Another session of the underground laboratory begins with an examination of several slabs of new extreme metal releases. Professor Dave pulls no punches in evaluating the music, and make sure to pay attention, as he has been known to chuck an eraser at a daydreaming student.

•Deadborn - Mayhem Maniac Machine (Apostasy)

Ah, Continental death metal. Unlike the Swedish and American varieties, Continental death metal (as in the continent of Europe) is sort of a vague, hard to describe subgenre. This regional sound has all of the hallmarks of brutal death metal of the American variety with lots of chunky riffs, all out blasts, a deep sound, you name it.

However, there are a few songwriting touches that somehow separate the Continental death metal bands a bit from that of their American brethren. The touches are a bit elusive to describe as there may be a greater focus on cleanliness in musicianship, variation in songwriting, or even a touch of melody; Continental death metal sort of falls into that category of “I know it when I hear it.”

Germany’s Deadborn fall squarely into that vague description, as Mayhem Maniac Machine, their second full-length, is a good album of semi-technical brutal death metal with lots of clean musicianship, plenty of riffs, and nice variations in tempo. The songwriting is usually very good throughout, but there a few moments that don’t quite measure up with a few weak tracks. However, Mayhem Maniac Machine hits more than it misses, marking Deadborn as an up and comer in death metal.

Dave’s Grade: B

•Gory Blister - Earth-Sick (Bakerteam)

Right after I fumble my way through a description of Continental death metal, another album in the same category promptly falls into my lap in the form of Earth-Sick from Italy’s Gory Blister. A semi-technical death metal band with the requisite mix of brutality, melody, and technicality, Gory Blister fall a bit short when it comes to wizard-like displays of sheer musicianship when compared to some of the Continent’s preeminent technical bands such as Obscura, Fleshgod Apocalypse, and the like. Gory Blister attempt to reach such lofty heights, but are not quite able to do so with some rather pedestrian drumming holding them back.

Even so, Gory Blister are able to write some pretty good songs with just the right balance, and even show flashes of brilliance here and there. In the end, however, though competent, Earth- Sick is just another better than average death metal album, no more, no less, and is quite forgettable.

Dave’s Grade: B-

•Anhedonist – Netherwards (Dark Descent)

Seattle’s doom laden quartet Anhedonist have been making waves lately, as the band’s debut full-length album Netherwards is as a fine example of the blending of the funeral doom and death metal genres. That description is spot on as Anhedonist have taken influences from incredibly heavy, funeral doom progenitors such as Thergothon, Evoken, and Skepticisim, and have combined that deeply heavy sound with the speed of all out death metal bands such as Incantation.

Netherwards consists of four long tracks of sprawling funeral doom that occasionally pick up the pace to not just a gallop, but an all out blast. Toss in a crystal clear sound with top notch production, good songwriting, and a thorough sense of unease and Netherwards is a perfect mix of two distinct genres, a feat not very easily accomplished.

Dave’s Grade: B+More »

•Diseim - Holy Wrath (Abyss)

The small European country of Latvia is off the radar when it comes to metal (except for Skyforger) and Diseim is my first exposure to any death metal to come out of the country. Diseim play a mix of chunky death metal and thrash metal with influences ranging from Sodom and Motörhead along with newer bands such as Vore.

Holy Wrath is chock full of galloping riffs, a thundering bass, and deep vocals. The riffs are big, the pace is generally quick, and the band's debut has a loud, in your face sound. Periodically, though, Diseim drastically slow down, introducing a bit of doom metal into their assault.

The results are mixed, however, as Diseim are definitely at their best when galloping along. However, the slower moments of Holy Wrath get weighed down pretty quickly, giving the album a tendency to meander as Diseim quickly begin to run out of steam. However, there is some promise exhibited by Holy Wrath.

Dave’s Grade: CMore »

•Cripple Bastards - Senza Impronte (Relapse)

Relapse Records issues a new 7”EP from Italian grindcore veterans Cripple Bastards. For whatever reason, Cripple Bastards aren’t listed in Encyclopaedia Metallum, which is a darn shame as the band’s infectious, blast and groove ridden version of grindcore directly descends from Napalm Death.

Lots of fast blasts with a very clean sound, excellent musicianship, a nice switching of tempos, and guttural vocals that dovetail with a few high pitched screeches; what’s not to like? Top it off with good songwriting and Senza Impronte is a good way to get introduced to Cripple Bastards.

Dave’s Grade: B

•Medius - Burns Going Down (Self Released)

NWOAHM bands aren’t usually experimented upon here in the laboratory, but San Diego’s Medius caught my ear with their infectious, groove laden self released debut full-length album, Burns Going Down. Medius are heavily influenced, to say the least, by Lamb Of God, but Burns Going Down is a very catchy slab of American groove metal with a few nods towards thrash and Pantera.

Slick production, lots of catchy riffs, a guttural vocal delivery, and a few changes in tempo immediately pigeonholes Medius into Lamb Of God clone territory, but I find myself enjoying Burns Going Down quite a bit.

Admittedly, the songwriting is a bit up and down, but Medius hit more often than they miss and Burns Going Down should garner Medius, an unsigned band, some needed exposure. Those of you into modern American groove metal will definitely want to investigate Medius.

Dave’s Grade: B+