When you can shred like Chris Impelliteri, even if you dumb down, you still smoke. The song “Punk” makes fun of punk sellout (late) and rap metal (late).
This is so quietly recorded, it’d be easy to miss “hey, this is the kinda punk no one plays anymore.” Sound like they’d be fun live (think they’re from Vegas).
Stoner doom too stoned to try very hard or produce very well. Respected musicians from St. Vitus, Trouble, Eyehategod/Superjoint/Crowbar, Goatsnake/Obsessed.
Dan Melchior apart from his Broke Revue, is a hint these are his outtakes that no one else wanted to play. Weak, first drafts from a guy who’s done far better.
Third-tier Finnish metal is still pretty good. The synths are a bit corny, and everything’s a little tentative and misty-sounding. And too many leaping elves.
Love the concept (metal with cellos) but always kinda let down by the CDs. In ’96, they covered Metallica tunes. Maybe we’re waiting for something like that.