Helrunar - Sól (2011)

Band: Helrunar
Country: Münster, Germany
Style: Progressive/Pagan Black Metal
Label: Lupus Lounge/Prophecy Prod.

I guess even Helrunar figured that making their fans wait for a new full-length for almost four years, they would have to deliver their best album yet. After 2007's "Baldr ok Íss" booster their status and spread their profile to those across the globe, they return with this year's most ambitious double-album so far. With that on the table, right off the bat, it's going to be obvious to anyone that this will either be the crown-jewel in the band's discography, so far anyway, or a failure of the highest degree.
This album is the band's most progressive yet, with a lot more variation in the riffs, structures, and overall tone. I would assume it's pretty apparent by the song lengths for both albums, with the average length of a song being about eight minutes. Despite that, the band still retain the signature elements of their black metal oriented roots, with aggressive tremolo picking, pounding double-bass drumming, and raspy vocals, hear the thrashy Ende 1.3 or the more traditional sounding Die Mühle for a taste of this side of the band. Meanwhile, a track like Tiefer Als Der Tag or recall their more folk influences, utilizing acoustic guitars and a more sombre and melancholic atmosphere.
What I found to be the most impressive thing about this album is that it doesn't feel nearly as long as it actually is. You have songs on here that top ten minutes, yet none of them ever feel like it's all that long, tracks like Rattenkönig for example. I found that with that track in particular, the band managed to make the metal sections feel very urgent and paranoid, if that makes sense, while it's softer and more atmospheric moments captured a more bleak sound. I'd have to say that when listening to the entire two albums, the second one comes off as a lot more atmospheric and progressive, while the first one has a much more aggressive sound to it.
Overall, this was a very good album with very few parts that I didn't personally care for. A lot of really good songs and playing can be found on here, despite it's length, I think it's still very much worth looking into. If you like black metal with a bit of a prog edge, without being a prog band that is, I'm referring to Enslaved, then definitely check this album out.
Overall Score: 8.5
Highlights: Nebelspinne, Tiefer Als Der Tag, Rattenkönig, Sól

Muir - Lay Down In The Light EP (2011)

Band: Muir
Country: Melbourne, Australia
Style: Ambient/Post-rock
Label: Independent

This isn't heavy, this isn't aggressive, this isn't even all that loud, so if you're expecting anything that's really "rock", you might be a bit disappointed by this. This is an album that focuses a lot more on textures and ambiance rather than heavy riffs or catchy melodies. Not to say they aren't there however, the ten minute Raising Flags has some really sombre melodies on it that really hit home for me. I say that even though these songs don't ever really get loud or rocking, the build like most post-rock groups do, as layers of guitar melodies and synthes enter a song as it evolves.
Though a bit preemptive, I'll say that there wasn't a song on this EP that I didn't like, they really capture the essence of post-rock and ambient music fusions. Most groups trend on one side of the two and don't really come across as full as this project does. The tremolo picking of Breathing (Part 1) and the droning sounds in the background of A Collection of Cities, it all just makes a perfect mood, to me at least. This is the type of record that just takes listeners to another world, it's an absolutely fantastic release that just takes me away.
Overall, I would highly recommend this EP to any fan of post-rock or ambient music. This is the sound of an artist whose career is only just beginning, and hopefully a full-length only improves his songwriting abilities. If you like the above genres, definitely, definitely listen to this album.
Overall Score: 8
Highlights: Raising Flags, A Collection of Cities

Keith Merrow - Awaken The Stone King (2011)

Band: Keith Merrow
Country: Portland, Oregon
Style: Progressive/Tech Metal
Label: Independent

