Füneral Rain Press Cörps

Genre: Power Metal, Metalcore
Label: Punishment 18 Records

Let’s see here… how to describe what it is that you hear when you’ve got Exeence’s “Hystrionic” blaring at full blast… Melodic power(-ish) metal with progressive/aggressive with a black metal meets metalcore vocalist. Yeah, I listened to “Hystrionic” a dozen or so times over already and I’m still scratching my head. Luckily for Exence,  the plethora of genres and noises blend relatively well together. Lyrically, “Hystrionic” deals with the usual stuff: insanity, ethereal happenings and general weirdness. Instrumentally, this album is tighter than Megan Fox’s ass! Guitarist Pule, managed to create a sound that bleeds experimentation while still holding some semblance of familiarity.

My only gripe with this album/band is the vocals. Yes, it must take a lot of discipline (or lack of concern for your vocal chords) to keep up that kind of harshness. But a little bit of variety wouldn’t kill you either, you know?

Overall: Vocals aside Hystrionic is a great find and excellent addition to Punishment 18’s already awesome roster!

8/10

Exence On MySpace

NOTE: This is a REPOST from E-MetalSpace

Genre: Thrash Metal, Crossover
Label: Punishment 18 Records

More, more, MORE!!! That’s what I found myself yelling at my stereo after Blades And Rods stopped spinning. And Italy’s Shock Troopers certainly live up to their name! They swoop in, destroy everything in a frenzy of booze, pits and skateboards and move onto the next town!

Shook Troopers fit the thrashin’ party machine bill and they owe their beer soaked sound to influences such as D.R.I., Suicidal Tendencies and Agnostic Front. Sure, there is still that barrier caused by a heavy accent and jumbled English, but I think we’ve all moved past caring about trivial bullshit such as that… well, I haven’t entirely. (Petty! That’s me.) Cool though, Blades And Rods comes with a slew of catchy minute and something anthems for metal (Road Thrash), recent politics (Waterboarding) and other shit (Toilet Show). They’ve even got a tribute to one of my favorite old-school 2D scrolling shooters, Metal Slug! Niiiiiiice!!!

Overall: It scratches the itch that I really do not have the right to have since I’m practically swimming in crossover ‘n’ thrash… but what can I say, I’m a selfish bastard…

8.5/10

Enforcer On MySpace

Also Posted On E-MetalSpace

Genre: Gothic Power Metal
Label: Punishment 18 Records

It’s been a little while since some power metal has passed through my CD player, so you can imagine that I’m super stoked to have a copy of Bejelit’s You Die And I… in my possession. Join me as we venture into this world of dragons, leather and… oh wait. Wrong kind of power metal.

Bejelit play a mixture of genres that all border on power metal in one way or another. Most of the time, they sound like a Sonata Arctic cover band in some songs and an explosion of goth meets industrial-power metal in others. The vocalist is the fucking man when it comes to belting out some pretty intimidating notes. I’m not kidding! Listen to this guy and say, “Yeah, I can do that too.” with a straight face. They’ve also got a song on here called Shinigami. Now, anybody who’s even a casual anime fan knows where this song is probably going… that’s right. It’s a song about Death Note. (Ugh!) But to their credit, the song kicks-ass! And hey, it could have been much worse. They could of wrote one called “Shadow Clone Jutsu!” (Owwww!) But I guess I should just be happy that there is a nod to anime somewhere in here…

Overall: Yet ANOTHER awesome export from Italy and Punishment 18. The metal nerd in you wants this album and I think you should listen to him/her and pick You Die And I… up.

8/10

Bejelit On MySpace

Orignially Posted On E-MetalSpace

Genre: Thrash
Label: Punishment 18 Records

Once again, the metal mavens at Punishment 18 Records deliver us from boring, contrived metal. Enter Windsor, Ontario’s own thrash masters Arkayic Revolt and their full length debut record, Death’s River.

Now, anybody who’s ever read Gary Holt’s thrash metal cookbook, Force Of Fricasseed Rabbit, knows the recipe for a baddass metal album that feeds six to eight thousand ravenous thrashers: tight riffs, catchy chorus, gang vocals, ‘tude by the tons and awesome album art. Arkayic Revolt must of read that one cover to cover because they whipped up batches upon batches of all of that in Death’s River. This album is classic thrash metal with no frills or ultra slick mastering. It’s down and dirty and emanates a nostalgic aroma of the 80’s style of destructive thrash, just like grandma used to make!

Overall: Mid to photon phast thrash metal in the vein of Impact Is Imminent era Exodus and The Legacy era Testament, with a hardy glaze of Metallica‘s heyday. If you dig the more approachable size of old school thrash, then Death’s River is juuuuuust right for you!

…ok, new rule: No writing reviews on an empty stomach! When’s Echidna gonna make my damn supper!?

8/10

Arkayic Revolt On MySpace

Originally Posted On E-MetalSpace

Genres: Thrash
Label: Punishment 18 Records

If you’re looking for politically charged thrash from Italy, look no further than the mayhem maestros featured in the documentary “Get Thrashed”, Urto! These guys managed to effectively recapture the ultra aggressive attitude of 80’s thrash with their powerful vocals (Neil Turbin into Joey Belladonna era Anthrax-ish), crunchy yet raging thrash riffs (Dark Angel-ish) and heavy handed political messages (take your pick) that run rampant throughout the course of “Upside Down”. Album opener, The Dilemma Remains starts off with an obvious homage to Metallica’s instrumental opus Orion, and works it’s way into an explosive fury that sets the pace for the rest of the album. I especially enjoyed their American Idol bashing anthem, Remote Control Seizure! Not a single note is wasted, not a single track is dull. It’s all thrashin’ and it’s all awesome! “Upside Down” is proof positive that Urto is an up and coming band that is worthy of your watchful eye and thrash eager ears! Punishment 18 Records grabs another one!

Overall: About as thrashin’ as thrash gets!

8.5/10

www.myspace.com/urtoband
www.punishment18records.com

Originally posted at E-MetalSpace