Review: Avenged Sevenfold - Self-Titled

artist: avenged sevenfold album: avenged sevenfold label: warner bros. records released: 10/30/2007 by: rob tatum musicianship - 13/15 The band picks up where they left off on City of Evil with amazing guitar work and drumming. They are one of the more talented groups in music today. lyrics - 10/15 Lead singer M. Shadows has switched his focus to more personal and spiritual lyrics. While his passion is conveyed well, the songs are somewhat erratic. There is room for improvement. vocals - 12/15 While the lyrics may not have won me over, Shadows' vocal training has definitely paid off for him. His range and clarity are phenomenal on the band's recordings (not so much live). He has recovered nicely from the key problems that eliminated the screaming in their songs. songwriting/flow - 11/15 I have always been a fan of the band's willingness to experiment with song structures, but I think they may have over done some of the effects on this album. The vocal arrangement in the chorus of "Lost" sounds like it was taken straight from the band Hellogoodbye. My favorite song, "A Little Piece of Heaven", is one of the more elaborate structures, but it has terrific melody. impact/creativity - 11/15 Avenged Sevenfold has definitely continued to distance itself from the rest of heavy music with this release. I don't think the band has broken new ground with this album, but they haven't repeated their past material. Originally I was disappointed that the band had strayed away from screaming and breakdowns, but after they last two albums, I have come to appreciate how unique the band is. “now” factor - 11/15 This album has made its way into my rotation and I would recommend it to any Avenged Sevenfold fan. future/prediction - 8/10 I don't think this album will have the band topping TRL again, but it will certainly bring more radio play and more popularity for the band. They have made a nice niche for themselves in the music community. favorite song: a little piece of heaven overall: 76/100 listen to avenged sevenfold

Review: Unearth - III: In The Eyes of Fire

artist: unearth album: iii: in the eyes of fire label: metal blade records released: 8/06 by: rob tatum First off, there is no better band making metalcore than Unearth. Unfortunately, this album does not show growth from The Oncoming Storm. If anything, this is a continuation of their last effort. III: In the Eyes of Fire is heavier and there is less of the clean singing, but there are not significant signs of change or evolution. The music is powerful, fast, and strong, as with every Unearth album. The drumming on this album is better than any of the previous releases. Trevor’s vocals seem more intense than ever. Their ability to write a great and creative breakdown is not lost even after 3 full lengths and a couple of EPs. Overall, you won’t buy a better metalcore album released this year and probably not next year. However, you’d be more impressed if you listen to their older material. This is leagues ahead of every other band in their genre and I can only hope that their next album shows more growth than this one. favorite song: "sanctity of brothers" rating: 91%/100% listen to unearth

Review: Bury Your Dead - Beauty and the Breakdown

artist: bury your dead album: beauty and the breakdown label: victory records released: 7/06 by: rob tatum “Tired.” “Too much like the last album.” “Just okay.” Those are just a handful of things I have said to describe this album. That is never a good thing. As much as I loved Bury Your Dead’s Cover Your Tracks, their latest release, Beauty and the Breakdown, is a pretty big disappointment. I spent an extra week on this review, just to give the album a chance to show me something that I missed when I first listened to it and unfortunately for Bury Your Dead, I’m still waiting… Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that the band did anything bad on Beauty and the Breakdown, it’s just that there is nothing new to offer when compared to the last album. I think it’s good for bands to pick up where they left off and then let it carry them forward with their next release. This album is like treading water. It sounds like a B side to Cover Your Tracks. There is nothing to distinguish this album from the band’s previous two albums. Alright, enough with the negatives… This is still a Bury Your Dead album. It’s hard-hitting and full of energy. You still can put this into the “moshcore” stack of your collection and listen to it whenever you need to let out some aggression (ala Throwdown). Mat Bruso’s vocals are still some of the strongest in hardcore music and the musicianship is still just as in your face as before. The breakdowns are still powerful and the lyrics are perfect for screaming along. If I had never heard Cover Your Tracks, I would consider this an amazing album. Too bad that isn’t the case though. This is still better than a good chunk of hardcore music being released, but I don’t think the band spent enough time trying to enhance their songwriting ability and thus released, in my eyes, a sub par album for the group. Writing music doesn’t have to be about reinventing yourself with every release, but when progression is sacrificed, it’s never a good thing. favorite song: "let down your hair/mirror, mirror..." (tie) rating: 79%/100% listen to bury your dead

