Metal/Hardcore Review – Page 55

Horna – Ääniä Yössä – Review

January 1, 2007

Finnish necro black metal, 10 years in hell, toilet bowl recording, four songs of hate, untuned guitars, blackened screams, and blurry guitarwork.

Evanescence – The Open Door – Review

January 1, 2007

Active rock with a female singer who can belt it out with the best of them. Textures and nuances make this shine.

Ektomorf – Outcast – Review

January 1, 2007

Some of the best Prong strut I’ve heard in years. 10 years in the racket, this Hungarian band led by brothers have the groove and grunt to go the distance.

Dominci – 03 A Trilogy Part 2 – Review

January 1, 2007

Former Dream Theater vocalist’s solo CD. Melodic prog metal, and classic heavy metal, like ya couldn’t’ve guessed that.

Destruction – Thrash Anthems – Review

January 1, 2007

Re-recorded German classic thrash tide-over release (with one new track tacked at the end). Over 20 years at it, and they can still thrash it up.

Conquest of Steel – May Your Blade Never Dull – Review

January 1, 2007

Five song EP of warrior metal. Skimpy production, and genre clichés makes this a pocket knife, not a broadsword.

Coldworker – The Contaminated Void – Review

January 1, 2007

14 tracks of razor-sharp Swedish death. Debut release, but veteran member in Nasum’s Anders Jakobson.

I – Between Two Worlds – Review

December 22, 2006

Despite what you hear, this is not a mainstreamy hard rockin’ biker rock release, it’s easy-on-the-ears Immortal, a trajectory from Sons of Northern Darkness.

Death Breath – Stinking Up The Night – Review

December 22, 2006

Bloodbath did this already, and did it well, but no one’s sayin’ there isn’t room for more wet and sloppy hollerin’ and punkified riffing. Nicke Anderson leads.

Unleashed – Midvinterblot – Review

December 22, 2006

Recording more viciously, playing faster, and putting more Viking elbow grease into the riff-writing, this is Unleashed looking for an extra tenner of cred.