Reviews (using the US grading system)
The Black Dahlia Murder
'Unhallowed'
Metal Blade 2003 A-
http://www.theblackdahliamurder.com
blackdahliamurder@hotmail.com
The Black Dahlia Murder is taking the scene by blood storm. 'Unhallowed' is this Michigan quintet's debut full-length on Metal Blade Records. Trevor Strnad's vox kill, very similar to God Dethroned's-Henri's vox. Guitars (by Brian Eschbach & John Kempainen) are melodic, technical, & heavy. Not to be out done is the rhythm section, (Cory Grady-drums & David Lock-bass), precise timing the mid to fast paced range. The guitar work on 'The Blackest Incarnation' terrific. Mixing the best of both black & death metal with light touches of Swedish influences throughout-overall a must have! Recommended for listeners of: The Crown, God Dethroned, & Early At the Gates.--SkullCrusher/Angela
Detrimentum
'A Moment to the Suffering'
Grindethic Records 2002 A-
http://www.grindethic.co.uk
http://www.detrimentum.co.uk
'A Monument to the Suffering' is Detrimentum's third demo release. Five trax in all, which all will send you plummeting straight into the pits of hell. Brutal death metal from England, with agonizing vox supplied by Eddie. Guitars are technical, mid to fast paced. 'Odyssey Through Torment' & 'Regurgitate the Putrscence'-have great tempo changes. Recommended listening for listeners of: Dying Fetus, GoreRotted, & Skinless.--SkullCrusher/Angela
Dying Fetus
'Stop At Nothing'
Relapse Records 2003 B
http://www.dyingfetus.com
Dying Fetus-Maryland's based bad-asses are back after three years, proving they'll truly 'Stop At Nothing'. Staying true to the scene (since '91) & once again releasing an extreme severely punishing piece of work. 'Stop At Nothing' includes eight deadly assaulting tunez; 'Schematics', 'One Shot, One Kill', & 'Stop At Nothing', are most ferocious indeed. Be on the look-out for Dying Fetus invading a town near you-a live performance of Dying Fetus demands a pit!-so join in & brutally kill on command!!!--SkullCrusher/Angela
Grave Digger
'Rheingold'
Nuclear Blast 2003 B
http://www.grave-digger.de
Germany's Grave Digger delivers a thrash/power metal masterpiece. 'Rheingold' is a concept lp based on Richard Wagner's opera 'The Ring of the Niebelungs'. Epic, atmospheric, eerie, and very gripping. Nice mid-paced rhythms with layed back vocals-of course on the melodic side, & guitar solo's that scream 80's metal. 'Rheingold', 'Valhalla', 'Liar', 'Murderer'-is menacing, & 'Twilight of the Gods'-atmospheric-all kool tunez. Grave Digger has been around for nearly twenty years now and their still going strong-Horns Up! Recommended for listeners of: Saxon, Manowar, Helloween, & Destruction.--SkullCrusher/Angela
Haste
'The Mercury Lift'
Century Media 2003 B+
http://www.hastemusic.com
Alabama's brightest melodic hard-core stars have once again struck the right notes on 'The Mercury Lift'. Their third lp-with tunez like; 'The Death of Stars Like the Sun', 'A God Reclaims His Throne', & 'Revenge Tastes Like Blood & Broken Teeth'. Recommended for listeners of: Lamb of God & Poison the Well.--SkullCrusher/Angela
Illnath
'Cast Into Fields of Evil Pleasure'
WorldChaos Pro. 2003 A-
http://www.world-chaos.com
http://www.illnath.dk
I'll be honest the art work is very pretty (it's a fairy), so pretty I thought the music would be goth-so the cd literally got pushed aside for about two weeks without me listening to it. I finally put it in and I think I'm hearing Cradle of Filth with clearer production. Vox are dead on Dani Filth, but it's Narrenschiff. Illnath was first formed under the name Flagellation in '97, 2000 rolls around Flagellation has a new drummer and a new name Illnath. This full-length includes nine trax with some vocal interjections from Lena. Trax that stand out are: 'Frozen Constellations', 'Setite', & 'Temporary Borders'. As I mentioned very Cradle of Filth-ish, if your into them you should shit your pants for Illnath.--SkullCrusher/Angela
Lamb of God
'As the Palaces Burn'
Prosthetic Records 2003 A-
http://www.lamb-of-god.com
Awesome vocals by Randy Blythe on Lamb of God's second full-length. This is one of the bands that is of late coming to notice with their mixture of death metal & hard-core styles. Riffs are skillfully done. All ten tunez on 'As the Palaces Burn' are exceptional...this five piece from Virginia has released one of the most powerful lp of 2003.--SkullCrusher/Angela Recommended for listeners of : Premonitions of War, Atreyu, & Blood for Blood.
Arctic Music Group
Century Media Records
Conquer Records
Deathgasm Records
Metal Blade Records
Necropolis Records
Osmose Productions
Pavement Music
Relapse Records
Shindy Productions
Wicked World Records
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