Martin Popoff – Page 29 – Lollipop Magazine

Disturbed – Believe – Review

January 31, 2003

One of The Big (insert low number here) of the second wave of nü metal, Disturbed return after two years of gigging with another record of punchy chop metal.

And Oceans – Cypher – Review

January 30, 2003

A cross between Arcturus, Zyklon, Peccatum, Rammstein, and The Kovenant, with songs that are surprisingly accessible.

Into Eternity – Dead or Dreaming – Review

January 10, 2003

There’s death, prog, traditional, black, hardcore, doom, all sent singularly unique through the band’s three lead vocalist dimensionality.

Without Face – Astronomicon – Review

January 3, 2003

There’s an undergrowth of Gothic co-ed bands from countries off the beaten path. Hungary’s Without Face are one of the most resplendent and progressive rock.

Vintersorg – Visions From the Spiral Generator – Review

January 3, 2003

A distinct and impassioned vocal now known as much for his work with Borknagar as his band, Vintersorg, our man turns in his cleanest, most precise record yet.

Meshuggah – Nothing – Review

January 3, 2003

How Swede it is. Nothing is the long-awaited follow-up to ’98’s Chaosphere, and the patented stun gun approach is intact and back-cracking.

Lizzy Borden: The Murderess Metal Road Show Live – Review

January 3, 2003

A celebrated ’85 presentation, but you gotta laugh at Lizzy’s get-ups. Getting past that, the band is spot-on, much more progressive than their reputation.

Judas Priest – Live in London – Review

January 3, 2003

The sound is perfect, the guitars afire, Ripper executing his cool, ever-so-slightly rock-ironic stage moves, his effortless highs, his comfortable growls.

Dark Tranquillity – Damage Done – Review

January 3, 2003

Even if Damage Done is the heavier, more guitary and growly back-to-the-roots album folks are calling it, there are still a lot of keyboards.

Darkane – Expanding Senses – Review

January 3, 2003

Expanding Senses censors much of the progressive Swedish death complication of Insanity for a blazing, super-high-fidelity attack of post-Bay Area thrash.