Scott Hefflon – Page 39 – Lollipop Magazine

Ministry – Cover Up – Review

February 1, 2009

Aside from bombast and a drum machine on crack, the arrangements aren’t much different. Ministry can sing, and don’t have to dumb down “the hard parts.”

Killing California – Goin’ South – Review

February 1, 2009

Straight-forward bar punk. Like street punk, but more bar room bad-ass rock’n’roll. Like the rockier bands on TKO or Disaster or punked-up Nashville Pussy.

Gamma Ray – Land of the Free II – Review

February 1, 2009

The happy drumming thunder, pick slides and dueling solos, and warbling vocals stretch from end to end, just like your grin stretches from ear to ear.

Ashers – Cold Dark Place – Review

February 1, 2009

Ex-members of Crash & Burn and The Unseen. Crash & Burn were barnstorming rock, filled with speedy riffs. The Unseen are/were mohawk punk, but damn hardcore.

13 Winters – Where the Souls Wander – Review

February 1, 2009

Kick-ass black/extreme female-fronted metal from Maine. Yeah, Maine. Singer Die Winters is part Tom Warrior circa Morbid Tales and part Dani Filth.

Monster Magnet – 4-Way Diablo – Review

January 1, 2009

It takes until song five to find the dark groove. Then they warm up and tickle your cosmic g-spot. There are roarers to memorize and drones to mesmerize.

Kreator – Hordes of Chaos – Review

January 1, 2009

German thrash legends Kreator claw back to their roots with Hordes of Chaos, a live in the studio recording. A thrashing, speedmetal can of whoop-ass.

Synchro Nine Factor – Redeploy – Review

December 1, 2008

Not anthemic enough to be Rammstein, not sick enough to be Skinny Puppy, not throbbing enough to be one of the bands I can never specifically remember.

Burden Brothers – Mercy – Review

December 1, 2008

Todd Lewis sang for the Toadies. Taz is the former skin-beater for the good Revered Horton Heat. Mercy is a bit more subdued than I’m used to.

Mors Principium Est – Liberation=Termination – Review

December 1, 2008

Part thrash classic, part Swedish melodic death metal glory, this six-piece blends melodic, soaring guitar, virtuositic keyboards, and death roars and bellows.