mastodon, tera melos, something good.

lol, nice! i'd like to see some mastodon to, amazing writing they put into there work.

[Reviewer Pete]

fitbband wrote:

every single one of those bands suck, review some mastodon, tera melos, something good.

And those acts released exactly what in the month of February 2008?

[MexiChriS]

Reviewer Pete wrote:

fitbband wrote:

every single one of those bands suck, review some mastodon, tera melos, something good.

And those acts released exactly what in the month of February 2008?

damn, true point!

[bootyguard]

decrepit birth released an album... you should review that now thats way good metal.

oh and yah death angel was a good review and i agree it was a good album but nothing incredibly spectacular.

[Sixpounder666]

nick_b wrote:

Blooddrunk?

blooddrunk doesn't offically come out until april..all the versions anybody has are leaked.

[MexiChriS]

bootyguard wrote:

decrepit birth released an album... you should review that now thats way good metal.

oh and yah death angel was a good review and i agree it was a good album but nothing incredibly spectacular.

HOLY SHIT, how'd i miss that! DECREPITH BIRTH IS SICK! gotta get them a review on here... and possibly a Hate Eternal one as well!?!?

[Reviewer Pete]

I liked Decrepit Birth, but I heard it too late to include it here. Sorry gents.

If I'm not mistaken, Hate Eternal's new was on the mainpage the other day?

[MexiChriS]

=o it was, i must search for it!

[Teh1337Hax0rz]

Thanks for bringing this column back man!

[korbhag]

Hope you just forgot Protest the Hero there cuz it's definitely one of the best albums I've heard in a long time!

[plectrum911]

has'nt blooddrunk already been released in finland?

[MexiChriS]

plectrum911 wrote:

has'nt blooddrunk already been released in finland?

NO NOT YET MAN, heres the Release dates :
09.04.2008 Finland & Japan
11.04.2008 Germany
14.04.2008 Europe
15.04.2008 USA

[plectrum911]

thats what i herd, i know when it is coming out in the USA. but the talk was that they released it in feb. in finland. guess i herd wrong.

[lcf218]

who the hot chick on the frontpage thumbnail??

[MexiChriS]

ahhh, thats why, well i heard completely wrong... i thought it was coming this month.

and chick is a an angel(no name!), hahah, naw... idk lol

[NaMeLeSsEviL]

who the hot chick on the frontpage thumbnail??

that is lisa johannson of Draconian!!
awesome vocalist. i hate how they keep ripping
on Draconian this album definetly stands out!!
f**k YOU UG!! lol jk

[emr_steelmech]

"It's cool. If we're upto military standards of audio abuse, it makes me feel like Decide's doing our part for the troops."

I don't particularly care for Deicide (read, Glen Benton's vocals) but THAT is effing awesome/hilarious.

[RedNovember]

BLOOD DRUNK ISN'T OUT YET. Jesus.

[emr_steelmech]

korbhag wrote:

Hope you just forgot Protest the Hero there cuz it's definitely one of the best albums I've heard in a long time!

Yeah Fortress came out in late January, that album should definently have been reviewed.

[Reviewer Pete]

korbhag wrote:

Hope you just forgot Protest the Hero there cuz it's definitely one of the best albums I've heard in a long time!

I love it, but January release = not eligible. I'm sure it'll figure somewhere on the best of 2008 list...it's only 9 months away!

[Macabre_Turtle]

I'm glad the military feels the same way about Deicide as I do.

[Matthiasberndt]

sevenchurches wrote:

Children of Bodom are ****ing shite, they deserve no such mention

you suck dude

[Vinnie9]

BFMVrrule wrote:
waitin on the new in flames EP

Oh yeah.

[Underjoggle]

Nothing like blasphemous death metal to make a ****er talk.

[titter]

opinions are like a-holes everyone has one...

[rockybo]

Ick, do people actually listen to the new In Flames albums? You couldn't pay me to sit through anything after Colony

[1h81337]

I think the Winds of Plague album deserves more praise and recognition, but hey, thats my opinion.

[Caboose1125]

What about Kingdom of Sorrow's first album?

[Shortbus82]

Hey, any of that would get anyone to crack if they were not from the US. WHEN DID METAL GET 70,000 GENRE'S! GO AHEAD AND BLAST THIS, I JUST GOTTA KNOW!

[xXChimairaXx]

BFMVrrule wrote:

waitin on the new in flames EP

Exactly man.

Anybody seen The Mirror's Truth music video...some freaky ass stuff. Almost on par with a Tool music video.

[MorgothAkerfelt]

Hey, I have a got to recommend a band that I really think you should check out, called Virgin Black, they had a new album come out last month, and another one last year, sexy neoclassical doom metal, with an incredible tenor (who also has quite a growl)

Do it.

[07bevanm]

New yngwie album! awesome
on a side note, black tide's album is coming out mid march which from the demo sounds pretty upeat stuff

[Towner_45]

what about warbringer, it at least needs a mention

[banana stickers]

get testament's new album in there when it comes out defenately

[rwalby9]

The new CoB album was a huge disappointment.. it sounded way too thrashy and more AYDY-esque.

[2Old2Cold]

Obviously the most important album that has come out so far this year is the HELLHAMMER compilation Demon Entrails. Essential for anyone who even thinks about calling themselves a metal fan.

[BigD31]

Scarpoint... anyone???? or am i the only one digging it?

[hawking_hole]

cant wait for the Yngwie album....

[guitargod21136]

Alexi laiho's a good guitar player, but he CANT SING FOR HIS LIFE

[The Black Salts]

^ I'm not praising bodom but alexi isn't about singing, he's about growling. His voice has never been a problem, only the downfall of the band since AYDY.

[HolySmoke]

All you CoB haters, seriously need to STFU! There really isn't much difference between Hatebreeder and the newer stuff except it's a little bit riff-laden and the vocals are better. Alexi is a badass guitarist and AYDY and Blooddrunk are badass CDs.

[HolySmoke]

Though of course they're not as good as Follow the Reaper and Hatebreeder, those will always be the pinnacle of CoB's career.

[kurtshapedbox]

Hate Eternal

[AXE187]

in flames close to release too