Lollipop Magazine

Ephel Dualth – RePhormula – Review

June 14, 2002

This Italian duo overuse Isahn and company’s symphonic style and the thin production and mediocre drum machine don’t help. A re-release of Ephel Duath’s debut.

Today Is The Day – 16 – Zodiac Dreaming – Review

June 14, 2002

The maniacs of Today Is The Day offer up two songs that will just barely quench the thirst.

16 – Today Is The Day – Zodiac Dreaming – Review

June 14, 2002

Tearing open this split album are San Fran’s 16 who grind and groove their way like a latter-day Prong (during their Force Fed era days) or Unsane.

Knut – Review

May 31, 2002

A four-song fix. Knut experiences the same pain, rage, and violent creative urge that their brothers-in-post-hardcore-arms like Burnt By The Sun and Botch do.

Dawn of Dreams – Darklight Awakening – Review

May 31, 2002

Their bio states not once, but twice that Dawn of Dreams blend black and death metal together. Dawn of Dreams do manage to meld the two styles effortlessly.

Cavity – On the Lam – Review

May 17, 2002

On The Lam is nine songs, fifty-two minutes, of undulating, riff-wracking doomy fun that makes COC sound like Backstreet Boys.

Rabies Caste – Let the Soul Out and Cut the Vein – Review

March 22, 2002

Rabies Caste is the first modern metal band from Israel to get an international deal with a “big” label like Earache and this trio deserve it.

Bolt Thrower – Honour-Valour-Pride – Review

March 22, 2002

They sound as inspired as ever, and have just a hint of musical growth in their tales of war and carnage.

Scott Kelly – Spirit Bound Flesh – Review

March 15, 2002

For the majority of this 35-minute disc, it’s just Neurosis’ Scott Kelly and his distinctive, raspy voice singing with his acoustic guitar.

Converge – Jane Doe – Review

March 15, 2002

One of the most intense albums of the genre, finding a link between grindcore, emo, and hardcore with scary time-signatures and crazed chord progressions.

Mortiis – The Smell of Rain – Review

March 1, 2002

Oh dear Mortiis, what hath thou wrought? Where are your Dungeons & Dragons soundtracks of yore? Why dost thou seek the path of Metropolis Records music?

Dark Funeral – Diabolis Interium – Review

March 1, 2002

Back from the depths of Hell, Sweden, Dark Funeral return to spread their misanthropy and attempt to prove yet again that they’re the most evil band on Earth.

Hollenthon – With Vilest Worms to Dwell – Review

March 1, 2002

Hollenthon combine death and black metal influences to make these Austrians a force to be reckoned with.

Godflesh – Hymns – Review

March 1, 2002

On Hymns, even without the high-tech frills, Godflesh prove that they’re a real “rock” band capable of awesome harshness and an amazing melodic beauty.

Enter My Silence – Remotecontrolled Scythe – Review

March 1, 2002

These guys have talent, great production, and riffs aplenty, but they sound just like Dark Tranquility.

Sigh – Imaginary Sonicscape – Review

February 22, 2002

Imagine a band that fuses black metal, progressive rock, jazz, classic metal, psychedelic rock, pop, and classical, and you have an inkling.

Belfegor – The Kingdom of Glacial Palaces – Review

February 22, 2002

I was waiting for a decent band to attempt Immortal’s frost demon style of relentlessly vicious, frozen black metal, and so we have Belfegor from Poland.

Marduk – La Grande Danse Macabre – Review

February 22, 2002

Marduk aren’t Satyricon or Mayhem and don’t aspire to be pioneers in the field, but that’s what I love about ’em, they’re AC/DC for true lovers of Lucifer.

Isis – SGNL>05 – Review

February 22, 2002

This five-song creation is high on the artistic meter with both intense heaviness and esoteric melodies that lull you into a state of transcendental bliss.

Hog Molly – Kung-Fu Cocktail Grip – Review

February 22, 2002

Hog Molly is the reincarnation of Tad with the same dirty, rock’n’roll thunder, and an ex-member of underrated ‘Frisco thrashers Panic (Marty Chandler).

Deceased – Behind the Mourner’s Veil – Review

February 22, 2002

Three excellent originals plus a video track (for a creepy Blair Witch-style tale) and covers of Tankard, Anthrax, D.R.I., and Warfare.

Zeni Geva – 10,000 Light Years – Review

February 22, 2002

At times, Zeni Geva is reminiscent of old Swans, Godflesh, Killing Joke, and Neurosis, but this trio from Tokyo mix it up and create their own unique assault.

Fog – Through the Eyes of Night – Review

February 22, 2002

Fog follow closely in the footsteps of Norwegian black metal pioneers like Emperor and Satyricon with a similar neoclassical-meets-grindcore approach.

Enthroned – Armoured Bestial Hell – Review

February 22, 2002

Enthroned have spit out a few decent attempts at bad-tempered black metal, but they remain the evil caboose to Marduk’s brutally devastating locomotive.

And Oceans – Allotropic/Metamorphic – Genesis of Dimorphism – Review

February 22, 2002

Without a doubt, …And Oceans is excellent, but they don’t twist their black metal into weird enough shapes, like Thorns or Myrksgog.