I have received my well-earned bonus and the first thing I did was to visit my trusted dealer. This reminds me of what’s the use of wasting 12 hours in offices and shop-floors day after day :evil: . My impressions based on 1-3 spins so far:
Kamelot -
The Black Halo
This was the very last time that I’ve been fooled by raving reviews and comments on Power Metal albums. There is lots of good things worth to mention about this album but the final result as a whole just leaves me stone-cold. I will give it some more spins, though.
Unleashed -
Hell’s Unleashed
Raw and dirty Old School styled Swedish Death Metal. This one has been excoriated by most reviewers as too primitive … for me a good reason to buy it unheard. :twisted:
Definitely on light weighted end of DM, therefore very accessible. It’s quite variable but without compromising the idea of "pure" DM, i.e. there’s no technical, progressive or melodic stuff or whatsoever. The first 4 songs are worth the purchase alone, so I don’t care about some obvious filler material.
Grave -
Fiendish Regression
Old School styled Swedish Death Metal too, but completely different than Unleashed though. Bone-crushing doom-laden mid tempo riffs is the prominent feature here. Amazing and oppressing but not memorable at all.
Burst -
Prey on Life
I couldn’t put it better than the promo sheet: "… firmly rooted in metal and the punk/hardcore aesthetic, BURST relies just as heavily on ambience, atmosphere, and tone as it does complexity, aggression, and raw emotion…"
To avoid another discussion about the credibility of promo info: I know that in most cases it’s quite shameless bragging and normally it’s an insult to the bands quoted. The best thing I’ve seen was Burning Point being compared with Black Sabbath, Priest, Accept, Malmsteen and COB.
Deicide -
The Scars of Crucifix
Easy to guess what all those stereotyped reviews are saying. Not innovative, too uniform, too short playing-time, annoying vocals (dual shriek/growling) stupid lyrics, ridiculous image… So what? They arouse an inferno that puts everything in ruins. There is no escape until a tasteful grand piano tune brings you back again … wondering if this has really happened. :roll:
Krisiun -
Bloodshed
Krisiun are often disparaged as nothing but hyper blasts. This is definitely not true for this work. The speed is quite variable and there is an exceptional and very original, almost spacey lead-guitar work. Some interesting experimental guitar & effect tracks plus some early demos (the sound quality has TNBM status) contribute to the fun.
Suffocation -
Souls to Deny
Solid Brutal DM. I can’t help, but somehow it sounds a little bit calculated.
Carcass -
Heartwork
Classic!
Morbid Angel -
Heretic
Another one that has been bashed by the reviewer-community because of too much pointless ambient-like instrumental tracks. Having seen such comments, I knew exactly what to do and I didn’t regret it. As for the "normal" tracks they sound like a merger of old and recent MA. Sickly fast and aggressive, complex, and melodic at the same time.
