Metal Reviews

RINGWORM – JUSTICE REPLACED BY REVENGE (Hardcore)


Ringworm has been around for a long time. Hailing from Cleveland, Ohio they blend metal/thrash and hardcore like fellow Cleveland stalwarts Integrity. In fact, to the unknowing ear one would believe this to indeed be Integrity. They are that similar. And with Integrity’s demise after main man Dwid’s continued visits to his own world, this is not a bad thing. This is also not metalcore. This is some awesome old school hardcore with metal elements—not far removed, but far different from the crap out there today—and it’s brutal. They even have solos! Not every song works, but it’s pretty damn good.

Rating: 80 / 100
Website: http://www.ringworm13.com
Downloads: Justice Replaced By Revenge (Video) and MySpace

PHANTOM BLUE – BUILT TO PERFORM (Rock)


Phantom Blue first came onto the rock scene in the late-Eighties with their debut album dropping, and doing very well, in 1989. Like with most bands coming out at that time, right about when it came time for a follow-up the grunge phenomenon was in full swing. So it wasn’t until 1994, and a few modern upgrades, that Built To Perform was released.

The band boasted five females, something that undoubtedly overshadowed the music and the excellent musicianship from guitarists Michelle Meldrum and Karen Kreutzer (and original guitarist Nicole Couch), but they had much more substance than other all-female rock groups of the time. Those two could seriously shred! John Norum and Marty Friedman (who produced their debut) do guest solos on this album, as well. Built To Perform is like Drain STH meets Heart. A damn good album, though not flawless by any means, 1994 was simply too late in the game for this album.

Rating: 75 / 100
Website:
Downloads: TIME TO RUN (Video), WHY CALL IT LOVE? (Video) and INTERVIEW/CLIPS (Video)

PENNYWISE – THE FUSE (Punk)


This is Pennywise, one of the best punk bands since they dropped their debut in the early-Nineties, and they simply play high quality punk rock. There’s really nothing new here, The Fuse is just another great album in a long line of equally great albums. The problem, of course, is that if you’ve heard one album you’re not really going to find any new ground being broken here. However, I think it may be a bit mellower this time out, but not by much. It’s far less political than its predecessor, From The Ashes, but Pennywise have never shied away from political rhetoric in the past, so it’s nothing new, just not as blatant on this album. Standouts include “Knocked Down,” “Competition Song,” “Stand Up,” “Disconnect,” and “Lies.”

Rating: 85 / 100
Website: http://www.pennywisdom.com
Downloads: Knocked Down (Video) and MySpace

KORN – TAKE A LOOK IN THE MIRROR (Nu-Metal)


In 1994 I found Korn’s debut in a used bin for $2 and I loved it. It was a dark, twisted form of metal that was something I’d never heard before. Two years went by and Korn was nothing more than a used bin leftover. Then, seemingly overnight, they blew up! Somehow “Blind” found its way to radio and the band were declared the next big thing; and indeed, they were. Later that year they released Life Is Peachy, a festering pile of audio turd (aside from a few songs). Follow The Leader was much better, but at this point the band was pulling far too much hip hop into the mix. Issues, however, was an excellent change of pace; it was melodic and introspective (relatively speaking) and offered the best songwriting of the band’s career. On Untouchables it was more of that bouncy, hip hop nu-metal crap. Not my thing really, but not terrible. That was the last album I bought from the band, until now.

Korn has come full circle. I found this album in that very same used bin for $2. This is probably their darkest album since the debut, making for a decidedly good album. The best since Issues, and only surpassed by that album and the debut (or maybe the newest one, which I haven’t heard). The track “Play Me,” sadly, makes me want to the exact opposite. In fact, it makes me want to smack someone! Who the hell thought it would be cool to have Nas on the damn album? He’s one of the most overrated (c)rappers in the history of (c)rap! Terrible song. And “Ya’ll Want A Single” is equally retarded. There is a hidden track, their live cover of Metallica’s “One” from their MTV Icon performance, which is pretty bad. Jonathon Davis totally fucks up the “but can’t look forward to reveal” line, the words are there but they come out like he’s drunk and missing teeth.

