Metal Reviews

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Here I'll repost this from the Thrash Forum:

I just bought this, and am listening to it now. I have to say it's realy, really good. It's a faster, ballsier, longer Shovel-Headed Kill Machine. It sounds like Exodus to me. I'm sure some people will cry and say it's not Exodus, and those people will be wrong just like they were the last time around, and the time before that. If you've enjoyed the return of Exodus so far, you're gonna dig this shit.

"You're all children of a worthless god!"

Now for the review, I see where you're coming from, there is a lot of similarities to SHKM. But, I think this album is superior to that album. The songs here are a lot faster, and long ass songs is a Thrash staple. I also think Rob Dukes voice is a lot better here than it was on Kill Machine, and it sounds like he's channeling Souza. I can also tell Lee Altus was involved creatively, which is a good thing. Alot of the songs on SHKM ran together after a while, but I'm not having that problem with this one.

SHKM I still need to pick up sometime.

I'd give it a solid 70. Good, could be better.

fast, you say? i'll have to give this one a listen.

Different strokes I guess.I love this cd,its a great suprise for me.I loved TotD,didn't like SHKM at first then kinda like it,but this one is like inbetween those albums stylistically,which I enjoy.And the production f'n slays!The guitars are so badass and the riffs are awesome.Funeral Hymn is my fav song easily!I'd rate this a 90 or more.

+1 Well said and I agree with it all!!

Agreed with Dylan's review, though I'd lower the score. This album is not thrash but metalcore; furthermore, while it was somewhat enjoyable on its first few listens, it has quickly degenerated into boringness. Its probably a bit better than Shovel Headed Kill Machine, though not as good as the overrated Tempo- its another average to bad Exodus album.

I also pretty much agree with the score. I still have a hard time with the vocals. I like most death metal styles but for some reason I can't get into these. The songs are also not very memorable in my opinion. Still great production and musicianship for the most part.

What? the stuff on their myspace sounds damn awesome!

Yeah, it's metalcore because it has breakdowns. Nevermind the fact that Anthrax was using breakdowns back in the 80's, I guess they are metalcore too.

Its metalcore because the riffs aren't thrash- they may have a slight thrash tinge to them, just like Killswitch Engage's can, but they're still not thrash. And either way, they're pretty boring.

That's kind of weak. I mean, if you don't think it's Thrash then fine. But really, I see metalcore as being a product of those bands listening to a whole shitload of different metal bands/styles, and cherrypicking the stuff they liked from each one. You can't automatically equate a modern album you don't happen to like with metalcore though. I have heard some metalcore, and aside from this album possesing some "breakdownage", something Thrash bands have done for a long time, I'm not hearing the metalcore here.

65/100 is probably what I'd give it, too. Good, not great release. Still worth a pick up for a decent price.

Man this band is not going in the right direction...

Sorry, phrased that badly- its not metalcore because its not thrash, its metalcore because the riffs are generally in that direction- not just the breakdowns, but the slower pace, the pseudo thrash, the groove- these are all metalcore symptoms.

I still hear thrash guys. I 've been listening to hard rock/metal since 1980. I was there for the inception of thrash and every form it has taken since. I know you guys love to dissect these things under an electron microscope, sometimes ad nauseam. I'm sure there are nuances of different styles heard here but it's thrash at it's "core" ( no pun intended).

got it in the mail today... haven't heard properly trough it yet, but i like what i've heard though. not better than SHKM and TOD....yet at least.

I guess you haven't heard. Modern Production=Psuedo-thrash or Metalcore. There apparently hasn't been a "True" Thrash Metal album produced since 1992.

Well, that's news to me.

Who sets these phantom standards anyway? I'm just curious.

Why is there such a huge preoccupation with placing a label or creating a new label for every damn thing? It kills me. I've said it here before, I use two labels...good and bad. That works for me.