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Netherlands - 'Silicon Vapor' (Self)
Genre: Psychedelic/Progressive Metal
From the fertile musical ground of Brooklyn emerges the trio Netherlands. The band is fronted by vocalist/guitarist Timo Ellis, who has worked with artists in a multitude of genres. Their second album is Silicon Vapor, a trippy and eclectic effort.
At the heart of Netherlands' compositions are fuzzed out guitar riffs and rumbling synth bass. From there they explore elements of doom, punk, psychedelia, prog, grunge and more. Somehow they fuse sounds of the '70s and '90s to create something very 2010s. It's an unusual album that leans toward the experimental at times, but those guitars act as a beacon, eventually bringing everything back where it belongs.
Rating: 3.5
(Chad Bowar)
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Neurotic November - 'Anunnaki' (Victory)
Genre: Deathcore
When a band is labeled as deathcore, there may be the impression among some that their sound will be predictable and similar to the genre norm. That's not the case with Neurotic November and their album Anunnaki.
While you will hear genre conventions like breakdowns, Neurotic November explore a lot of different textures and styles. Some songs are pretty straightforward, others are technical, and some are downright experimental. There's no melodic singing, only harsh vocals with many different deliveries. The screams and yells are diverse and effective, but the rapping on songs like "Nonchalant" is like a bad nu-metal flashback.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
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Noctum – 'Final Sacrifice' (Metal Blade)
Genre: Doom Metal
Combining the riffs of Black Sabbath with the melodies of In Solitude, Sweden’s Noctum unleash their sophomore album Final Sacrifice. Adding elements of NWOBHM, Noctum have expanded their songwriting and in the process created a throwback retro record that firmly belongs in the 21st century. The up-tempo pace greatly helps move the record along and never becomes plodding.
Final Sacrifice weaves a theme throughout as each song contributes to the overall storyline. Vocalist David Indelöf at times embodies King Diamond, especially on the grandiose “Temple of the Living Dead.” The standout track “Resurrected in Evil” has an infectious chorus and a driving guitar riff. Noctum deserve to be mentioned with Ghost B.C. and In Solitude as one of the best current retro bands, and their latest release can stand side by side with those bands' new albums.
Rating: 4
(Dan Drago)
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Pyrexia – 'Feast Of Iniquity' (Unique Leader)
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Pyrexia, veterans of the original brutal death metal scene and most well known for their album Sermon Of Mockery, have been on bit of a resurgence in the past few years. Originally classified as nothing more than Suffocation clones; the band sounds much more like the former did back in 1991 on Feast Of Iniquity.
Crushing death metal is found within this trim 30 minute package of power and is quite the succinct statement. Old school death metal bands have been warned that Pyrexia are surely back!
Rating: 4
(Tom Campagna)
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Seeker – 'Unloved' (Victory)
Genre: Death Metal
Even in Texas, death metal sows seeds for the zombie apocalypse. Seeker muck around in the same sewage as Whitechapel, Impending Doom and Embalmed. Though definitely DM, noise rock is the quartet’s choice of host for their parasitic sounds. As the parasites burst from their victim, old-time metalcore bursts out with them.
Guitarist Justin Edgerton obviously has paid his dues in mainstream bands. His playing sounds torn between meth and misery. Seeker leaves no treble knob unturned. Harsher than Hades on orientation day, Seeker seek to leave obscurity far behind, and Unloved should do just that.
Rating: 3.5
(Todd Lyons)
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Septicflesh – 'Ophidian Wheel' (Season of Mist)
Genre: Symphonic Death Metal
With the release of their third album Ophidian Wheel, Greece’s symphonic death metal titans Septicflesh took a gigantic step forward in progression. Originally released in 1997, the album was the first in the bands impressive catalog that openly adopted gothic influences and explored melody. Featuring an obvious early Paradise Lost influence that one can hear in the guitars and the addition of the operatic female vocals that blend seamlessly with the traditional guttural vocals.
The re-release features alternative mixes of three songs that appear on the original pressing. It also employs a new mastering, which gives the record an added sonic boost. The original recording has been hard to track down; with the re-release it showcases the birth of one of today’s most consistent bands.
Rating: 3.5
(Dan Drago)
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Sinister Haze - '2013 Demo' (Unholy Anarchy)
Genre: Doom Metal
Richmond doom merchants Sinister Haze deserve an award for sounding exactly as their name implies: dark, evil, slow and smoky. The demo even features a song called “Black Shapeless Demon,” which, as you might expect, is wah-drenched, lumbering and murky. They can also be pretty funky, as evidenced on the demo’s opener, “Changin’ Ways.”
The demo was recorded when the band was a four-piece, and it includes a lot of vocal interplay between the previous vocalist and singer/guitarist Brandon Marcey (also of Cough), who is now handling vocal duties on his own.
Rating: 4
(Karen A. Mann)
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Sirens & Sailors - 'Skeletons' (Razor & Tie)
Genre: Metalcore
Sirens & Sailors are a metalcore quintet from Rochester, NY. Skeletons is their second album, and first for Artery/Razor & Tie. It's typical metalcore, with plenty of breakdowns and pinch harmonics and alternating screaming and singing vocals.
The screaming vocals are excellent. Kyle Bihrle utilizes a variety of styles while delivering the vocals with passion and emotion. The guitar work is also good, with some memorable riffs. They also throw in a few electronic flourishes for varietey. The melodic vocals don't live up to that same standard. They are okay, but nothing that stands out like the harsh vocals do.
Rating: 3
(Chad Bowar)
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Suture - 'Carnivorous Urge To Kill' (Comatose)
Genre: Brutal Death Metal
Louisiana’s Suture have taken it upon themselves to re-record their debut album Carnivorous Urge To Kill, originally issued in 2002 on Deepsend Records. Now released on Comatose Music with new artwork and a couple of bonus tracks, Suture really bring nothing new to the table, re-recording notwithstanding.
Basically playing brutal death metal in the vein of early Cannibal Corpse or Suffocation, Suture sound exactly like those two classic bands, but are nowhere near the quality. There are a few good songs and riffs, but Carnivorous Urge To Kill is rather typical of the style and not much more.
Rating: 3
(Dave Schalek)
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This Will Destroy You – 'Live in Reykjavik, Iceland' (Magic Bullet)
Genre: Atmospheric Post Rock
On the island of ice and fire, This Will Destroy You brought their chilling beauty to Iceland’s capital. It’s a perfect concept to marry the instrumental panoramas painted by TWDY with a land similar in dynamics and the primal undertow of volcanic loneliness expressed in tracks like “Three-Legged Workhorse.”
TWDY share a similar ethereal spaciousness as Iceland’s own Sigur Rós. Effected guitars occasionally overwhelm the drums and melodic two-note top lines, but it seems intentional. In its best moments, the music washes over you like a splendid dream.
Rating: 4
(Todd Lyons)