Hate them all you want, for over thirteen years now Korn has been playing a style of metal that no one has been able to duplicate, though many have tried. And even though they don’t always find the right formula they’ve got a ton of great songs and a few great albums; this is not one of then, but it is very good.

Rating: 70 / 100
Website: http://www.korn.com (pretty cool website)
Downloads: N/A

HALESTORM – ONE AND DONE (EP) (Modern Rock)


Halestorm are one of those bands you love to discover. You find them in the used bin and take a chance on them and they turn out to be well worth the cash, and then some. I know little about this band, they’ve been around for a good while now (since 1997) and have released one independent album prior to this, their Atlantic Records debut EP, One And Done.

An odd release in that it’s a live recording. Vocalist/guitarist Lzzy (the rock ‘n’ roll spelling, apparently) is a fiery young lady with a good amount of Ann Wilson inflections layered with quite a bit of gruffness, making for a great vocal performance. Musically the band is purely a rock band with some modern touches, more Nineties rock than Eighties, occasionally reminding me of the Tori Amos-produced Pet (who came and went far too quickly with just one album in 1996).

One And Done is a solid slab of rock music, more impressive it is because it’s live and still manages to convey a sense of sonic energy that is lacking on a lot of live albums by bigger, more well-known bands. This is a great little EP, an excellent precursor to their next full-length that is hopefully just as good, if not better.

Rating: 85 / 100
Website: http://www.halestormrocks.com
Downloads: It’s Not You (Stream), Takes My Life (Stream), Show Me (Stream) and MySpace

BORN FROM PAIN – SANDS OF TIME (Metalcore)


Born From Pain are a typical metalcore band, leaning more toward the hardcore end of the measuring stick. There’s a lot of Hatebreed elements here, which isn’t necessarily bad when it’s on a Hatebreed album, but more than one Hatebreed is far too many (some would contend that one is too many).

For the price of $2, however, I can’t complain. Maybe someday when I’m in the mood for false bravado I’ll throw this on and love it, otherwise this will likely get one listen a year, if that.

Rating: 50 / 100
Website: http://www.bornfrompain.com
Downloads: Day Of The Scorpio, Never Return and Here Lies Civilization

WITCHKRIEG – DARK MY WAY (Witch Metal, also known as Shit)


Witch metal! A new genre? Apparently so, at least according to Australia’s Witchkrieg. I must admit, when I saw this in the bin I thought it was a kick ass band name; one I don’t think I’ve heard before, which is surprising as it seems like a band name that numerous bands would have thought up long ago. The band is actually into witchcraft and occultism and their lyrics reflect this, so that’s cool, I guess.

What of the music, though? The band plays metal that ranges from rock to NWOBHM to thrash with some death metal elements. However, if you can’t get past the horrendous production—trust me, you won’t—none of that matters. The very first demo I recorded in 1989 sounds better than this (I still have that song and it sucks…hard!…but it sounds better than everything on this album). The guitars are so high in the mix you can hardly hear anything else unless the guitars are silent. The drums sound like crap (a crappy drum machine or a crappy drummer with impeccable time?), but they sound better than they do on St. Anger, so, bonus points for that! Actually, sike! No bonus points. Barb, the vocalist, is as flat as Jon Nödtveidt’s pulse. She occasionally shows some power and depth, but she comes off more like a bored lounge singer who’s had too many in-between-song drinks. The riffs are weak and the songs are tepid and boring, though some feel as if they may be good under the surface (“Pentegram (Hexe),” “In This Heart”). A better production, something moderately professional, may have helped this album, but as it stands the production thoroughly negates all redeeming value Dark My Way might offer, if there is anything to actually offer.

Unless the band improves dramatically, this is one unforgivable waste of a great band name.

Rating: 10 / 100 (for the cool name)
Website: http://www.witchkrieg.com
Downloads: Roses Are Black, Pentagram (Hexe), Wrath and Fallen Angel (in their defense, these are low quality streams from CD Baby and sound a bit, a wee bit, worse than the CD versions)

THE SAMMUS THEORY – MAN WITHOUT EYES (Modern Prog-Alt-Rock)


Now this is a good find. I’d been seeing this album in the S section for months now, the cover looked extremely cool, but I wasn’t paying $10 for a band I’d never heard before. And, of course, I never remembered to check reviews or anything after I left the shop. The other day, however, the price was reduced to $4 and that I could handle, and justify if it sucked. They do not, thankfully.

