Abigail Williams: Walk Beyond The Dark (Blood Music) [Liam True]
I’ve never been into Symphonic Black Metal, or many Black Metal bands really. But Abigail Williams has me craving more from the genre. From the disintegrating riffs to the shrieks of vocalist Ken Bergeron. While having the traditional Black Metal sound of the low-fi drums and guitars, the symphonic elements bring the music into a new light. Instead of being stuck in the dingy dark corners of the metal realm, it opens it up to a newer fanbase. The importance of this record is the balance between the vocals and instrumental, as most Black Metal albums are mostly filled with boring repetitive droned out riffs, Abigail Williams takes that formula, injects it with a beefy dose of adrenaline and lets it loose without a care of what will happen. I’ll spoil it for you. What happens is the most unholy, feral witch like vocals spat across the most technical offering Black Metal has in the scene at the moment. 8/10Deez Nuts: You Got Me Fucked Up (Century Media) [Liam True]
I’ve heard of Deez Nuts but never actually checked them out and thought I was missing out on something. And to be completely honest, I was kind of disappointed. I’ve heard a lot about these guys being the new up and coming band in the underground scene, so I was hoping for attitude, aggression and straight up Hardcore pit-inducing headbanging madness. Instead I was underwhelmed, but enjoyed what they produced. With the addictive Pop-Punk like vocals on the chorus’, crunchy beatdown riffs and Speed Metal drumming it’s a change from what the scene usually produces. It’s a change from their older material as when first single Crooked Smile dropped, their fan base had split in two, with half saying they hadn’t ‘Stayed True’ to their original sound and the other half enjoying the new direction they’ve taken. I’m digging the new sound they have as it’s easier to get into, but everyone has different opinions. Me? I like the album because it’s full of catchy riffs and chorus’. But it’s no album of the year material. They’ve got a little more adjusting to if they want to make it big. But they’re on their way. 6/10
R.U.S.T.X: Centre Of The Universe (Pitch Black Records) [Matt Bladen]
R.U.S.T.X: Centre Of The Universe (Pitch Black Records) [Matt Bladen]
Wow! Did the world need a band who use Graham Bonnet fronted Rainbow as their main influence? Probably not by Cypriot band R.U.S.T.X have done it anyway. From the bubbling Hammond, pop rock riffs and Bonnet-like vocals, Denfendre Le Rock is exactly what you'd expect from the Down To Earth-era. Next up though is the NWOBHM styled Running Man which is in a word dreadful, though Black Heart is worse. I'm not sure what this album wants to be and to be honest I'm not sure the band do either, its a mishmash of sounds that run through mainly 80's rock and AOR (Endless Skies) as they bring the pop rock, multiple male and female vocals, galloping NWOBHM, some synthwave sounds on I Stand To Live, folk rock on the proggy title track and a cover of Band On The Run for good measure. I does get a lot better as it progresses almost like the band change their approach half way through. I don't really know what to make of this record if I'm honest, it's music that sticks to its influences of late 70's early 80's rock music but when they stick to the melodic rock sounds they are better than when they try heavier stuff. I'm giving this a score based upon the bands talent and their songwriting prowess but as I said I'm still not totally sure. 7/10
Ditchwater: Never Say Never (Self Released) [Matt Bladen]
I've never heard of Chicago rockers Ditchwater (not a great name), but Never Say Never is the bands 7th album. They have been around since 1993 formed by guitarist Mark Anderson, who remains the only original member. They have had a number of false starts and membership changes but with 'classic' line up vocalist Mike Meadows back behind the mic they are looking to once again show why they have shared stages with In This Moment, Otep, Mudvayne, Powerman 5000, and SOiL. In terms of musical style they have that atypical 'American metal' sound, huge chunky riffs are the order of the day and vocally Meadows reminds me of Disturbed's David Draiman, it's soulful and full of power handling the huge hooks of this band. Unlike Disturbed though the band favour guitar solos and more distorted riffs sounding a lot more like genre leader Alter Bridge. This 7th album opens with the rallying Enemy Of The People possibly aimed at the American President. It carries on like this with lots of macho heavy riffs carrying the album as tracks like The End and the anthemic This Pain. The album closes with a pretty straightforward cover of Motorhead's Iron Fist, but their own songs are a lot better (maybe not the Nu-Metal sound of The Way You Are). If you love American metal then I'd say to crank the volume up and crank out Never Say Never. 7/10