Funeral Rain Press Corps

Genre: Industrial Metal
Label: AFM/13th Planet Records
Format: Digital Stream (Earsplit PR)

I’ve gone through this digital promo a couple times now, and one thing is really sticking out for me: it kicks ass! Grinding industrial slammed into grinding metal with lyrics that range from Al’s troubles in the industry (“Ghouldiggers”), voter apathy (“Get Up, Get Out and Vote”), the Occupy Movement (“99 Percenters”) the end of the world (“Relapse”), and more. The album is a veritable gold mine for topical discussion, and many of it will not be dated for years from now.
Riff-wise, it’s pretty much standard Ministry style, somewhat simplistic and repetitive, but not to the point of boring. Perfect stuff to bang the noggin to. If you’ve never experienced the Ministry sound, you’re missing out. There’s nothing like them. Old fans will love this album, and in some instances they may even think it’s the best so far. Al has never sounded so good vocally, and with Tony Campos running the bass this time around, there’s a definite more industrial touch to it, but with an organic feel behind the scenes.
When this hits the streets, you need to grab a copy of it.
8.5 out of 10.

Relapse Tracklisting:
1. Ghouldiggers
2. Double Tap
3. Freefall
4. Kleptocracy
5. United Forces
6. 99 Percenters
7. Relapse
8. Weekend Warrior
9. Get Up Get Out n Vote
10. Bloodlust
11. Relapse Defibrillator Mix

Relapse Personnel:
Al Jourgensen
Mike Scaccia
Tommy Victor
John Bechdel
Tony Campos
Aaron Rossi

Genre: Groove Metal, Southern Rock

Label: AFM Records

Ah… it’s been a while since I’ve heard metal that dared to toss out some real groove. Let’s see if, um, The New Black (seriously?) can tread through dangerous territory without falling victim to pretty-much-sounds-like-Pantera-itis.

Well, Pitfall #1 successfully dodged. The New Black’s sound is, in fact full of groove and completely devoid of tough guy rhetoric, laughable lyrics and guitar licks that sound great the first few times but then start to bleed into one another as time wades on.

What is Pitfall #2, you ask? It’s actually more of a caldera that’s miles across and twelve time as deep, yet many a groove oriented bands never see it coming: Not sounding like shit like every other groove metal band that isn’t Pantera. As predicted, The New Black takes a swan dive right over the edge and hurdles straight down.

This whole album is nothing but safe, radio rock. Everything from the less appealing Scott Weiland vocals to the Black Label Society looking cover art, it’s all pointing to the sixteen dollar mark at Fred Meyer’s. And while that’s not necessarily a terrible thing for some, it is for me when the lead guitarist and bassist are in Abandoned (Goddly thrash!) and they produce this shit!

Since the bassist and lead guitarist are in Abandoned, these are obviously my favorite parts of this album. Well, that and the incorporation of the harmonica. I’m a sucker for harmonicas. My least favorite part? The drumming! It’s so lackluster they could of replaced him with a drum machine and I wouldn’t of cared! But then I found out that he is in Paradox (more awesome thrash) and was pissed to hell and back!

Overall: While I can see the appeal to general or radio audiences,  I’m left scratching my head over II: Better In Black. Was any of this really necessary? Not at all. Is Happy Zombies the most awkwardly misplaced and lamest songs I’ve heard in a great long while? You betcha.

5/10

The New Black On MySpace

Genre: Thrash
Label: AFM Records

As almost everyone knows, thrash is not my strong point for knowledge. It’s just a genre that I’ve never devoted tons of time to. But about seven seconds into Discipline of Hate I knew I was getting into a thrash album, and I think this might be the album that really makes me a thrash fan.
Picture Slayer and Sepultura, if you’ve never heard Korzus. The classic Brazilian sound with a little bit of Americanization. Fucking heavy, catchy riffs that you end up having in your head for the next hour or more. That kind of thrash.
I think I’m going to screw this promo copy I’ve got and go get the real thing ASAP.
8.5 out of 10.

Korzus on MySpace.

Genres: Gothic Metal, Heavy Metal, Power Metal
Label: AFM Records

These Romanians sure know how to rock! Fronted by a gorgeous-voiced woman named Ana Mladinovici, they take a trip through several different genres, all while kicking your ass with strong riffs, heavy drumming, and a sense of urgency that doesn’t usually come with this genre.
There is also a huge amount of originality in sound from this album, which if you’ve been reading my reviews for awhile you’ll notice I haven’t been that happy with gothic metal bands lately. This album I’m very happy with.
I definitely recommend you grab this album if you’re into Edinbridge, Within Temptation, Tarja, The Gathering, and the like.
8 out of 10.

Magica on MySpace.

Genre: Melodic Power Metal, Progressive Metal
Label: AFM Records

The opening intro track, “Ignition”, starts as a nice and slow instrumental then about-faces and kicks you squarely in the nuts with a gorgeous amount of melodic metal riffage, and thus sets the entire album up to follow.
This is an album that not only demands, but also deserves to be played loud, either while driving or just with headphones on and a fist pumping all the way.
Air guitarists will have a ball with the Metalgasmic leads and solos (3:13 in “Driven” is one of my favorites) and air drummers should have some fun with the fills. Vocals are soaring and oozing emotion, with cool spoken work section in “Death of Jane Doe”, followed by another deadly solo.
If power metal with tons of melody and touches of prog is your cup of tea, then these guys will be your whole damn pot. Awesome.
8 out of 10.

Triosphere on MySpace.