The Sammus Theory mix modern alternative rock with progressive rock, and even some classic rock elements. I don’t know if the progressive rock tag is justified, however, as the band may just be bringing more to the table than most modern alt-rock bands. At times the band reminds me of Tool, and at others Alice In Chains and Godsmack, mainly due to the occasional vocal melodies. But most of all the band reminds me of a heavier version of Dredg, especially on songs like “Man Without Eyes, Pt I” and “Pt. 2,” “Leadfoot” and “You Choose.”

Man Without Eyes is a concept album, of what I can’t discern. A man without eyes perhaps? Whatever the story, the album is very, very good.

Rating: 75 / 100
Website: http://www.thesammustheory.net
Downloads: You Choose, Man Without Eyes, Pt. I and Pt. II, and Leadfoot (low quality CD Baby streams)

I gotta give it one bump.

I read a few of them but nothing really there that intrests me much, i would just end up shitting on a few of these guys and i don't wanna do that.

You're gay.







Just kidding. I've got a review coming up in the next few weeks you should dig if you're still down with that stoner rock shit.

Sweet, a Korn review.

TALITM isn't really dark if you ask me, and the lyrics on are some of the most utterly retarded self-pitying bullshit I've ever heard, but it's still a wickedly fun album to play every now and again (except that "Play Me", as you said, is awful). Hell, I even like "Y'all Want A Single". It's probably one of my favorites on the whole album. Aside from another highlight ("Did My Time"), none of the songs really stand out, but the album is overall very solid and enjoyable.

I'd probably give it a few points higher... probably around a 75 or so... but that's just me.

And it's been ages since I even heard of Ringworm. I didn't think too highly of them before, but I might as well try again.

Well, I should have said "relatively speaking" for that "dark" comment, too. How is the newest album? I see they're re-releasing it with a remix CD and DVD, I think. Should I just go for the standard used bin copy, or buy the re-release?

I love Ringworm, dude. Have you heard Integrity?

The newest album is actually quite different for them. It's not as much Nu Metal as you would expect, it sounds more Industrial in a way. It's still distinctively Korn, but more of a huge step forward from where Untouchables left them (TALITM was more of a step back, but not neccesarily in the bad way, and Untouchables... well...).

I think it's pretty fucking nice. It sounds quite a bit like Issues, so that's probably why I think so. It's around the 78-81 range for me, and that's pretty nice. I dunno much about the re-release, but I have the special edition with the bonus CD, and the unreleased songs on there are awesome. I could live without the remixes, but the three tracks that didn't make it on the album are really nice. You could probably just get the standard used-bin copy and download the other songs if you feel so inclined.

And the only stuff I heard from Ringworm is the video you posted. I'm not too big on Hardcore, but that's some pretty good stuff.

Yeah, the single, "Coming Undone," I believe, is really cool. I'll have to get that album. Issues is my favorite so you've given a good endorsement, I'd say.

lol, i just wanted to let you know that i hadn't ignored it but didn't want to comment on anything. My mum always said 'if you've got nothing nice to say don't say it!' lol.

I'm still listening to the stoner stuff, mainly witch, so i'll look forward to that review.

Witch Metal. What the hell? I study the occult, but I would shoot myself in the head before being that dumb. That little review apparently brought me out of my "meth binge". Bravo.

Sweet! It is a great band name, though. Such a waste.

Just from their album cover, album name and band name I can tell Born Into Pain are a possible contender for most generic band ever lol. I remember liking Pennywise in grade 9...

What kind of half-assed reply is this? You didn't even listen to this shit. You suck.

Born From Pain are standard metalcore. Middle of the road. And Pennywise rule.

Die.

I'm sorry, I find the speaker hole for my computer at work. :(

Sphincter say what?

I just listened to the sample of The Sammus Theory and it sounded pretty interesting, although I can't really tell if I'd want an album of it because of the sound quality... I'll look for a copy of it on soulseek, cause I know you love that kind of stuff.

edit: lolz my winamp started repeating the clip and I didn't notice, that was kinda kewl