Brad Mitchell reviews-Bad Religion, Clutch, Dark Tranquility, Gallows, Horse the Band

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ANTIGAMA
RESONANCE
RELAPSE RECORDS
3.5
I thought as one gets older, the musical tastes swing to the more accessible. Though the day I put anything resembling “easy listening” into my CD player is the day they lower me into the grave! Anyhow, yeah, I don’t remember liking grindcore this much. Pig Destroyer’s Phantom Limb was an absolute gem, and now Antigama’s slab of mincing metal isn’t making me cringe like this extreme end of music usually does. Perhaps it’s because amongst all the din Antigama realizes that some form of melody doesn’t compromise brutality. Grindcore doesn’t have to sound like a thousand monkeys being run over by a steamroller to be the heaviest thing on the planet. The band flirts with slower tracks on occasion on Resonance, which gives the release that much more depth and substance that your typical “balls to the wall” grind release. – Brad Mitchell

BAD RELIGION
NEW MAPS OF HELL
EPITAPH RECORDS
4.5
Are these guys grandfathers yet? My guess is they were getting pretty sleepy by the time their Warped Tour slot was over. Okay, enough of the old fart jokes; I’m there myself. This is the most energized Bad Religion CD I have heard in a good while. My favorite is Stranger Than Fiction, but this material harkens back to the flawless Generator (hell “Germs Of Perfection” could have dropped on Suffer.) Once again their knack of melodic hardcore paired with perfect vocal harmonies is second to none. Absolutely no one does this sound better and I would hope to hell if you listen to hardcore or punk there is at least one Bad Religion CD in your collection. Man, those triple guitars still sound awesome! – Brad Mitchell

BEYOND THE SIXTH SEAL
THE RESURRECTION OF EVERYTHING TOUGH
METAL BLADE RECORDS
3.5
Well ain’t this a kick in the ass? It’s a complete dichotomy of music and vocals. Usually it’s good cop vs. bad cop with the music tearing at the throat of the listener with the melodic, powerful vocals calming things down. In Beyond The Sixth Seal’s case, the vocals sound like they are being barfed up while the music is heavy rock. Kind of like latter-day Carcass, but not so heavy. This is thrown together by a couple of guys from the Red Chord, and they definitely drop the metal, but it has a huge rock and roll influence to it. Wolverine Blues by Entombed? Hmmm, could be… - Brad Mitchell

CARNAL FORGE
TESTIFY FOR MY VICTIMS
CANDLELIGHT USA RECORDS
3.5
Will this be the record that launches this band into the A-list of Swedish melodic death bands? As crowded as a Hooters Girl’s t-shirt, there is always room for more, and my adage is the more bands the better. Why not have a ton of bands to choose from? Would you like to listen to the same At The Gates album for the next 25 years? Arguably that’s what we have in this burgeoning scene of ours but Carnal Forge tries to breathe their own life into it by injecting a nice warm load of thrash into things. Think Arch Enemy or a latter day The Haunted. All winners in my book, and you should take a long look at Testify For My Victims as Carnal Forge have looked far and wide in metal and it shows in their sound. – Brad Mitchell

CLUTCH
FROM BEALE STREET TO OBLIVION
DRT ENTERTAINMENT
4.0
I don’t say this often; in fact I don’t think I have ever said it. But Clutch are approaching the cool of Motorhead. “Approaching” being the key word here. From Beale Street… like all Clutch releases has the band jamming out groove heavy, downright dirty rock ‘n roll better than anyone else in the industry. “Electric Worry” is one of the most infectious and songs written in recent memory. You can feel the grit and smell the sweat just drip off this track. I’d love to see a stripper grind herself into a frenzy to this track. Hell, the whole CD is crammed full of Sabbath dirges, COC grooves, and Down riffs. Bloody brilliant I tell ya! – Brad Mitchell

DARK TRANQUILLITY
FICTION
CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS
4.0
Hey kid, have you heard of in Flames? Of course you have. How about At The Gates? Yep, you know them too, eh? Well bucko I’ll bet you dollars to doughnuts that you don’t have a Dark Tranquillity CD in your collection. That’s a shame because not only along with the aforementioned bands, DT are they one of the founders of melodic death metal, and this CD is jammed full of what makes the scene loved by so many. And that said, if you love melodic death metal and want a little more atmosphere and challenge with your Swedemetal, this is the place to come. In Flames meets Opeth? – Brad Mitchell

DESTROYER DESTROYER
LITTERED WITH ARROWS
GOODFELLOW RECORDS
2.5
The band had to name themselves twice probably because the listener would be hard of hearing after playing Littered With Arrows. Granted, this band is going to go over most kid’s heads, including mine, unless you can decipher the racket they are creating. It sounds like they are all having epileptic seizures while playing and they decided to record it. Including the vocalist who sounds like one of those micro cars screeching it’s wheels before it plows into a 10-car pile up. Crazy. – Brad Mitchell

