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