New Reviews 1/7/2012

Corrosion of Conformity-Corrosion of Conformity-CD (Candlelight USA)

Its been a while since Mike Dean as been the Captain of the COC ship and with their new self titled album the 1st for Candlelight the trio that created Animosity is back. Mixing elements of Stoner, Punk, Thrash and Hardcore that is something all to its own like every version of COC.. There is always a heavy blues element is all that this band does and that but add the such a Sabbath vibe to them. The crust and hardcore is playing a much larger role into there new self titled release without Pepper on vox and guitar . Not much more to say here other then if you like the older and new mixed in COC then this going to kick you in the ass. Candlelight you have something that the COC tribe of fans have been waiting for with baited breathe for years a true crossover record..

http://candlelightrecordsusa.com/

Hate Squad- Katharsis-CD (Massacre Records)

What do get if you mix old school UK Death metal with a groove and a back beat you get HATE SQUAD... The best way to say there sound is if  Dismember, Hypocrisy and Sepultura came together as one force.  The vocals remind me so much of Dismember.. The groove comes from that Roots Period Sepultura arrangement and the guitars are straight of Hypocrisy in the tonal and structure. Hate Squad is a bit of the left field in metal world some will call them Metalcore but they are far more a Death metal force with some hardcore elements mixed into it all. Your Rotten Life is a total Bolt Thrower worship as well.. I really dig what Hate Squad is doing and I think you If you mix Jazz, Avant Rock and Prog Metal with a heavy dose of the just plain bizarre what do you get?? Well let me tell you Morkobot should be in that path.. If Voivod was more Avant/Prog and less metal then you would call them Morkobot as well. Morbo is another band without the need of a vocalist as the raw power of this band is in the low end of the massive riffs they supply to there fans. If Mastadon and Voivod had a love child I swear it would be  Morkobot. Ok so if by now you don't get were this band is coming from you never will. Check them out or be a bit less complete in the new age of music.will as well let the Metal banner wave high with Katharsis...

http://massacre-records.com/

Morkobot-Morbo-CD (Supernatural Cat)

If you mix Jazz, Avant Rock and Prog Metal with a heavy dose of the just plain bizarre what do you get?? Well let me tell you Morkobot should be in that path.. If Voivod was more Avant/Prog and less metal then you would call them Morkobot as well. Morbo is another band without the need of a vocalist as the raw power of this band is in the low end of the massive riffs they supply to there fans. If Mastadon and Voivod had a love child I swear it would be  Morkobot. Ok so if by now you don't get were this band is coming from you never will. Check them out or be a bit less complete in the new age of music.

http://supernaturalcat.com/

Hail Spirit Noir- Pneuma-CD ( Code666)

We all should be prepared by what were going to get from the fine folk at Code666 . With Hail Spirit Noir this is ever more the truth. Post Avant Black metal this is akin with bands like DHG, Sigh, Abyorm, Bal Sagoth , Oxiplegatz..  If you have not heard of this bands you are missing out. I know this is a limited market for music as you have to like unsettling music that is mixed with odd jazz organ, growls, prog rock and full on black metal feedback or low fi guitar sounds all mixed into Symphonic Black metal backdrops. The Words can not begin to tell you how fucking cool this album is to me I swear the love Bogus Blimp and John Zorn as much as Mayhem and Saytricon.  This band is everywhere and no where at the same time. If you ever saw Emit Otters jugband christmas "The Nightmare Riverbottom band" song in that is all I need to say..

Get this and don't pass go !!!!!!!

http://code666.net/

Nothnegal- Decadence-CD (Season of Mist)

Progressive Death metal with a very modern sound and feel. If you like bands like Ihsahn, Dark Tranquility and Children of Bodom then you already know where we are going with this review before I even needed to start. The complexity on this is only matched by its brilliant production. Some with find the organs or the over all prog synth sounds to be a bit to much for me its a perfect mix. The Futuristic elements are what make this an album to listen to over and over again. Someone in this band love Prog metal very very much and Pain of Salvation even more .. The Death vocals work even better then I could ever imagine on a more up beat sound then I thought possible.  Amorphis would be be great touring partner for this band just food for thought..

http://season-of-mist.com/

Kells- Anachromie-CD (Season of Mist)

Wow just wow this is one hell of a female fronted metallic force if you can mix elements of The Gathering, Third and the Mortal and Lana Lane then you have all you need and more. I know some of you are going to say Evanescence but that is just because they are a mix of all I just mentioned. I would say there are some nightwish moments going on too but this is more aggressive in the over all approach to what Kells do. The also have a sound comparison to In this Moment. Kells like to throw in a very oriental flavor to there mix that you would get from bands like Orphaned Land or Dead can Dance (some call it an eastern sound). As with most SOM releases this has a massive sound and the songs are so much more complex then I expected . The Female vocals are never just selling point as this women can sing and that is very clear. Kells with the right push in the US market could be a major force here. Great and Creative release here support them if you can..

http://season-of-mist.com/

 

Dodecahedron- S/T-CD (Season of Mist Underground Activitist)

Sci Fi Black metal with a very Occult leaning going on here. If you want Post Black metal that makes you think as music and listen to the musical adventure then your looking in the right place. This reminds me of bands like Wolves in the Throne room, Mayhem, Watian and the Mighty Virus.. The layers on this album lean toward the obscure and fractured chord progressions that almost go toward drones and sub harmonics. Dodecahedron is a band you will take many listens to fully say whether this is a band you Love , Hate or just can not wrap your head around.  The Industrial element is very strong though out this self titled release as well. They have taken what the old Black metal guard has given them and what Post Black metal is doing now and made it all there own. Two major thumbs up on this release my friends..

http://season-of-mist.com/