Lollipop Magazine

Iscariot – Lifeless Design – Review

September 1, 2006

Midwest metal based on Lamb of God, Unearth, and Darkest Hour. I’ve yet to isolate the traits that make this debut stand apart, but shit, these boys can play!

Sick Of It All – Death to Tyrants – Review

September 1, 2006

When a bullet train like Sick Of It All go all out, there’s no room for disappointment. Death to Tyrants is angry, urgent, and beaming with revitalized spirit.

Goatwhore – A Haunting Curse – Review

September 1, 2006

All the “I Heart Metal” button-wearing posers will run home and curl-up with their wanna-be Suicide Girl girlfriend for comfort. Goatwhore don’t fuck around.

Essentia – Bad Karma – Review

September 1, 2006

A three-song mini-CD from an unsigned Finnish band. People press the “metal” angle, but they’re melodic rock. Not trendy like Nickleback, but “heavy” like that.

Metal Church – A Light In The Dark – Review

September 1, 2006

Second Metal Church offering with third frontman Ronny Munroe finds Kurdt’s band solidifying their stance as classy old school riffsters with a touch of prog.

Dead Hearts – Bitter Verses – Review

September 1, 2006

Buffalo’s Dead Hearts change up the pace (and toss in some piano and light-strumming), to keep you on yer toes. Classic hardcore group shouts and singalongs.

Bruce Dickinson – Anthology – Review

August 25, 2006

The motherlode of Bruce Dickinson solo. Two concerts, and every video Bruce has ever done, with bonus regaling by an animated, always self-assured Bruce.

Voivod – Katorz – Review

August 25, 2006

Katorz is jumpy, nervy, punchy, and organic, like an early Voivod album, the guys finding a punk rock ethic that inspires to action.

Overloaded – Hail the Kingdom – Review

August 25, 2006

Fuck ironic love of ’80s metal, just admit it, this stuff is a lot of fun. Those people looking at you funny at the stop light need to lighten up.

Overloaded – Hellfire EP – Review

August 25, 2006

From Detroit, where they don’t take kindly to emoting sissy rock, these boys pound like WASP, howl like Halford, and “Shotgun City” beats “Jamie’s Got a Gun.”