Review: All That Remains - The Fall of Ideals

artist: all that remains album: the fall of ideals label: prosthetic records released: 7/06 by: rob tatum All That Remains had every opportunity to “sell out” and tone down this record. They were getting recognition on MTV and received great reviews from their performances on last year’s Sound of the Underground. As a fan of the band, I’m glad to say that The Fall of Ideals picks up where their previous release, This Darkened Heart, leaves off and carries the band forward. Musically, the band did not reinvent the wheel for this album, but there is not repetition in their songs or structures. The guitar work and drumming are very strong and make each song just as powerful as the next. I especially like the fact that the 80’s metal riffs are not overdone and are a tasteful addition to the breakdowns and speed metal riffs. The band’s ability to write melody into such heavy music certainly has propelled them to the top of this genre. Anyone who listens to All That Remains has to notice the driving force behind the band. Vocalist Phil Labonte has one of the most diverse and talented voices in heavy music today. His ability to change from guttural death metal vocals to powerful screams to melodic harmonies is unmatched. The pure strength in his voice carries this band. The only complaint I have is that his lyrical style still needs some refining. This album does a better job of incorporating more specific lyrics, but largely, the songs are generic. Nitpicking aside, this is a great album. It won’t redefine any genres or get a Grammy nod, but this is what metal and metalcore should be. Heavy, energetic, and powerful. The Fall of Ideals is a good listen no matter what your mood may be. I love when good bands actually meet your expectations with a record. This definitely met mine… and then some. favorite song: "become the catalyst" rating: 92%/100% listen to all that remains

Review: Across Five Aprils - Collapse

artist: across five aprils album: collapse label: indianola records released: 7/2006 by: rob tatum It’s amazing what a few years can do for some bands. Across Five Aprils’ first full length, A Tragedy in Progress, was a very solid debut but it showcased the band’s youth and lack of cohesive song structures. That cannot be said about the band’s latest release, Collapse. This album clearly shows maturity and more dedication to the song writing process. The first thing I noticed about this album is that the clean singing, which was both awkward and out of place on their first album and even a bit on their latest EP, was much more fluid on this record. Although it is still a little off key, the clean singing really accents the screams of vocalist Brandon Mullins. I think that it is becoming harder and harder for bands to effectively mesh emotional lyrics and hardcore without being chastised for selling out or whatever, and although this album could fit that bill, I really feel that there is something behind this release. Musically, I can’t really say that the band has grown dramatically, but since the songs are so much more complete than their previous releases, it’s hard to criticize the musicianship. The songs are much more consistent in melody and no longer contain those random breakdowns that would throw off the song. I’m glad that they got over the whole “this song has to have a breakdown” attitude that seemed to handicap them in the past. I don’t think this is groundbreaking. I don’t even think it’s a must have unless you enjoy this genre or band, but even so, this is a very good album. It flows so well and no matter how many times you listen to it, it doesn’t get old. I’m impressed by the steps this band has taken in just a couple of releases and I know the future is bright for this band. favorite song: "i will stop the rain" rating: 86%/100% listen to across five aprils

Spotlight: Protest the Hero

bst spotlight band. Need something refreshing? How about something from Canada? How about both? Try Ontario's Protest the Hero. The band is powerful and melodic. Their music is strong and meaningful. Check them out on this year's Warped Tour. For more info about the band, follow the links below. protest the hero official website listen to protest the hero vagrant records

Review: Millencolin - Machine 15 Format 2

Artist: Millencolin Album: Machine 15 Label: Epitaph Released: 5/6/2008

Musicianship: 75 Vocals: 80 Creativity: 70 Impact: 70

BSTscore: 74

Sweden’s Millencolin has returned with another release on Epitaph. Machine 15 does an excellent job of exhibiting the band’s strengths and their evolution. I remember when I first saw this band in 1997, their songs were not as serious and over the fifteen years the band has been together, their music has matured. Continuing to capitalize on the sound that started on Pennybridge Pioneers (and continued on Home from Home and Kingwood), this album has terrific flow and melody.

Vocalist/songwriter Nikola Sarcevic continues to provide a unique voice and solid lyrics to mesh with the band’s sound. Again, it is the band’s melody that is their strength and prevents Sarcevic from having to push his voice beyond its limits. In the past, there have always been a handful of songs on the band’s albums that really didn’t fit, but I commend the band, as Machine 15 is the most complete album the band has released. I hope the band continues to focus on its ability to create excellent melody and flow, without completely neglecting their punk rock roots.

I enjoyed this album, but I have a feeling that others may not share my perspective. I hope I’m wrong, but I don’t know if it’s quite “punk” enough for the punk crowd, and maybe not “rock” enough for the mainstream. I think it’s a good listen from start to finish, but I fear that it doesn’t do enough to distinguish itself as something truly special. I definitely like the direction the band has taken with their last handful of albums, and I hope that more people will share my appreciation of this band.

