Destruction: Spiritual Genocide

Thrash masters DESTRUCTION released their 13th studio album last November, and I think it's a good step better since their last album "Day of Reckoning". Sticking with traditional themes you'll find a good amount of Political bashing and Violence, with Schmier wailing away like he hasn't lost a beat.

The album opens up with a short slow and dark intro "Exordium" before the band crashes into "Cyanide". Instantly you know Destruction is dishing out what they're best at, fast and intense riffs, lightning fast drumming, somewhat high vocals and a screaming chorus. All those things mixed into a killer song gets you one of the albums best tracks. Next you get the title track "Spiritual Genocide", which similar to Cyanide is filled with sick drumming and guitar work and carries you through on a swift cloud of killer thrash. I could say the same things as I did with Cyanide but that would be a waste of time, this song is awesome and another highlight of the CD. Religious and Political undertones rule this album, as shown by the track. After a couple tracks you get to "No Sign of Repetance" and "To Dust You Will Decay", again with thrash songs you aren't really going to get a lot of differentials, standout tracks stand out, while other songs are good but don't catch you, these are songs that may catch you and did for me. Strolling on towards the end (unless you have the North American version, which includes 6 bonus songs) you get to the best "Carnivore", a violent, heavy, and shredding track that will leave you blood thirsty. And if the intro's drumming doesn't suck you in the catchy chorus will surely catch you for the long haul. I will add the bonus track (Princess of the Night) is also one of the great songs on this album, i'm not sure if it is included on every version of the album though.

1. Exordium

2. Cyanide

3. Spiritual Genocide

4. Renegades

5. City of Doom

6. No Signs of Repetance

7. To Dust You Will Decay

8. Legacy of the Past

9. Carnivore

10. Riot Squad

11. Under Violent Seige

HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORING

Destruction will give you what you came for with this album, and that's killer Thrash Metal, and it delivers. I'm sure some of the tracks such as "Carnivore", "Cyanide", and "Spiritual Genocide" maybe be added to your list of favorite Destruction songs, but don't expect hit after hit on this album, but there is definitely enough to satisfy your metal needs. 

8.2/10

Newsted: Metal

I saw Newsted advertising this EP a few weeks ago and thought, wow this sounds pretty awesome! I've always been a big fan of Jason Newsted obviously from his Metallica days, but now he's doing his own thing, and I would argue this EP is better than anything Metallica has done for the past 13 years. It's got 4 killer tracks, and was released January 8th, 2013.

So the EP starts out with "Soldierhead", a pounding attack of Metal that will surely please anyone who has heard Motorhead or Metallica, in my opinion it encapsulates both bands magics and twists it into this kick asstrack (and also the fastest on the album). We had heard Jason sing a bit in Metallica, and I haven't really heard his other solo music, but his voice goes hand in hand with the riffs and beats of his songs. "Godsnake" is a brutally heavy track telling the ol' metal theme of judging a book by it's cover. "King of the Underdogs" is a great ballad sort of track I guess you'd say, "Take the place leading the pack, back down from my razorback", is exactly what Newsted and company do on this EP, they're leading the charge giving rocking metal a dose of power and kick ass, and I for one can't wait for a full length album. It's all wrapped up with a heavy yet groovy "Skyscraper", and keeps us rockin' to the end. They just released tour dates, you can find them here http://newstedheavymetal.com/, I'm not sure if they still provide this offer, but when I bought it (for just 10 bucks I believe) they also signed it and it came with a pick, great deal!

1. SoldierHead

2. Godsnake

3. King of the Underdogs

4. Skyscraper

HIGHLIGHTS + SCORING

This EP packs a killer punch for just 4 songs, each of them is different and equally impressive. Jason shows he never backs down, and can produce rock'n'roll and metal with the best of them. My highlighted tracks are "Soldierhead", a fast pounding ear drum busting hit, and "King of the Underdogs", it'll have you shouting "I AM THE KING" for weeks to come. There are literally no flaws in this EP, so my score is...

10/10

Arch Enemy: Rise of the Tyrant

I'll say this, there aren't a lot of growl-vocal bands I really really like, although i'm starting to like more, but Arch Enemy was the first band of the sort that I began to accept and love, because it sounds different than the rest. Sure it's aggressive and brutal, but pretty melodic and Michael Amott's playing really stands out, along with Angela Gossow's brutal vocals.