D.O.A.
PUNK ROCK SINGLES 1978-1999
SUDDEN DEATH RECORDS
4.0
What a great idea. All of us old farts still have a whackload of 7” vinyl EP’s in a box under their stairs, hung up on their wall, or piled up in a corner. I love it when a compilation like this is put together (I cheered at the Exploited Singles CD, as well as Sham 69 re-issues on CD) so I don’t have to spend the time lovingly transferring the vinyl to digital format. This compilation follows Canada’s most beloved punk band from their first EP to just before the new millennium and features EP’s, tracks from split EP’s and tracks off of various other punk compilations. Each track gets a paragraph about where the song or EP was originally from and what the line up was. Some of the EP cover’s appear in the liner notes as well. It’s an awesome collection, especially to hear how “English” the band sounded in their infancy, and gives a snapshot of a Canadian punk legend. – Brad Mitchell

FINNTROLL
UR JORDENS DJUP
CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS
4.0
I never learn. I’ve been around the block a few times and I always, always read the bios that come with these promo CDs. They usually suck me in, making even the most vapid band sound interesting. Finntroll’s bio was the same sort of deal; the promo write up promised sounds of black metal meeting folk music, which of course had me thinking the most mundane of thoughts. I figured it’d be heavy on the folk and light on the black metal making this come across as some whacked out music for renascence fair nerds to screw to. To my pleasant surprise Ur Jordens Djup (say that five times fast) is heavy on the black metal and tastefully flavoured with typical folksy instruments giving the band an edge on the rotting black metal pile. Think of dropping a competent black metal band into the world of Tolkien and having them play for their survival. It’s fitting I was listening to this while battling the Alliance in the Alterac Valley battleground in World Of Warcraft. I think next time I run Mana Tombs, Frinntroll will be my soundtrack. – Brad Mitchell

THE FUCKING WRATH
SEASON OF EVIL
GOODFELLOW RECORDS
3.5
“Hey man, what’s your band called?” “Dude, we’re called The Fucking Wrath!” Not just The Wrath, but The FUCKING Wrath. The band name alone is awesome and scores huge points. How much balls do you have to have to have the word “fuck” in your band name? A ton, and you’d better be able to back it up with some kick ass music. Season Of Evil delivers the goods like Peter North, and the listener is the one getting the huge musical load. The band is a mix of sludgy, doom heavy riffs with a definite rudimentary thrash influence. There is a slight southern feel to the music with The Fucking Wrath knowing how to drop riffs thicker than your step-mom’s ass. – Brad Mitchell

GALLOWS
ORCHESTRA OF WOLVES
EPITAPH RECORDS
3.5
It appears there are some hardcore punk bands still out there. And thankfully they have decided to get some help from a rather major indie. Yes, punk is about DIY…blah blah blah. Been there, done that. But really, are you gonna be able to get such a crunchy, thick sound from recording your release yourself? I didn’t think so. Gallows are hi-octane hard punk rock with a slight metallic sound, and an eye on dirty rock and roll. Watch for their next few releases to drop on Warner Brothers as the majors come sniffing around for the next big thing in the punk scene. Again. – Brad Mitchell

HATESPHERE
SERPENT SMILES AND KILLER EYES
SPV RECORDS
4.0
It’s no secret that Hatesphere is quickly becoming one of my favourite thrash bands. They always avoid the pratfall of adding anything remotely related to the Swedish death metal scene in their sound, which is fine by me. Give me Hatesphere’s crunchy eurothrash any day of the week. As usual there is a huge crunch to their sound and the band always comes up with a nice Pantera-esque groove to the songs. I can’t rave enough about this band, if you like thrash and don’t like it when there are too many elements to a band, Hatespehere is your drug. It’s stripped down just enough to remain challenging and interesting, yet still satisfying enough to come back for several more beatings. – Brad Mitchell

HORSE THE BAND
A NATURAL DEATH
KOCH ENTERTAINMENT
3.5
I’ve heard a few of this band’s tracks floating around my satellite radio channel and I was a bit hesitant to spend more time with them. It’s not something that I could pin down but rather I couldn’t sink my teeth into their spazzcore sound. I’m pleased to say a full album by Horse The Band was actually a very satisfying and intriguing listen. They throw in just enough “off the wall” moments to differentiate themselves from the rest of the extreme music pack but keep the freak out sessions to a minimum so as to not distance themselves too much. Where other bands use keyboards to add another dimension to their sound, Horse The Band uses electronic samples, mostly from video game systems and it’s an interesting concept. A Natural Death is kinda like pistachio ice cream: it’s a different flavour than you are used to, but once you try it, it becomes something normal to you. – Brad Mitchell

MORTIIS
SOME KIND OF HEROIN: THE GRUDGE REMIXES
EARACHE RECORDS
3.0
Okay, I totally missed Mortiis’ The Grudge CD, which this release apparently re-mixes and works the hell out of that one, so I can’t really comment on how they’ve changed. But stick with me, as I think those who appreciate a good run of B.S. may like what they read here. If your idea of fun is slapping on a few Nine Inch Nails CD’s (the one’s where Trent was a full-on smack junkie) and jerking off to Vampirefreaks.com I’ve got your soundtrack. Mortiis has dropped a techno-pop heavy CD that worships the alt-dance scene and would be right at home with your sexual Gothic fantasies. – Brad Mitchell

