Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare (Warner Bros)
When Avenged Sevenfold started, their James Hetfield-ian vocal mannerisms helped their take on metalcore stand out in a cookie-cutter scene. Since then, though, they’ve followed in Metallica’s footsteps in all the wrong ways. This new album is their Load, and I mean that in the most negative sense possible.
Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire – Songs Of Ill Hope And Desperation (Prosthetic)
Harsh, scathing grindcore. The sort of overdriven production that sounds loud even when you turn it way down, combined with blistering speed and harsh guttural screams. Abrupt tempo changes and technical riffing help avoid monotony, but this is still straightforward enough to be terrifying. I’m hiding under my bed now.
Cruel Hand – Lock And Key (Bridge Nine)
This record is proof that good production can go a long way. Cruel Hand’s modern hardcore is undistinguished in every way–cliche lyrics, generic song structure, workmanlike musicianship–but it sounds so great that it can fool you at first. Boredom inevitably sets in, though. Great production can’t fix everything.
Avenged Sevenfold – Nightmare (Warner Bros)
When Avenged Sevenfold started, their James Hetfield-ian vocal mannerisms helped their take on metalcore stand out in a cookie-cutter scene. Since then, though, they’ve followed in Metallica’s footsteps in all the wrong ways. This new album is their Load, and I mean that in the most negative sense possible.
Clinging To The Trees Of A Forest Fire – Songs Of Ill Hope And Desperation (Prosthetic)
Harsh, scathing grindcore. The sort of overdriven production that sounds loud even when you turn it way down, combined with blistering speed and harsh guttural screams. Abrupt tempo changes and technical riffing help avoid monotony, but this is still straightforward enough to be terrifying. I’m hiding under my bed now.
Cruel Hand – Lock And Key (Bridge Nine)
This record is proof that good production can go a long way. Cruel Hand’s modern hardcore is undistinguished in every way–cliche lyrics, generic song structure, workmanlike musicianship–but it sounds so great that it can fool you at first. Boredom inevitably sets in, though. Great production can’t fix everything.
