CD Reviews: Page 16
Artist: Liquid Gang
Album: Sunshine
Label: Gotham
The Review: This CD is living proof of what would happen if the Nixons teamed up with Sevendust. To put it simple, this disc is nothing more that a been there done that release out of the new rock scene. The CD is a typical mix of depressing songs that revolve around the typical nu-metal subjects...you know being dumped on , sh*t on, and pis*ed on by serveral bad things in this vicious society of ours. The funny thing is, the CD as a whole will more than likely find success with radio fans soon. This isn't a totally bad disc but I just couldn't find a track that truly made me want to jump out of my seat. Most of the songs do have the potential to go somewhere but never seem to get out of the slow drudgy pace that infests this entire disc. Lead vocalist Jose Maldonado does have a strong and soulfull Lajon from Sevendust (esq) voice but it just doesn't seem to add the "umfff" this CD needs. Is this the worst disc in the world...far from it. Still, it fails to truly spark my interest as anything entertaining or original.
Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: 1, 3, 5, 6, 9, 10, 11
Overall Grade: C- MTPF 8/16/00
Artist: Hypocrisy
Album: Into The Abyss
Label: Nuclear Blast
The Review: This disc is yet another dark and scarry release from these death/black metal pros! Even though the world of death and black metal can get overdone and over repetitive at times, this band seems to keep a wicked edge above the competition. They do this by offering different speeds and guitar melodies in their songs unlike your other typical death metal band that seem to keep the traditional 1-2 fast beat and one grindy gutiar riff. Into the Abyss is a great mix of creepy Slayer (esq) guitar work, variated drum beats, and throat tearing black/death metal screams. Another great aspect is the mix of haunting keyboard work that looms in the background of almost every song. The beauty of this disc however comes with the variety of songs you will find on it. Opening track "Legions Descend" is explosive and head pounding while a track like "Fire In The Sky" slowly marches by with an eeire feel to it. To sum it all up, this disc continues the legacy of Hypocrisy as one of the leaders of the black/death metal scene!
Recommended Radio Frienldy Tracks: 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
Overall Grade: B- MTPF 8/16/00
Artist: Relative Ash
Album: Our Time With You...
Label: Island
The Review: Is this nu-metal thing ever going to get old??? How many more times do I have to hear the whining of people in their late teens to mid 20s talking about how much their life has sucked in the past three years? Ok seeing I am beginning to sound just like a nu-metal band myself, I guess I should go on with the review. Yep this is as nu-metal as nu-metal gets. Grindy and repetitive guitar riffs, symbol filled/slowed up/speed up out of nowhere drum beats, and lets incoherantly whine then scream our f**king brains out vocals. Speaking of vocals, front man Marcus Harrington has a rather odd voice that sounds like a ten year old at times with the way he croons. Then at other times he almost rips apart his vocal chords with his ear splitting screams. Just like I said in the Liquid Gang on top of this page...this is probably not the worst CD in the world. I'm just sick of hearing the whining from people that should have been held more as children (which I probably wouldn't mind as much if the music was somewhat original...oh well...)
Recommended Radio Friendly Tracks: 2, 7, 9
Overall Grade: C- MTPF 8/16/00
Clck here to go back!