So the Album starts out with "Blood On Your Hands", a fast paced tune that makes a great opener. (You will remember the sins of your fathers after hearing it a few times). The Last Enemy is a pretty cool hard song, but this,"I Will Live Again", and "In This Shallow Grave"  don't stand out as much as the others, although I Will Live Again sounds very Arch Enemy like (you'll see what I mean), Melodic guitar followed by heavy riffs and Angela delivering lyrics, and it works really well. I should mention "In This Shallow Grave" has a very awesome solo in it, something Arch Enemy seems to do well. Track 5 "Revolution Begins" is epitomy of Arch Enemy's sound. Sparking Revolutionary themes, dark vocals and guitar, and mean screech/growls. Arch Enemy never fails to make me want to burn a building down and this song is very catchy. REVOLUTION!!!! The title track starts with a spoken intro from the 1979 Movie "Caligula" which really sets the tone for the song and the album as a whole, while i'm not really one for semi-long intros from movies before songs i'm A-OK with hearing this every time I listen to it, and once the intro is done the song drops into a heavy riff and the song takes a trip through hell and doesn't stop! A wicked scream from Gossow continued with the riff and lyrics/vocals are thrown at you from all angles, guitars are going crazy and you hold on tight! I'd say this is my favorite song from the album, as a whole it's got brutality and melody. Track 7, "The Day You Died", is what i'd say the best paced song on the album, it's not too fast and not too slow, and the guitar tracks sound great to keep the flow of the song moving with help from pretty deep lyrics. "Intermezzo Liberte'" is an instrumental track, and a damn good one at that! It still retains some of the heaviness you get from Gossow's lyrics in a powerful drum track and low guitar tone but also a high guitar solo echoing through. It's slow and fast at the same time and sounds really good. Track 10 "The Great Darkness" holds up it's name with a very dark tune, and a chorus that adds a chilly aspect to the song along with Gossow bringing her lyrics from the depths of hell! I don't know how she does it but every note she sings sounds fantastic. The album is closed with "Vultures" which is a brutal tune but I don't think it's rave worthy.

HIGHLIGHTS + SCORING

As a whole this album is one of Arch Enemy's finest works, it's brutal, melodic, and heavy. Which is something Arch Enemy always does very well.  Tracks to look out for include "Blood On Your Hands", "Revolution Begins", "Rise Of The Tyrant", and "The Day You Died". Also check out their newest album, "Khaos Legions", it's really good!

9/10

Megadeth: Countdown To Extinction

"Hello Me, Meet the Real me", if you haven't heard this at some point in your life, i'm glad you're here and you HAVE to read this. So I figured it was time to do a Megadeth album review, (and I promise to try and stay un-baised but it will be extremely difficult) so I figured why not review an albums that's celebrating it's 20th Anniversary this year? That's right, 1992 marked the release of Megadeth's most successful and critically acclaimed albums ever recorded, spawning multiple Metal classics. The band is also playing the album in it's entirety on their 20th anniversary tour, which I was lucky enough to see, and it almost brought tears to my eyes. So let's dig in!

The album starts of with Nick Menza ripping away at the drums and one of the most satisfying riffs on the album, so much awesome in so little time in the first 20 seconds of "Skin O' My Teeth". The song is a staple in the Mega-setlist for a reason, catchy chorus and a vicious solo. Then we get "Symphony of Destruction", arguably one of Megadeth's greatest songs, and known by virtually every person on the planet who isn't a 14 year old girl. Haunting Symphonic intro. Check. Badass yet simple riff. Check. Gritty Mustaine vocals. Check. Most easily recognized metal chorus in the history of history? Check. This song will have you "Just like the Pied Piper" Pipering all the way home. Up next is one of my favorites of the Mega-Catalog, and vastly underrated "Architecture of Aggression". The intro of bullets shooting rivals that of Metallica's one, but this song gets right to the heavy with yet another terrifying riff and Mustaine's vocals spreading a deadly mist into your ears, producing a great song. I should also add, even if you don't agree with what Mustaine sings about in these songs, or don't really like the music, the lyrics on this album are damn near genius if not perfect. Reading some of these I think "how the hell" or "this is genius" and sync them up with a badass riff and you have a Megadeth song. "Foreclosure of a Dream", lyrics written by Bassist David Ellefson due to his parents being effected by the government's stupidity under George Bush Sr., this song is a trademark Mega-tune. "Sweating Bullets" is also on the level of Symphony of Destruction, one of the most Iconic songs in Metal and brilliant lyrics along with Mustaine's fierce (and to some ugly) voice ringing in your ears as he goes insane into the mic. The title track "Countdown to Extinction" is a vastly underrated Metal achievement, winning the Humane Society's Genesis Award, and is a grizzly tale to listen to. Skip to track 10, and you hit Captive Honour. This will take a few listens to sink into and really start to love, but when you start really hearing it "When you kill a man, you're a murderer, kill many, and you're a conqueror, kill them all.... you're a god!" You realize how much of a masterpiece it is and will be in your playlists for many days to come. The album comes to a close with "Ashes In Your Mouth", arguably the heaviest track on the album and ends with an intense drum solo from Menza, a great ending to a superb album. 

HIGHLIGHTS + SCORING

Megadeth's treck into the world of Mainstream music was extremely successful with "Countdown To Extinction", and to this day stands as one of the best Metal albums ever put on a record. If "Symphony of Destruction" doesn't pull you in and make you love it then "Sweating Bullets" sure is, and somehow if you're brain doesn't connect with these masterpieces then i'm sure you'll find comfort in the other 9 tracks, as they are excellent addition to the Megadeth catalog. 

