Metal playlists from the underground
Christian Goth punks? Sheesh. The Becoming take the word of the Lord and inject some HIM into the mix for this slickly produced exercise in transparency. Labeling this quintet of Hot Topic models as a dark rock group is downright shameful, as their Bon Jovi meets Anberlin hooks heard on “Silent As the Grave” and […]
After nearly 15 years since the release of On The Cover, Christian pop punk rockers MxPx are serving up a second helping of cover songs. On The Cover II features mainly renditions of 80’s cuts such as The Proclaimers’ “I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles),” The Ramones’ “My Brain Is Hanging Upside Down (Bonzo Goes To […]
Comprised of former members of Biclops and The Postman Syndrome, fans of the aforementioned as well as instrumental rock fans everywhere will rejoice when hearing this excellent eight-track excursion. Twisting and turning with jaw-dropping riffs, fluid drums, and a non-linear songwriting mindset, this squad skillfully showcases their passion for melding tricky math rock heft with […]
Swedish rock outfit Love is All throw out an energy ball of dub-esque new wave-y punk ska to anyone that wants to play catch with this quirky party rock pack. A HUNDRED THINGS KEEP ME UP AT NIGHT is a 11-track offering that benefits from both a squeaky female vocalist whose upbeat presentation never wanes […]
URBAN CANCER showcases a discernibly blackened death metal delivery courtesy of Canadian crew Nefastus Dies. Be warned though, this band of maulers from Montreal take some liberties with their sound (especially vocally), so those into musical purity should look elsewhere. Nonetheless, this unit successfully maps out a majestic and malevolent grade of grindcore, death metal, […]
In support of the release of their brand new live album, Drowning Pool is hosting a free online listening party on Feb. 26, 2009. Hear Loudest Common Denominator in its entirety before it hits the streets on March 3. Pre-Order Loudest Common Denominator Track Listing: 1. “Sinner” 2. “Full Circle” 3. “Enemy 4. “Step Up” […]
German thrash veterans Holy Moses return with AGONY OF DEATH, this seasoned unit’s 12th studio release. Featuring the feral female growls and grunts of Sabina Classen while armed with the thrash-tastic twin guitar and percussive pummeling tandem that sets the menacing tone throughout, this disc faithfully sticks to the program yet offers a few surprises […]
When I first heard Static-X’s “Push It” on modern rock radio, my initial thought was that the band was “just another flaky Rob Zombie wanna be.” Nearly 10 years later, after hearing their brand new single “Stingwray,” Static-X has still yet to evolve into a sound of their own. In one respect, you can say […]
Vermont quartet Romans impactfully projects their geographical region’s well-known metallic sounds with much respect on their self-produced 12-track affair ALL THOSE WRISTS. Dabbling within the houses of Isis and Converge, this squad’s presentation contains a hybrid of equal parts sonic battering and crushing panoramic, as tracks like “Depths” and “Smear Merchant” are possessed with hardcore […]
La-Ventura is a female-fronted Goth Metal troupe from The Netherlands who deliver solid slabs of piano-heavy hard rock not unlike Lacuna Coil. Tracks like “Remind You” resonate with pop-radio friendly rock symphonies while “Messed Up” take the Evanescence scorn route with heavy guitars a la Sevendust and keyboards leading the charge. Armed with strong vocals […]