CD REVIEWS: Page 15

Artist: Too Many Gods

Album: Blind Soul Lottery

Label: Medea

The Review: This hardcore meets industrial outlet comes kickin' out of the motor city with this brand new release!  With this first release, I can tell that this band has great potential with it's cutting edge sound which is a mix of Helmet / Gwar (esq) guitar rythms and NIN / Ministry/ Prong (esq) dark electronica sounds.  They seem to go with an anti-society theme lyric wise which can barely be heard being gasped/ barked out by lead singer Rob.  Which leads me to the bad side to this disc.  This band must get a better production team next CD.  Like I said ealier, the punch in the balls givin by this CD would be 100 times more harder if you could hear more the lead singer.  Often, he gets drowned out by the blaring sound provided by the rest of the band.  However, the sound is innovative and doesn't re-hash prior bands out of the genre all that much.  Hats off to this five man outlet for a decent release out of the growing genre of industrial hardcore!

Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: (off the radio edit only) 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9

Overall Grade: B- (would be higher if the production was better...) MTPF 8/5/00

Artist: Soulfly

Album: Primative

Label: Roadrunner

The Review: This band easily gets my vote for the most improved metal band of the year! (They really did not have to improve on much by the way...) This sophomore effort from the band proves not to be just your average hardcore disc.  The Brazilian hardcore machine Max Cavalera and company strike back with a brutal assualt of lyrics revolving around frustration  and deep emotions while supplying great hybrids within their harder than nails sounds.  This is one disc that you can honestly put in and listen to all the way through because every track has something new to offer.  The disc starts off with a bang with the track  "Back to the Primative" which almost acts as a theme song for the agressive feel for the whole disc.  You can also hear the Calvera's Brazilian music influences within the music as well.  This only starts the trail leading to several other pounding tracks and surprises.  Many of these surprises come with the impressive plethora of guests on this kickin' disc.  Some of these guests include Chino from the Deftones and Grady from Will Haven (Pain), Corey #8 from Slipknot (Jumpdaf**kup), Tom Araya from Slayer (Terrorist). and even the son of John Lennon, Sean Lennon  (Son Song) among others.  All of them blend rather well with Cavalera's brutal screams and yells. However like I said earlier, the most impressive thing you will find on this disc is the true diversity in sound and styles which rang from ear bleeding hardcore to urban influenced rapcore to salsa flavors here and there. So if you are looking to release a little agression look for the CD with the bright color of Cavalera's home land (which was designed by the same guy who did a lot of Bob Marley's album covers)  and rock out to one of the better CDs to come out this year!  Congrats to EVERYONE involed for producing this wicked disc!

Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: (off radio edit only) 1, 2 , 3, 4 , 8, 9, 12

Overall Grade: B+ to A- MTPF 8/12/00

Artist: Cephalic Carnage

Album: Exploiting Dysfunction

Label: Relapse

The Review: Have you ever heard the saying don't judge a book by it's cover?  Well looking at the cover at this CD you are more than likely thinking, "Wow these guys must be rather f**ked up."  If you are thinking that than we can honestly f**k you to that old saying of the book cover judging thing. This CD is downright messed up because it can go from take cover death metal (esq) vocals and speeds to Henry Rollins (esq) spoken vocals mixed with light jazz house accoustics.  (Mind you this is all in one song) Yep...if that isn't f**ked up I don't know what is.  To sum it all up, this CD will keep you guessing with it's numerous switches in speed and tons of freaky breakdowns.  Other than that, there really is nothing to say except we no longer have to wonder what would happen if the insane asylum released a CD...and thats a compliment mind you...

Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: Any but 2 and 6

Overall Grade: C- to C+ MTPF 8/12/00

Click here to go back!