Band: UFO
Album: The Monkey Puzzle (SPV)
Year: 2006
Website: http://www.ufo-music.info
Rating: 8.5/10
Unbelievably, "The Monkey Puzzle" is the bands 19th studio album, and with the departure of Jason Bonham, original drummer Andy Parker returns to the fold resulting in the reunion of 4/5 of the initial UFO lineup.
"The Monkey Puzzle" is full of quality blues tinged rock/metal with decent riffs and plenty of shredding. Lead guitarist Vinnie Moore can more than match the skills of Michael Schenker. The album really has everything you could want; up-beat numbers, mid-paced heavy crunchers and even ballads which result in a very complete sounding album which is great to chill out to.
UFO, even with the combined age of over 400 know how to rock, the lead work of Moore is particularly pleasing to listen to. Even after 19 albums and 35+ years, UFO are still as essential as they ever were.
Band: Under Eden
Album: Songs from the Savage Circle
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.under-eden.net
Rating: 9/10
Under Eden began as a side project Ryan McAtee in the late '90s after he became dissatisfied with the predictable, unimaginative songwriting that passed for "original" metal music. Completing the line-up is Ryan's brother Christian McAtee, vocalist Eric Thon and the great Josh Fetzek on drums.
"Songs from the Savage Circle" is the bands first demo, and what a demo it is. The four songs, all available as downloads on their site, are the first four songs the band ever work on and combine all the greatest qualities from thrash and melodic death.
The thrash-oriented guitars combined with fantastic dual harmonies, furious double-bass driven death-metal drumming and exceptional lyrical work are sure to generate press and label interest. I haven't been able to find a single review or article on the band, so remember, you've probably seen them here first.
Band: Unearth
Album: III: In the Eyes of Fire (Metal Blade)
Year: 2006
Website: http://www.unearth.tv
Rating: 7.5/10
With Metalcore being anything but original at the moment, Unearth keep the genre alive for the time being with their highly anticipated third album, "III: In the Eyes of Fire"
Unearth are easily one of, if not the most technically proficient band when it comes to Metalcore, but they've failed to really capitalize on it and haven't broke any new boundaries. There are however, quite a few moments throughout the album where their technicality does shines thorough, especially with the dual lead harmonies and unusual riffing patterns, which is something they need to focus more on instead of the tired sounding breakdowns.
"III: In the Eyes of Fire" by no means is a bad album, in-fact they've proven they're still head and shoulders above the competition in terms of both aggression and complexity. With all the hype surrounding the release though, I was expecting that little bit more in terms of ground-breaking stuff.
Band: Unearth
Album: The Stings of Conscience (Alveran Records)
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.unearth.tv
Rating: 8.5/10
This is definitely one of the better Alveran releases.
Unearth are by far, one of the most interesting metal/hardcore bands I've heard in a while. The usual heavy, groove laden riffs are present, but what makes Unearth stand out from the rest is the dual guitar harmonies, the technical riffing and some of the hardest bass-laden breakdowns, which all in all makes for an impressive sounding album. Just one listen will make you realize just how much more technical and competent they are when compared to the other hordes of bands.
I don't usually recommend many of these modern Metal/Hardcore bands, but Unearth's "The Stings of Conscience" is an album that you can feel confident about going out to get.
Band: Unearthly Trance
Album: Season of Séance, Science & Silence (Rise Above Records)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.unearthlytrance.com
Rating: 7/10
I've been listening to this for just over a week or so now and I'm still having trouble thinking what to write about it.
