Rehasher – High Speed Access To My Brain (Moathouse/Paper And Plastick)
Based on band name and cover art, I expected crossover/thrash-revival stuff. Instead, I got something like the third Down By Law album. Speedy, melodic tunes straddling the line between punk and hardcore, with a touch of emo in the Smalley-ish vocals. What’s not to love? Nothing, that’s what.
Defiance Ohio – Midwestern Minutes (No Idea)
Subtracting the shamanistic psychedelic weirdness from the acoustic sound of Neutral Milk Hotel and replacing it with songwriting descended from basic, three-chord punk also removes much of what makes Neutral Milk Hotel so interesting. Though their hearts are in the right place, Defiance Ohio just sound bland.
Angels Of Babylon – Kingdom Of Evil (Burnhill Union)
Former members of Megadeth and Manowar return with this power-metal combo. Angels Of Babylon should be awesome, as similar as they are to their previous bands. However, keyboards and overproduction suck much of the heaviness out of this album. Flashes of brilliance are vastly outnumbered by bland mediocrity. Avoid.
Rehasher – High Speed Access To My Brain (Moathouse/Paper And Plastick)
Based on band name and cover art, I expected crossover/thrash-revival stuff. Instead, I got something like the third Down By Law album. Speedy, melodic tunes straddling the line between punk and hardcore, with a touch of emo in the Smalley-ish vocals. What’s not to love? Nothing, that’s what.
Defiance Ohio – Midwestern Minutes (No Idea)
Subtracting the shamanistic psychedelic weirdness from the acoustic sound of Neutral Milk Hotel and replacing it with songwriting descended from basic, three-chord punk also removes much of what makes Neutral Milk Hotel so interesting. Though their hearts are in the right place, Defiance Ohio just sound bland.
Angels Of Babylon – Kingdom Of Evil (Burnhill Union)
Former members of Megadeth and Manowar return with this power-metal combo. Angels Of Babylon should be awesome, as similar as they are to their previous bands. However, keyboards and overproduction suck much of the heaviness out of this album. Flashes of brilliance are vastly outnumbered by bland mediocrity. Avoid.
