The Clay People - The Clay People
The Clay People remind me of Second Coming (and most of you are probably wondering who the fuck they are). This is radio-friendly music, but at least they don’t have the tough-guy attitude. This has a Metal edge to it, and would probably get a better review in the magazine with the same title. Apparently this band has been around for more than a decade and claim that they have a more organic approach to songwriting (because they don’t use sequencers anymore). What a bullshit idea! Organic songwriting would be pulling weeds or slapping the Hell out of trees with drumsticks.
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Cianide - The Truth
Cianide don’t do too many covers, but Paul Speckman’s Death Strike now stand beside the true Slaughter on this short list. It goes without saying that Cianide do “The Truth” justice, and it seems natural to hear them play it. And on the second side of this monsterpiece is their rerecorded version of the title track of their first album, The Dying Truth. It’s not as thick sounding as the ultra-sludgy original version. The crisper guitar sound and different drumming have altered the track to fit in more exactly with the band’s current, speedier, sound/style. It would be hard to say which version I like more, but I am more used to hearing the old one… In any case, whenever you can get any new material from Cianide, you’d better jump on it.
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Cianide - Promo 1998
I’m always extremely glad to see any new material from Cianide. These three songs see them continuing to explore their faster side. In the past, they had been the heaviest of the slow Death kings, and now they are simply masters of all tempos. Cianide prove once again with this flawless release that not only are they the best Death Metal band in Chicago, but that they belong alongside the very elite of the entire world. If you pass this up, you’re a fucking idiot and must be killed.
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Church of Misery / Sheavy - Born Too Late
Man, if only Sabbath could collect royalties from all the acts that are ripping them off these days, the ol’ Sabs could probably afford yet more trips to rehab. This split CD features two bands who would obviously give pints of their own blood to be Black Sabbath in their heyday circa ‘74. Church of Misery relies on sludgy riffs and a bass heavy production to get their point across, while Sheavy opted for a live recording and a singer who sounds exactly like Ozzy. While both these bands are tight and well rehearsed, my advice would be for Sheavy’s vocalist to join Church of Misery, thus forming the ultimate Black Sabbath tribute band. Somehow I doubt that this release will generate the cash necessary to build the time machine both these bands so desperately want.
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Christ Agony - Trilogy
Once again, Poland’s Christ Agony return to pummel the ears of their listeners with some new material! This CD is deadly, much in the vein of countrymen Vader - if you like Vader, you’ll like Christ Agony. Unlike their last release (which was pretty much a solo album by Cezar), this album has real drums, not the drum machine that was used previously. Also gone are the Techno/Industrial beats that popped up here and there on Darkside. As an added bonus, on top of the 7 new trax, the band’s Epitaph of Christ demo is included for a grand total of 11 trax!! But is it me, or does the cover art of this album remind you of The Ultimate Incantation?
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Noam Chomsky - Propaganda and Control of the Public Mind
This 2-disc spoken word set is absolutely mandatory listening. The title tells you all you need to know, other than that Dr. Chomsky is an eloquent speaker who does an outstanding job delivering his points in an easy to understand way. And what he says should leave you thinking - and possibly pretty shaken up.
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Charon (Finland) - Sorrowborn · Diehard
I was expecting another Type O clone. Not even close. They may have a similar subject matter and excellent recording quality, but Charon has a refreshing new angle on it, and is full of musical imagery and a pleasure to listen to. I’ll be there if they ever tour the US and look forward to the next album.
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Cephalic Carnage - Conforming to Abnormality
Apparently these guys are “100% pure Hydro Grind.” Well, I don’t know about the band, but whoever designed their, let’s just say, very colorful CD booklet must have been higher than the moon, as its interior is completely impossible to read with an unaltered consciousness. As for the music, it is unrelenting Grind, and the vox are awesomely raw -to the point of gurgles sometimes. And they use one of the same samples my band, Adversary, used on our first album. Obviously they have good taste. So, how could you not like these guys?
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Centuries of Deception - Heic Noenun Pax
I have to at least respect the effort of this one-man Black Metal project, but I’m afraid the result falls very short of convincing. The riffs are repetitive and dull, the drum machine is programmed very badly, the vocals are weak and unintentionally humorous, and the overall 4-track production just doesn’t do a whole lot of awe inspiring. I’m sure this will be marketed as “obscure,” but the only thing mysterious about these four tracks is why a label of any size would actually want to release this. I could think of a few better ways to piss some money away that would not result in public humiliation. Some people try too hard to fit in I guess.
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