6 tracks of some of the slowest, most twisted and sickening Doom I have ever heard. If you like your doom with a bit of melody, then stay away from Unearthly Trance, there is no melody on here, no beautiful singing, no happy, groovy songs, just slow, very slow, heavy and depressing. The more traditional black metal vocals really add to the pain and suffering sound on this album
So far so good right? well, with all but two of the tracks reaching the nine minute mark, it tends to become monotonous and repetitive, there isn't really anything that breaks to music down into more manageable and listenable pieces, it's perfectly fine to sit down and listen to one, maybe two tracks, but to sit down and listen to the whole thing in one go starts to get a little dull. If you like doom slow and speaker blowing, this is the one for you
Band: Unholy Ghost
Album: Torrential Reign (Olympic Recordings)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.unholyghost.com
Rating: 8/10
Featuring ex-members of Diabolic and the current guitarist of Pessimist, Unholy Ghost’s debut sounds a whole lot like – you guessed it – Diabolic. This is a prime slab of extremely brutal death metal that never relents. Influences also include Morbid Angel, Cannibal Corpse and Behemoth. Vicious my friends - absolutely vicious!!! Review by Ryan Bartek
Band: Unholy Matrimony
Album: Love and Death
Year: 2002
Website: http://www.unholymatrimony.cjb.net
Rating: 9.5/10
Unholy Matrimony is a Melodic AND Brutal Black Metal Band. The man responsible in the multi-instrumental genius Vladimir, All lyrics, music, vocals, bass, guitars, drums, synths and programming are done by him.
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Unholy Matrimony is like nothing I have ever heard. The music is VERY atmospheric, the keyboards make all the difference, along with the instrumentals to break the album up. High-quality music from a guy who recorded it in his "small bedroom". |
Band: Union
Album: Live at the Galaxy (Mausoleum Records)
Year: 2005
Website: http://www.unionasylum.com
Rating: 5/10
Recognized as Bruce Kulick's most prominent project before joining up with Grand Funk Railroad, Union always seemed to be a touch second-rate. Yes, the band gave John Corabi something to do after he was booted from Motley Crue, and the both of them are fairly talented players in their own right, but something about Union simply doesn't click. This live performance, unfortunately, does very little to change that.
The addition of both Kiss and Crue songs is completely laughable, since nobody wanted to hear the big-name bands play those the first time around anyway and three added acoustic tracks, including a cover of "Hide Your Love Away" by The Beatles each do little to bring added value to this snoozer.
Corabi is far better off in Ratt, a band that suits his style and allows him to get
his glam rock socks hopping without gumming up the frontman spot with Paul
Rodgers worship. All in all, Union will never be a group that's easy to get excited about. Sad but
true. Review by Erin Fox
Band: Unleashed
Album: Sworn Allegiance (Century Media)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.unleashed.nu
Rating: 9/10
"Sworn Allegiance" is Unleashed's seventh studio album since their foundation in 1989 after the demise of the legendary band Nihilist (the remains of which went on to form Entombed) and once again it's brutal, fast, groovy and catchy.
"Sworn Allegiance" once again showcases their own brand of tight, technically-structured death metal. It's groovy and melodic at times, with both thrash and melodic death influences popping up throughout the songs. A prime example of their "Grooviness" is on "The Longships are Coming", check it out and you'll know what I mean. There have been a shit load of Melodic/Thrashy Death metal albums recently, some good, most are mediocre and some are just plain dull, however, Unleashed are easily amongst the front runners of this genre, and "Sworn Allegiance" perfectly combining aggression, groove, speed and melody to create a great album.
If your into Death, and probably even Thrash, Unleashed are one you'll want to check out if you haven't done so already.
Band: Until the End
Album: The Blind Leading the Lost (Alveran Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.xuntiltheendx.com
Rating: 9/10
It was a great move by Alveran Records to get a distribution deal with the mighty Century Media, and Until the End are the first of a few bands that we've received under this new partnership.
When I hear the term HARDCORE, I know what I would like to hear, non of this shite with melodic ridden vocals, real hardcore that makes you ant to go and have a fight. With members of such known hardcore/punk acts as Against All Authority, The Judas Factor, All Hell Breaks Loose and a few others, Until the End is everything you want to hear from a hardcore album. OK, it may not be the most original hardcore album, but there is just so much aggression on here, it makes such a good listen, even though it's a bit on the short side.
As I've said, there's nothing you wont have heard before, but if your after a solid hardcore album full of aggression, chugging riffs and severely pissed off vocals, look no further that Until the End. The next thing is to go and see the band live, they will be a force to be reckoned with!