Favorite Song: “Done is Done”

Listen to Millencolin

Review: Between the Buried and Me - Alaska

artist: between the buried and me album: alaska label: victory records released: 9/6/05 by: eduardo moutinho Between the Buried and Me has always been a band that I have really wanted to like. There's so much to admire about them. They believe in pushing the envelope by experimenting with various sub-genres of hardcore. Their songs contains no-nonsense grindcore, overly-technical Scandinavian metal, breakdown-laden metalcore, and tempo-breaking jazzy interludes. Of course, such an aural menagerie could not be accomplished without absolutely astounding musical aptitude. Between the Buried and Me can play, and I mean they can play. Yet, the pure chaos that is their music has always eluded my playlist. The overwhelming complexity of the music, for a long time, was just too difficult to enjoy. So I had my prejudices when listening to Alaska, Between the Buried and Me's latest offering on Victory Records. However, this time, I found myself getting into the music. Maybe I am starting to get it. The music on Alaska takes the risks that the band is known for. There are the aforementioned mixed sub-genres with synthesizers thrown in to season the sound a bit more. The first track lets the listener know that he or she is in for a challenging listen, "All Bodies," is heavy and contains guttural screams and even hair metal-esque singing. The title track, "Alaska," is technical and sounds like a song collaboration between Unearth and Candiria. There are complicated string parts and rubber band-like chunky breakdowns. I already mentioned it, but the band really is supremely talented. "The Primer," in particular, stands out as a demo for the technical prowess of the band. These guys can stand toe-to-toe with any guitar-driven band out there, without a doubt. The rest of Alaska is an exercise in randomness. It's common to listen to a song, expect something, and then be totally blindsided by the opposite. There are songs like "Selkies: The Endless Obsession" that contain synthesizers, "chugga chugga" grind, ghostly singing, and melodic hard rock interludes. There are songs like "Laser Speed" which can be considered as an homage to muzak. Yeah... Muzak. And, there are other instrumentals on the record. Honestly, Alaska is Pandora's Box. Overall, I really enjoyed this record, and I feel that its ambitious content has helped me grasp certain sounds that I previously tried to avoid. There's just enough good stuff in here to mesmerize me. At the same time, a lot of the good stuff wouldn't be as good without the crazier sections and the meticulously calculated transitions in between. I wholeheartedly recommend this effort, and I plan on listening to it frequently in the future. favorite song: "selkies: the endless obsession" rating: 90%/100% listen to between the buried and me

Review: As I Lay Dying - Shadows Are Security

artist: as i lay dying album: shadows are security label: metal blade records released: 2005 by: rob tatum I have always tried to evaluate each album I listen to with an open mind, but when bands release albums that show little or no progression or deviation from their previous releases, I have trouble staying objective. Don’t get me wrong, there isn’t anything wrong with Shadows are Security, aside from the obvious, but there’s nothing new here either. My opinion of As I Lay Dying hasn’t changed much since Frail Words Collapse and neither has their music. The musicianship on this release is just as superb and tight as their last album, but the band has little to advance their sound. The songs on Shadows are Security closely resemble Frail Words Collapse and could be considered a continuation of that album. The only noticeable change is that there aren’t quite as many breakdowns, but it’s easy to see that they have a song writing formula and they stick with it. The music is still heavy, fast-paced, and intense. The clean singing is still incorporated into some of the songs, but for the most part, vocalist Tim Lambesis bellows heavy, yet crisp screaming. The guitar work remains the strongest part of the band, and is matched by few. The same complaints I had from Frail Words Collapse remain on this album. I struggle with openly Christian bands, but I will still say that As I Lay Dying isn’t preachy. There are a couple songs that the lyrics bother me, but for the most part the lyrics don’t close the door on listeners and remain a little generic. I just wish this album had showed a little more progression, but it is still a decent metalcore album. favorite song: "repeating yesterday" rating: 86%/100% listen to as i lay dying

Review: Throwdown - Vendetta

artist: throwdown album: vendetta label: trustkill records released: 2005 by: rob tatum For a band that started as a joke and used to sing about straight edge all the time, Throwdown certainly has grown up. It’s hard to say if it’s for the better though. For fans that loved the unrelenting breakdowns and direct approach that was seen on the early releases, Vendetta, much like its predecessor, Haymaker, will leave a sour taste in your mouth. For everyone else, this album shows Throwdown trying to progress musically and mature as songwriters. The trouble with Vendetta is that the structures cripple the quality of the songs. Sure, the worn out verse, chorus, verse, breakdown, chorus repetition is long gone, but it hasn’t exactly been replaced by anything groundbreaking. I give them credit for straying from repetition. There are fewer breakdowns, and if anything, I would call them bridges now, because they don’t have the same effect as they once did. Vocalist Dave Peters has really expanded his vocal range, but unfortunately for Throwdown, it sounds like a bad Pantera impression. He has a strong voice, but the uncanny resemblance to Phil Anselmo hurts my ability to appreciate it properly. Musically, it’s still Throwdown. Maybe the loss of a guitarist hurt the punishing feel that was once felt when listening to this band, but I would almost call this hard rock rather than hardcore. The musicianship is nearly identical to Haymaker, but it is apparent that there was more effort and time put into the songwriting process. If Haymaker lit your fire, then Vendetta will impress the hell out of you. For the rest of us, it is a solid album and not a bad listen, but it really makes me miss the intensity of You Don’t Have to Blood to be Family. “Future of Metal?” Not quite. favorite song: "the world behind" rating: 84%/100% listen to throwdown