For those that are out of the loop with what Keith Merrow's been doing in recent years. Having released what is possibly one of the most highly regarded tech metal/djent albums to come out in 2009, his debut "The Arrival." Being entirely instrumental and attracting attention from scenes outside of that one, from prog metal to death metal to even fans of fusion, you can imagine how this guy sounds.
Despite being lumped in with the whole djent scene, Merrow does little to actually identify with it. Unlike the Meshuggah influenced sounds that come from that scene, Merrow appears make use of everything from traditional prog-metal to death metal, and while his debut had some more Sikth influenced riffing, this new album sees the two genres mentioned above taking a bigger part in his sound. These songs aren't as technical as his older ones are but instead feature a much more defined progressive metal sort of sound, not to say that there aren't some technical sounding riffs on here, listen to tracks like Heart of The Sea Nymph. Having Jeff Loomis play a guest solo on that track in particular also helps solidify his place in modern prog metal.
The overall feel of this album, from what I've heard myself and read in other's comments about this new album, is that is a bit more atmospheric and, to me anyway, more diverse and more melodic. While I think the tech metal tag was justified on his debut, this new album includes his death metal influences, Braving The Dunes, progressive metal, Stone King (The Awakening II), and actual technical metal, Paramount Asmodeus. All of these styles are done in a way that retains Merrow's own stylistic signatures as well as being used very melodically as well.
I'm sure that this album has not lived up to the hype and standards that a lot of people probably put on it, but it's solid nonetheless. This is a much more adventurous album and one that should definitely be listened to from start to finish. If you like progressive metal in any shape or form, definitely check this album out.
Overall Score: 8.5
Highlights: Heart of The Sea Nymph, People of The Bog, Stone King (The Awakening II)

Birds In Row - Cottbus EP (2011)

Band: Birds In Row
Country: France
Style: Hardcore/Sludge
Label: Throatruiner Records

After the surprisingly quiet intro portion of the intro track, Among The Ashes, the second half just jumps up with a ferocity, having plenty of that hardcore punk energy. There's something to be said for a good old fashion hardcore punk album, I'll admit that I'm not the biggest fan of the hardcore genre, there's the odd band I'll find that's cool or that I like, but for the most part, I'm fairly indifferent to it, this album has what I like when I find a good band. There's plenty of high energy tracks on here that really got my blood pumping; in fact, most of the songs on here are short enough to capture all the energy lasting long enough without overdoing it.
Like I just said, I'm not the biggest hardcore fan out there, but I found that this EP had a lot of moments that reminded me of Poison The Well, especially the vocals. The screams are very passionate, but there are also those moments during a slowdown where the vocalist will go into a yelling/speaking part that totally reminds me of Jeffrey Moreira. I have to say that there are some riffs on here that also remind me of that band, there's a sense of melody to the songs that really manages to keep me interested, as well as the angular sound of several of them, hear Colossus or Chat Noir.
Overall, I have to say that this was a pretty good release, even if it's from a style that isn't really my thing. I have to say these guys are a band to watch, they have some cool riffs on here and have a knack for writing interesting songs. If you like hardcore, post-hardcore, or just want something a little different, than definitely check this out.
Overall Score: 7
Highlights: Words of Astaroth, Kidcalled Dreamer

Mechina - Conqueror (2011)

Band: Mechina
Country: Batavai, Illinois
Style: Industrial Black Metal
Label: Independent

It's been six years since Mechina's first full-length album, "The Assembly of Tyrants," was first released, and although the "Tyrannical Resurrection" EP was released back in 2007, it had no new material on it. This, the band's second proper album sees them continuing with their industrialized take on black metal within a similar box as the last. I can't say that the band has really shifted their style so much that it would be obvious anyway, it's more in the songwriting and overall catchiness that I found this to differ from their debut.
There are several different things coming together to make the sound of the group which may not be the most black metal way of sounding. The metal aspect of the band's sound is very rhythmic and dynamic, it's aggressive and focused on the guitar/drums being rhythmically synced up, I've heard comparisons to Fear Factory, and it is fitting. There is also a heavy use of symphonic elements on here as well, which can bring the Dimmu Borgir vibe at times, opener Pray to The Winds for example. There is also the inclusion of other electronics into the sound, whether it be subtle textures or more noticeable techno sort of synthe melodies coming in and out of the sound.
Let me just say that Fear Factory fans will probably be able to get into this record a lot easier than a lot of black metal fans most likely will. There similarities to the band are pretty large, with the music perhaps being a bit more on the aggressive side and having a lot more of an orchestrated sort of sound, but besides that, this band is obviously very derivative of Fear Factory. The clean vocals on tracks like Non Serviam could be mistaken for Burton C. Bell's if you didn't know who you were listening to. Though, to reiterate, the orchestration is much more elaborate sounding and has a lot more in common with Dimmu Borgir rather than Fear Factory.
Despite it being pretty derivative, it's still a solid album and worth listening to. I can't say that at the moment these guys are on the cutting edge of the industrial black metal scene, but they are certainly doing something a bit different from some of the other groups right now. If you like Fear Factory or want a bit of something different in your black metal, definitely check out this album.
Overall Score: 7
Highlights: Anti-Theist, Internecion, Conqueror