MUNICIPAL WASTE
THE ART OF PARTYING
EARACHE RECORDS
4.0
I was very close to including this in my Dr. Rock column, but it leans just a little too much into thrash metal more so than the metalcore scene for the column. And that’s the crux of this band: pure maniacal thrash that was at its height in the ‘80s. The Art Of Partying is NWOBHM influenced thrash that takes influences from the “big four” bands that came out of the ‘80se as well as SOD, a touch of German speed metal and a dash of skatepunk. – Brad Mitchell

NO USE FOR A NAME
ALL THE BEST SONGS
FAT WRECK CHORDS
3.0
So, this is a blank CD then? Ha! And no, I don’t get paid for this. As the name suggests this is a 26 song “Best Of” release celebrating the band’s 20(!) years together. Has pop punk really been around that long? I’ve never really followed this band, let alone the poppier side of punk, aside from the odd Green Day CD but I’d imagine this is a competent collection of their stuff. The band ranges from real poppy, harmonic punk to a speedier hard-edged sound not unlike Bad Religion in spots. I suppose the Maximumrocknroll crowd loves this. As much as I despise pop punk, I didn’t mind this. Perhaps it is because I was surfing for porn while this played. – Brad Mitchell

NORTHERN STATE
CAN I KEEP THIS PEN?
IPECAC RECORDS
0.0
Well, I totally respect the Ipecac Record label. They put out some of the most obscure, indie stuff on the planet, not only giving the artists an outlet but the fans who love the avante guard music a source to find it. Unfortunately I draw the line at hip-hop. Northern State are a three-piece female group who decide that worshipping at the alter of rap is a good thing. Sorry, not for these ears. And yes, that’s a “zero” rating. – Brad Mitchell

NOVEMBRE
MATERIA
PEACEVILLE RECORDS
2.0
I don’t get it. Really, I don’t. There must be some sort of appeal for prog influenced doom metal, but it ain’t these ears. I’m not quite sure if the nasally, whiny, droning vocals are on purpose or whether the dude just can’t sing. Perhaps it’s the perfect balance to the musical tranquilizer the band drops on Materia. It’s melancholy to the “nth” degree and if you regularly pop Ambien or Lunesta this is your musical equivalent. – Brad Mitchell

ORANGE
ESCAPE FROM L.A.
HELLCAT RECORDS
0.5
The half point for the review is because of the dumb name. I’m not sure what the appeal is for this pop punk dreck, but the appeal for me was when this crap was done playing. OMG I hate this stuff. It’s as dangerous as sitting on your couch and watching an episode of Full House on CD. What’s with the fake UK accent? You are from LA are you not? (I checked, so don’t call me on it.) Naw, this crud is just plain silly. And what’s with the cover of Culture Club’s “Karma Chameleon”? Are you effin’ serious… damn, I need to pull that half-point for the review just because of that. Horrible. Weren’t these one of the bands to get booted from America’s Got Talent? – Brad Mitchell

RAGING SPEEDHORN
BEFORE THE SEA WAS BUILT
SPV RECORDS
2.5
I still play, rather regularly, Raging Speedhorn’s last release How The Great have Fallen. It’s just the right mix of Mastodon’s noisy prog chaos and basic thrash to make it stand out in my collection of extreme music. This time out sees the band come forward with a new bass player and vocalist on Before The Sea Was Built. The result is a less chaotic, less noisy and more controlled burst of pseudo thrash. Raging’s sound has seemed to “smooth” out a bit on here which detracts a little from their brutality; the catchier riffing the band is known for is there, but I am guessing I need a little more time to adjust to the bands slight change in direction. – Brad Mitchell

SIGHTS AND SOUNDS
S/T
SMALLMAN RECORDS
0.0
Yeah, whoever sent this CD to us totally missed the mark. Completely. It’s like when Jim Brown used to do color commentary to the first few UFC fights. Who thought of that, and who thought we would enjoy FM alt rock here? Sights And Sounds is more coffeeshop rock, and that’s a goats milk, double lite latte with zero fat, sugar substitute, caffeine free java by the way, rock. Totally sappy, melodic, shoegazing college rock that shoulda landed on the desk of CMJ. And yes, that is another “zero.” – Brad Mitchell

THE UNSEEN
INTERNAL SALVATION
HELLCAT RECORDS
3.5
I had the misfortune of listening to a couple of pop punk records just before The Unseen and thankfully as soon as the first glorious metallic chord of the opening track cut in, it wash away the sickly sweet taste in my mouth. I was losing faith in punk rock, I had figured everyone wanted to be the next big thing and get on a Disney Movie soundtrack and end up banging a pop music princess. The Unseen are here to stomp all over that with their hard-edged hardcore punk sound. A little metallic, a little street punk but still speedy and melodic, you won’t mistake these lads for anything pop that’s for sure. Clear your throat, there are lots of sing-a-longs! - Brad Mitchell

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