This young band from Arkansas plods and soars, a seeming oxymoron, but if you were to cross-breed Evanescence and Drain STH, you might have A Plea For Mercy.
Rich male vocals, soaring, multi-layered female vocals, robust guitar thunder, some nice dark acoustic tinkering, and drums that thud or patter as needed.
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.
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 almost single-handedly carved a new path for metalcore. Instead of testosterone-fueled rage, they had genuine passion and a great sense of humor.
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.
Like Harnessing Ruin’s title track, “World Agony” wrangles the EVILNESS of Immolation’s trademark ghastly riffs into a comparatively accessible song structure.
Filled with chest-puffing, fist-pounding gestures of manliness… but behold! There are interesting melodies, arrangements, and a Wild West saloon piano solo.