Funny how normative-rockist-duhish this is. Like the riff from Kiss’ “God of Thunder” or Deep Purple’s “Highway Star” hijacked by Rammstein and Jello-ized.
Their imagery and tones make these miniature skeletonal symphonies to the devil. Bits and pieces of marches and elegies glide through the compositions.
If you don’t mind Stratovarius going rock ‘n’ rollsy, or Alexi’s hair metal covers, Edguy’s edging toward mainstream metal may come off as unselfconscious fun.
Bolt Thrower have always served up their unflagging war metal with a sense of unhurried, unforced charm, and Those Once Loyal continues in that tradition.
Finns playing prime’n’bloody U.S. death metal is weird in itself, but on their second album, Torture Killer have a new vocalist: Six Feet Under’s Chris Barnes.
When a record sounds like David Hasselhoff-meets-L.A.-studio-band-circa-1987, ripping is downright required. The embodiment of soulless, corporate drivel.