Exposed Guts - The Way of All Flesh
This brutal, Cannibal Corpse style Death Metal from Germany is impressive, and this self-released album is completely professional from the recording to the packaging. There are flashes of perfection here, and I certainly recommend this disc, and plan on keeping an eye on these guys.
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The Exploited - Beat ‘em All (video)
The Exploited live is intensity defined, and this DVD does an amazing job of capturing that. In a way, it seems almost strange that this seminal Punk band would even agree to this DVD release, with its fancy 5.1 Dolby sound and wide-screen video, and so on. I don’t know how “Punk” that is, but I’m not about to argue with Wattie and company! Filmed in 2003, the live show, not surprisingly, is just devastating from the beginning, starting with “Fuck the System,” on through “The Massacre” and “Troops of Tomorrow,” all the way to the last seconds of set-closer “Sex and Violence.” It’s about 75 minutes of severity all told, and most of the classics are here, although, as with all live albums, I suppose that more would have been better. Speaking of “more,” this disc also has the standard bonus features, such as discography, biography, photo gallery, and a very interesting interview wherein Wattie trashes pretty much everything under the sun.
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Epica - The Phantom Agony
This is the standard Goth Metal formula with the chick singer and all, but it’s certainly better than average and even contains some heaviness and aggression. I’m a little reminded of Darkwell, with just a touch of latter day Therion, although Epica isn’t quite as good as those comparisons would imply. Still, this is a worthwhile album, but it does have a few missteps. And I don’t really understand the need to have both the album and “single” (edited) versions of the title track on here. More is better, I guess. The Phantom Agony was a pleasant surprise.
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Enslaved - Live Retaliation (video)
I certainly like Enslaved’s Viking Black Metal, and have since I first heard their seminal split CD with Emperor, but I was surprised to see that they have a DVD. And this thing is ultra-pro all the way, with Satan-knows-how-many cameras, and Dolby Digital 5.1 sound. It looks like Live After Death, for fuck’s sake! I’ve watched it several times, and at nearly two hours, that’s saying something, and I’m still just stunned as I sit here. Normally I would think that only fans of a band would really care about a live video, but I really must suggest that anyone into Metal (and that’s probably everyone reading this) check this disc out immediately. In addition to the very impressive live show, there are six bonus rare audio tracks, an interview, and the standard assortment of screen savers, band bio, discography, and so on. Truly a must-buy situation if there ever was one.
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Enslaved - Below the Lights
In some ways taking cues from Opeth and/or Agalloch, the Enslaved guys have made their Black Metal at once both more atmospheric and layered. The result is an album that, while neither consistently heavy nor fast (not that it needs to be), is utterly engrossing and mesmerizing. And the band’s best work so far. I may regret not giving this a ten.
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Enshadowed - Intensity
Furious, blasting Black/Death Metal from Greece. Highly influenced by the likes of Morbid Angel, Angelcorpse, and Krisiun. Every once in a while they’ll tease you with some slower, melodic parts that really bear an ancient Black Metal feeling of melancholy, but then it’s right back to the blasting. Vocally, there are two styles, a throaty Blackened scream and a standard Death growl. Both are done well as most everything on this album is, although it could be more memorable. I’d like to hear them build more with the depressing vibes, but only because I hate life so much. A very worthwhile effort from a band that has all the potential to explode.
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Engorge - Dead…Fuck…Blackness
A decent combination of Black Metal’s fury and Death Metal’s heaviness. Try to imagine Darkthrone and old Acheron stirred in the same pot. Certainly not the first or best time these two styles of been amalgamated, but it’s passable. The bio says this features an ex-member of Mortician, but I have no clue who that would be. As far back as I can remember it’s always been just Will and Roger.
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Embalming Theatre - Sweet Chainsaw Melodies
For those of you who really miss Hemdale like I do, this will be something you’ll want to check out. Twenty-two tracks of relentless Gore-Grind with the influences worn on the sleeve. Napalm Death, Impetigo, and General Surgery to name a few. The slower parts actually remind me a little of Privilege of Evil-era Amorphis. These guys do a great job of avoiding monotony by mixing it up and keeping things interesting. They grind, blast, hook, dirge, shred, and even throw in a little Punk flavor. All this plus the lyrical charm of gory humor makes this a keeper.
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Einherjer - Blot
Norway’s second oldest Viking/Asatru/Odinist band (Enslaved being the oldest), Einherjer, returns once again with Blot, a more diverse and oddly compelling album. Imagine if you will, an album that fuses Classical, Thrash, Black/Viking Metal and traditional Heavy Metal with a touch of Folk. Musically, the structures Einherjer employs more closely resembles Classical for the most part, occasionally veering into Thrash or Traditional Metal territory. Though the vocals are still growled (or would the description be more concise if I said they were “snarled”?), but other than that, much of their old Black Metal influence has waned considerably. Blot is an album Power Metal enthusiasts will probably enjoy more than your average Black Metal demon. I would like to stick this album in the same category as Haggard or Therion because they take that Classical element and run with it, creating a sound more unique and orchestral than brutal or aggressive.
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