Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genres: Heavy, Metalcore
Label: Unsigned

Finally! A band that likes Pantera, but not enough to be a shitty quasi-cover band! Livevil’s “The End of Ideology” does owe a wee bit of it’s sound to the Cowboys From Hell, (i.e., the vocalist’s classic Phil one, two combo of roaring/screeching, or the machinegun double bass roll heard in every other song) but not so much that they have problems retaining their identity. Livevil sounds like Livevil. And let me tell you, Livevil sounds fucking good! Every member seems to carry their weight throughout the entirety of this album. The vocalist harmonizes well with the mood of each song and adds his own bit to the “Phil roar” (which, in my opinion is ten times better than that windy old hack’s). It actually kind of sounds like a Phil Anselmo/Corey Taylor hybrid scream/growl. The guitarist, on an entirely different hand, is well on his way to becoming a fucking guitar god! Not a single riff or solo had me even thinking of yawning! His talents are showcased best in the title track and POW. I also love the bassist’s funky lines he drops in just the right places (especially in POW. Fucking awesome man!), keeping it fresh. And last but not least, the lyrics. It’s great to know that these guys aren’t idiots! Each song is a meaningful sonnet or malicious threat to the opposition! In summary, Livevil is a band to keep you eyes and ears on.

Overall: As far as Pantera-core goes, this is about as flattering and actually good as it can get. (Tie with Endless Rage)

8.5/10

Livevil on MySpace

Originally posted at E-MetalSpace

Genres: Thrash

Label: Earache Records

I thought that reprinting this was fitting, given G.B.’s review of Gama Bomb’s latest album. Enjoy!
There’s not enough space left on my computer for me to even begin to fully express my love/gratefulness/heterosexual lust for this nerdy Irish thrash outfit! Classic thrash riffs, vocals (even those semi annoying high pitched held notes are awesome through these guys!), and solos are planted throughout this thrash masterpiece! Every track on this incredible album is enjoyable on several levels. “Final Fight” runs a gamut of awesome videogame references (including a great nod to one of my favorite NES games, Tetris), while “OCP” recaps the best parts of Robocop (“Bitches leave!”), “In the Court of General Zod” retells the story of Superman’s humiliation at the hands of General Zod (funny question: did anyone else think it strange when Zod just randomly screamed his own name after taking over the White House? “ZOD!”) and “Retune of the Technodrome” is an opus to the metal marvel from Dimension X and to that dastardly brain-thing known as Krang. And possibly the greatest thrash song ever made, “Bullet Belt”. This one just needs to be heard. I wouldn’t even begin to do it justice, just trust me on this one. Gama Bomb has this thrash thing down!

Overall: The For Dummies version, Gama Bomb’s “Citizen Brain” is must own for anyone who even thinks that they even might like thrash! “It’s time to thrash like it’s ’86!”

9.5/10

www.myspace.com/gamabomb

Originally posted at E-MetalSpace

Genres: Melodic Death, Metalcore

Label: Unsigned

Dedicated For Life’s “Another Dawn” is another entry in the ever expanding library of melodic death metal. The first thing that jumped out at me in terms of innovative and just plain awesome was the album casing. It’s a leather bound booklet donning the raised face of a tribal wolf. Very interesting. Unfortunately, the actual album is no where near as innovative or interesting. Nor is it bad at all. It’s another case of “been there, heard that”. The guitars leave a haunting echo in your brain for a while after you’re done listening (holding a Desensitised or possibly a Killswitch Engage edge to it). A question I have for Dedicated For Life is, “where the hell did the bass go?” Seriously! It’s completely inaudible! The vocals on the other hand are pretty damned good. A deep guttural growl followed by annoyance free screeching, reminiscent of the Black Dahlia Murder or a slew of other melo-death bands. It’s a solid effort but “Another Dawn” will remain on my iPod for a little while longer, but not too much longer.

Overall: Worth a listen, but ultimately forgettable.

6/10

www.myspace.com/dedicatedforlife

Originally posted at E-MetalSpace

Genres: Hardcore
Label: Deathwish Records

I was just thinking about Deathwish and how a lot of the bands on the label sound the same. It got me a little down when I realized that… enter Cold World and their latest release “Dedicated to the Babies Who Came Feet First”. At first I was appalled by the hip hop infusion, but then it kind of grew on me. I had to pinch my urethra shut after the first few seconds of the second track due to the vocalist. He sort of sounds like he’s trying to be the Hardcore version of M.C. Pee Pants. Other than that little bit of semi-comedy, and the hippity hopness, or the two tracks of fans leaving messages on an answering machine, “Dedicated…” is text book (not Crowbar, not Ice Pick) hardcore. “Dedicated…” has it all, funky, groove latent songs with bouncing melodies, scribbles and sample breaks, and the like.  If the updated remake of The Warriors is ever made (god, please make it not terrible) Deathwish should provide three fourths of the sound track (“Dedicated…’s” No Angels and Lairs and Thieves being the opening and closing tracks). It may take a few listens for those of you use to the rest of Deathwish’s catalog, but you’ll get it eventually.

Overall: It’s not Cross Examination, but it’ll due in a pinch when you want something unusual in the realm of hardcore.

8/10

www.myspace.com/coldworld
www.deathwish.com

Originally posted at E-MetalSpace

Genres: Thrash, Death

Label: Roadrunner Records

Let me get this out of the way please: 1) Lame fucking name for a band. No matter who you are.  2) Misspelling album/song titles is equally lame. *Whew* I’m glad all the negative shit is out of the way. Now I can finally get to the positive stuff. But seriously, it’s like Soulfly and the shit end of the Sepultura discography never existed! The brothers Cavalera are back and boy are they pissed! (as per usual. But who cares!) It’s fucking awesome to hear Max’s throaty scream coupled with bitchin’ thrash riffs again! And Igor is once again beating those skins mercilessly in an organized chaos only he can create. Best of all, no fruity tribal beats or needless chanting! (Ha! Those pygmies can choke on it for all I care!) It’s nothing but a (un)healthy dose of brutality for this album! At least the first three tracks delve into killing everybody (who am I kidding, the whole album is condoning mass murder. Hooray!) and as far as I can tell, they never even attempt to stop and contemplate the mere speculation of remorse or regret for butchering everything and everyone everywhere.

Overall: It’s an auditory bloodbath! It’s thrash walking terror! It’s the motherfucking return of Max and Igor! What more did you expect? Man this album is awesome!

9/10

www.myspace.com/cavaleraconspiracy

Originally posted at E-MetalSpace