CD REVIEWS: Page 10
Artist: In Flames
Album: Clayman
Label: Nuclear Blast
The Review: This is easliy one of the best pure metal releases of the year 2000! This is yet another band that has paid their dues to the underground thrash scene and have worked hard at their sound defining it along the way. Might I say that the styles used on this disc are pretty damn tight sounding! The band seems to aim for a grindy modern rock feel in some parts but mostly keeps true to their traditional thrash style with awesome guitar melodies supplied by guitarists Bjorn Gelotte and Jesper Stromblad. And what is there to say about lead man Andres Friden's vocal styles but Rock On! He shows his great versitality mixing it up with blood curdling black metal (esq) screams and gruffy sounding vocals. Most of the tracks are on the long side so bring this one with you on a long car ride and crank it up! Hats off to this five man outlet for another true metal masterpiece!
Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: 1, 2, 3 , 5, 8, 10
Overall Grade: B+ to A- MTPF 7/5/00
Artist: Run Devil Run
Album: Sinking Deeper
Label: Victory
The Review: Maybe its just me but I am beginning to think that this scene is way to similar when it comes to bands out of it. I would describe this band as boarderline hardcore. Let me try to define that further...a whole bunch of heavy guitar lines which have a harcore feel but are kept subtle by the lead singer who yells insteads of screams. The lyrics have a "lets quietly put down anything in society that pisses us off but lets no go overboard" theme. This CD would be good for fans of Snapcase or anything else like them. Other than that, its not to bad, not to good. One of those discs that are really in the middle of the "Suck/Cool" ratio!
Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: Any but 3 (they're basically all the same)
Overall Grade: C- to C+ MTPF 7/5/00
Artist: The Union Underground
Album: An Education In Rebellion
Label: Columbia
The Review: By first glance, I was thinking this CD would be something interesting. I mean the freaky picture on the front combined with the title "An Education In Rebellion" makes for a decent CD if you are a metal fan right? Now I bet you are thinking, "Gee the Porno Freak must hate this one too among others," but thats not really the truth. The CD as a whole is downright entertaining with it's catchy Industrial (esq) mixes and dark/gritty rock styles. The only problem was I kept asking myself, "Haven't I heard these styles with bands like White Zombie, NIN, and Ministry?" You have to be crazy not to admit that the song "Turn Me On Mr. Deadman" doesn't remind you of Powerman 5000's "When Worlds Collide"! (Try to understand this from the perspective of a guy who reviews tons of CDs and constantly listens to the radio!) What I am getting at is the rock scene really needs the next revolution from the over-repetitive genre its in now. Oh well, look on the bright side, at least these guys weren't influenced by Pearl Jam, Bush, or Creed thankfully! And please, DO NOT avoid this CD because overall its not that bad. Just a little too much Deja Vu for my tastes...
Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: Get the radio edit (and no I'm not being lazy either)
Overall Grade: B- to B+ MTPF 7/10/00
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