Lollipop Magazine

Tristania – Illumination – Review

October 19, 2007

Rich male vocals, soaring, multi-layered female vocals, robust guitar thunder, some nice dark acoustic tinkering, and drums that thud or patter as needed.

Obituary – Xecutioners Return – Review

October 19, 2007

Xecutioner’s Return, like the last couple of Gorefest and Grave records, is a no-frills old school trip with only one goal in mind: Stick to the basics.

Gorefest – Rise to Ruin – Review

October 19, 2007

Pretty much La Muerte Part Two, meaning that it’s classic Gorefest: Simple but punishing riffs, varying tempos, political lyrics, and bad-ass breakdowns.

Botch – We Are the Romans – Review

October 19, 2007

Crucial records, along with Refused’s Songs to Fan the Flames of Discontent, they pretty much were the pinnacle of the metalcore movement.

Botch – American Nervoso – Review

October 19, 2007

Botch almost single-handedly carved a new path for metalcore. Instead of testosterone-fueled rage, they had genuine passion and a great sense of humor.

The 69 Eyes – Angels – Review

September 28, 2007

Whilst fellow Scandalnavians Turbonegro send up the ’70s glam of Alice Cooper, The 69 Eyes examine the evolution of glam to Gothic from ’60s to the ’90s.

Immolation – Shadows in the Light – Review

September 28, 2007

Like Harnessing Ruin’s title track, “World Agony” wrangles the EVILNESS of Immolation’s trademark ghastly riffs into a comparatively accessible song structure.

GG Allin and the Criminal Quartet – Carnival of Excess – Review

September 21, 2007

Reish of GG Allin’s country-rock move fully remastered by Kramer to pure and beautiful effect. Odd to hear GG with this level of clarity.

Dream Theater – Systematic Chaos – Review

September 21, 2007

Filled with chest-puffing, fist-pounding gestures of manliness… but behold! There are interesting melodies, arrangements, and a Wild West saloon piano solo.

Chthonic – Relentless Recurrence – Review

September 21, 2007

A reissue of the rising Taiwanese black metal band’s 2002 effort. Every bit as musically proficient, thematically grand, and lyrically poetic as Seediq Bale.