Earthride – Something Wicked
While the influence of Maryland doom is clearly present, Earthride slogs along the swamplands of such straight-ahead sludge-metal outfits as Crowbar and Weedeater at its best, and a ballsier, tone-deaf BLS at worst.
Reviews
Melechesh – The Epigenesis
One of the roles of music is to transport the listener to another place. On Epigenesis you could literally pick any track, close your eyes and be transported to the Mediterranean/Middle East just by subtle musical nuance.
Neverland – ophidia
For my money, I’d pass on this record. It isn’t awful but it’s really isn’t very good either. The pieces are in place for a good record but they need to find a much better guitar tone, help the singer find his niche (or write in a more comfortable key) and reign in the keyboardist.
Atlantean Kodex – The Golden Bough
With a handful of underground EPs, splits and live albums under their belts, this first full-length studio offering from Atlantean Kodex will
have the armour-clad, sword-wielding power-metal warriors and the downtrodden doomsters slow-motion headbanging in unison.
Riverside – Reality Dream Live
This two disc set is an excellent introduction to the Polish band’s live show, which should also win them over a whole new crowd of fans too.
The Devin Townsend Project / TesseracT @ the Mod Club, Toronto ON, November 3, 2010
“Everything about this show was carefully planned out, meticulously orchestrated. The sound was excellent and the lighting choices novel and interesting. Every aspect was carefully chosen to enhance the experience. Devin had a stark white light pointing upwards toward his face, catching every crease and shadow, emphasizing every ridiculous expression he contorted his unique features into. I’ve never before seen a man who could appear so scrumptiously handsome one moment then so cartoonishly grotesque the next.”
Natalie Zed reviews the recent Toronto appearance from The Devin Townsend Project, supported by UK’s TesseracT.
Creation’s End – A New Beginning
The whole band are great musicians whom have played in and around the New York area with such bands as Zandelle, Circle to Circle and James Labrie. With all this talent it is refreshing to hear that they don’t really focus so much on the actual technical wizardry of the musicianship but on the writing of great dark, brooding melodic songs and, with this being their debut, I am happy to say they nailed it.
Salome – Terminal
Salome’s second full-length is definitely worth the patience and the introspection, and a very strong contender to be on the top of many “Best Album” lists this year
War From A Harlots Mouth – MMX
It seems to me that there are two possibilities here. Either MMX was done with a lot of thought and they over analyzed it or they were as fucking high as Hunter S Thompson.
Dimmu Borgir – Abrahadabra
Abrahadabra is an incredibly cultured listen showing audible evidence of effort contributed, yet making you feel as though the work was generated on the spot.