Disasterpeace - Rise of The Obsidian Interstellar (2011)

Band: Disasterpeace
Country: Staten Island, New York
Style: Chiptune/8-bit
Label: II Pause

Blossoming from the new 8-bit music scene that's recently been popping up, Disasterpeace is one of the genre's founders. With main brain Rich Vreeland having nearly started the whole thing up a few years back, this new album has apparently been worked on since 2006. Despite his prolific output, with not only the albums released under this project, but also releasing those within his label, II Pause, and composing for video games, this new album is easily his best.
For those that aren't exactly aware of what is actually going on with not only this album, but this style, it's basically the mix of electronic music and early video game music being mixed together. Basically taking the foundation, a melody or rhythm, from the early video game soundtracks and remixing them, putting elements of house, techno, drum'n'bass, and trip-hop into it. Tracks like The New Formation or Wagering Lights really demonstrate the mixing of styles perfectly, and it's enough so that anyone could really be able to hear the different elements intertwining throughout them.
Surprisingly, the music on here is really solid, as this was my first introduction with Disasterpeace's music, I then went back and listened to their other material, but it contains just the right amount of elements to make it catchy and unique at the same time. I found that these tracks not only are melodic and accessible, to those of us that like this sort of thing, but some tracks are even danceable, Counter of The Cumulus for example. The shorter "interlude" type tracks on here are also well worked for the most part, with both Adrift and Day of Reflection demonstrating excellent forays into ambient music. At the same time, while I found most tracks enjoyable, there were those that were just a weak in comparison to others, the odd ambient noise of Beta's Brilliancy felt just a little annoying.
Overall, a solid album from a artist that until recently I was unfamiliar with, a lot of talent. Since discovering this genre, I've found that there are only a few artists, to me, that really stick out among the rest, Disasterpeace is definitely one of them. I doubt that many fans of metal or rock would be able to enjoy this, but it's still worth checking out if you want something a little different.
Overall Score: 8
Highlights: Jump Wolf, Wagering Lights, Submerciful

Owen Hart - Earth Control (2011)

Band: Owen Hart
Country: Tacoma, Washington
Style: Death metal/Grindcore
Label: Vitriol Records

Following in the footsteps of genre legends like Cannibal Corpse, Converge, Carpathian Forest, and Dropdead, were who these guys were compared to on their press release. While I can confirm that this band certainly take elements from death metal, hardcore, grindcore, and black metal, I don't think I would limit this band to taking the sounds of those bands specifically, as there's a myriad of different sounds on here. A lot of these tracks I found to hold something related to thrash in some form, to which you could argue is a part of all three genres above, but still. It's a very aggressive record, but not without it's occasional breaks into more melodic or acoustic territory as well.

I've read some comments about the sound on here is very derivative of deathcore and technical metalcore, to which I'll admit to being partially true. This album, and band, could very well be called a metalcore band, but for me personally, it's kind of the bridge between early metalcore like Converge and more modern death/metalcore like Suicide Silence, leaning a bit more towards the Converge end of the spectrum however. Like mentioned above however, these guys have influences that demonstrate more black metal and grindcore sounds, something I haven't heard within the death/metalcore realm as of yet.

Honestly, this is a cool record, but it just isn't all that memorable, songs like Fuck Morrisey, Fuck The Smiths, Fuck The Cure are interesting and have some decent parts, but I couldn't remember them at all when the song finished. Not to say that there aren't bits of this record that demonstrate some potential, tracks like 44 Black or Methlahem have some decent black metal riffing on them, which I believe to be the band's greatest asset to separating themselves from being tagged a death/metalcore band. I found it was also to the band's benefit when they broke into a more simplistic groove or riff rather than trying to be all technical, all the time, heard in Evolution's A Fact, Jack for example.

Overall, I found this to be a decent record, not great, but solid. There are some songs on here that have some cool riffs, but just aren't too memorable. If you like aggressive, semi-technical grind/death than check this one out, it's not death/metalcore to reiterate.
Overall Score: 6.5
Highlights: Poor White Straight Guy, Bomb Bay Beach, Evolution's A Fact, Jack