Lollipop Magazine

Forever I Burn – The Tragedy Dialogs – Review

April 12, 2004

This Pennsylvania metal/noise/hardcore hybrid act plays steadfast, heavyset music with a nice punch. Memorable, tight, and full of energy.

Envy – A Dead Sinking Story – Review

April 12, 2004

Japan’s Envy have etched out a multitude of musical creations over many years, pushing forward an interesting collection of sounds, styles, and emotions, but it will be this, their fourth album, to generate the biggest buzz.

Spark of Life – Promises Made. Promises Kept. – Review

April 12, 2004

While the band’s music is an emo/hardcore amalgamation of melody and aggression, it doesn’t come off as formulaic or rehashed or boring.

Deadwater Drowning – Review

April 5, 2004

New Hampshire’s Deadwater Drowning doesn’t hold back on this five-song EP. It’s straight to business, and I like it. A technical death metal edge, hardcore drive, and grindcore intensity.

Zao – Legendary – Review

April 5, 2004

Vibrant, emotional, and always forging forward with their blend of hardcore, metal, and rock, Zao positioned themselves as leaders, not followers.

Backstabbers Incorporated – Bare as Bones – Review

April 5, 2004

Easily one of the most violent live acts I’ve ever seen. And the music is equally as powerful. Bare as Bones is a collection of rarities from 7″s, compilations, demos, and EPs that’ve long been out of print.

Found Dead Hanging – Dulling Occams Razor – Review

April 5, 2004

The raw, sludgy aspect attached to the forward-moving hardcore/grind style works wonders, strengthening each song with a deafening and deadly blow.

Pure Sweet Hell – The Voyeurs of Utter Destruction As Beauty – Review

March 22, 2004

This collaboration between Nevermore drummer Van Williams and his buddy from back in New York, Christ Eichhorn, is a fully-fleshed, highly-technical, expertly-crafted batch of avant-garde metal wonder tracks.

Amaran – Pristine In Bondage – Review

March 22, 2004

A combination of pounding, proggish but pedestrian power metal, fronted by a mid-operatic female vocalist, landed somewhere between the Goth metal world, old Gathering, low Nightwish, and Lullacry.

Notre Dame – Demi Monde Bizarros – Review

March 22, 2004

A combination of Motörhead, Entombed, and soundtrack music would be the best way to describe this, smacked upside the head with doses of progressive thrash and Italian doom.