Band: Uphill Battle
Album: Wreck of Nerves (Relapse Records)
Year: 2004
Website: http://www.uphillbattle.org
Rating: 8.5/10
"Wreck of Nerves" is a further cutting edge hardcore assault by the Relapse propaganda machine.
This is a wrecking ball of indescribable proportions. The guitar leads interplay viciously, melodies appear sporadically, the breakdowns are killer. Uphill Battle don’t fuck around and come out swinging with eleven primal scream therapy sessions that kill everything in the room. Throw in a three vocal assault on top of it all and you got an idea of where this thing stands.
"Wreck of Nerves" is recommended for fans of Burnt By The Sun, Luddite Clone, Gadget, Wormed and Pig Destroyer. Review by Ryan Bartek
Band: Urshurark
Album: Architecture of Perfect Damnation (Butchery Music)
Year: Release Date – 1st December 2002
Website: http://digilander.libero.it/urshurark/
Rating: 10/10
Urshurark fuse together the finest Black, Death & Thrash to create their own "Horror Apocalyptic Metal".
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Personally, their sound rips apart with sheer brutality most of the bands in the extreme category and this ranks up there with the greatest. Not impressed? Well Urshurark combine this with the use of the most incredible dramatic keyboard I’ve ever heard in a long time.
The eight tracks, apart from the intro are between the 4-10 minute mark, and the songs never get repetative as there is something new you missed when you last listened. I’ve has this for over a week now and I’m still listening to this and finding new things. Essential |
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Band: Usurper
Album: Necronemesis (Earache)
Year: 2003
Website: http://www.usurper.us
Rating: 8.75/10
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With guest vocalist King Diamond ("Necronemesis") and Sir Proscriptor McGovern ("Full Metal Maelstrom"), Necronemesis was my favorite Usurper album(Until "Twilight Dominion" was released that is!) and is not for the fans of nu-metal nowadays.
Necronemesis is an extremely heavy album that blends thrash with hints of old school black metal, something Usurper do extremely well! Highly recommended to fans of Venom, old Celtic Frost, Sodom etc. From the mighty opener "The Incubus Breed" to the crushing "Tales of the Macabre", this is an skull-crushing, head banging, moshing, excellent album. This is a good CD to pickup if you are just getting into the band, Oh, and dont forge to check out the two previous Usurper reviews! |
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Band: Usurper
Album: Twilight Dominion (Earache)
Year: 2003 (Release Date: 24.03.03)
Website: http://www.usurper.us
Rating: 9.25/10
Chicago’s fist-banging, beer-swilling metalheads, Usurper, return with their fourth full-length album, the first on Earache.
Founded in Chicago in 1992 by vocalist Diabolical Slaughter and guitarist Rick Scythe, Usurper have been a raging force in the metal underground for nearly a decade with their potent blend of dark metal which combines elements of Thrash, Death & Black Metal such as bands like Celtic Frost, Venom & Slayer.
Whilst still maintaining the "classic" Usurper style, this album is a lot heavier and more crushing than previous albums, with killer riffs totally dominating the album. All this and the much better production courtesy of Neil Kernon (Judas Priest, Queensryche, Cannibal Corpse) Usurper have created their best album to date with "Twilight Dominion".
Band: Usurper
Album: Visions from the Gods (Earache)
Year: 2002
Website: http://www.usurper.us
Rating: 7.5/10
Having just reviewed their forthcoming album "Twilight Dominion", Earache also sent two of Usurper’s previous albums "Necronemesis" and "Visions from the Gods". "Visions from the Gods" is a re-release of their 1994 demo along with rare live and unreleased material.
Fans will know what to expect here, heavy thrash with hints of early black metal which will have your head banging and your toes tapping. For those who are unfamiliar with the band, should maybe start with any one of their excellent full-length efforts.
The demo material from 1994 sounds as fresh as ever and would be a great purchase for fans that want to discover the band in their early stages.
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