9.8/10

SoundGarden: King Animal

16 years. 16 Years! and we finally have a new Soundgarden album. Now i've always considered myself a fan of this band, although I don't know their entire discography/every song, but Rusty Cage, Spoonman, and Fell On Black Days have always kept Soundgarden strong in my heart, so I was pretty interested to hear what this album sounded like. Well, it sounds like Soundgarden!

   The opening track "Been Away Too Long" is a really fun and upbeat opener, a catchy riff and Chris's vocals suck you in as he sings about how he hasn't been to Seattle in forever (or at least it feels it to him) and when he went back he fell out of place, and he never really wanted to go back, but in a fun way. "Non State Actor" is a heavier outing from the band on this album, and Chris has some "screams" if you'd say that make the hairs stand up on my arms, similar to Pearl Jam's "Blood". The next two songs don't really stand out to me but they are alright. This is a problem I have with Soundgarden, some of the songs just seem to be there and sound like how they're supposed to sound, but don't have anything that really grasps me. "Bones of Birds" is a pretty chilling tune, pretty low key but has a really smooth chorus that makes you feel like you're in a birds nest neck deep in bird bones, which I think is what i'm supposed to feel? I really enjoy the next tune "Taree" as well, Chris's voice is in good shape and the parts where he's singing with little noise around him sounds really really good. If you're a fan of the bass then you should love the last couple tracks, starting with "Worse Dreams" it's pretty overpowering but it's a good thing considering the first half is mostly Chris singing and guitars riffing along with the genius Matt Cameron doing what Matt Cameron does. The music ends with "Rowing", which is also my favorite track off the album. At first listen I thought my disc was exchanged for an African American Folk Music CD, but instead it was Soundgarden giving us a "I don't know what's ahead of me but I gotta keep on going" Western feeling song with Chris's excellent voice guiding us down this river. I think it's the perfect closing to this record.

HIGHLIGHTS + SCORING

If you're a Soundgarden fan, you're probably really gonna dig this album, if you're not, it might take a while to sink in for you. There are a few tracks such as "Been Away Too Long", "Bones of Birds", "Non State Actor" and "Taree" that will get stuck in you're head but the other songs don't carry as much kick as those four. Overall I really enjoy this album and everytime I hear it I keep liking it more and more. 

8.0/10

Kamelot: Ghost Opera

Kamelot has been one of my favorite bands as of late. They're now missing the great Roy Khan (featured in this album, lead singer) but he has been replaced with Tommy Karevik (who I will talk about when he debuts on Kamelot's upcoming album "SilverThorn".

Ok now to the album, it's considered one of Kamelot's best, and for good reason. It's packed fool of great songs with awesome vocals, melody, and atmosphere, 3 of the things this band perfects. It's started off with a short Opera-y intro, and then we get hit with "Rule The World", one of the outstanding tracks of the album. The Chorus will be hooked in your head for weeks to come, if not. SUE ME. Then we're hit with yet another amazing track, "Ghost Opera". If this song doesn't make you feel like you're in a Metal Theater than there is something wrong with you, don't worry, you'll be alright, because you have Thomas Youngblood directing the rhythm and Roy Khan's voice guiding you through the Ghost Opera. "Welcome all, to curtain fall" will echo through your speakers and hopefully send shivers up your spine. On we go to Track #4, it's about how we treat our planet like shit and leave our (rightly titled) "Human Stain". Is it possible for 3 nearly perfect tracks to be placed back to back? Of course. Again Khan steals the show and the background singers make the chorus feel beautiful, just like this planet, while we hear "tick tock" "tick tock" and some cool vocal mixes, this song does a great job at insulting the human race and glorifying our beautiful earth. The next highlight on this album is "Love you to death", a beautiful romantic tragedy that may bring a tear to your eye, "like a black rose, blooming white".  The rest of the album is good but nothing that really caught me like the songs listed in this review, and continue the Opera metal sound which never dissapoints

HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORING

Out of 11 (10) tracks on the album I find 4-5 being absolutely wonderful, and you will (hopefully) get hooked on them right away, and they will be in every playlist. Roy Khan is wonderful, as is the rest of the band, and songs such as "Rule The World", "Ghost Opera", and "The Human Stain" are musts. If you're like me and haven't heard much of Kamelot, please do check them out, and I should hopefully be reviewing more of them very soon.

8.7/10

Motorhead: Icon

We are Motorhead, and we play Rock n F*ckin Roll! This "icon" album is a cheap way to get yourself 12 of the best in your face rock n roll, all in the form of the worlds most badass band, Motorhead. I think it's pretty straight forward what this album is and what is on the album so I won't go in too deep.

The album starts off with 3 fast tracks "Iron Fist", "We Are The Roadcrew" and of course "Ace of Spades." The fourth track "Louie Louie" is my favorite cover version of this song, and it is followed with the classic "Bomber", "Rock n Roll" and "Damage Case." my only complaint about the last track "overkill" was that it wasn't the remastered version, and that's only because I prefer the bass to be louder and shaking my bones.

HIGHLIGHTS AND SCORING

This album is everything you'd expect it to be. Pure rock n roll from the masters "Motorhead". I wish it had a few other songs on it in exchange for what's there but that's me being picky .

8.8/10