Soufly erupted on the metal scene back in 1998 with their self-titled and certified gold debut album. Fronted by Max Cavalera (ex-frontman of Sepultura), the band was astonishing in the begining but they have slowly declined almost into a "metal" high school band. "Omen" sounds like it was recorded in a cardboard box; you can hardly make out anything on this album between the guitars and the vocals, everything is extremely convoluted. Personally I'm a fan of Soulfly so I had high hopes for their seventh studio album so I may have been expecting alot from Max himself, but being a avid metal listener this album doesn't hold up with any of their past works. Honestly it sounds like a demo album Soulfy might have recorded before their debut back in the day. Critics have given this album minimal praise so if you are a newcomer to Soulfly, hopefully you will enjoy it, but as for those veterans of Soulfly, I'm sorry to break it to you...Soulfly might be done.

LoopedEyeless

Past Works:
Conquer
Dark Ages
Prophecy
3
Primitive
Soulfly

Track:
Off With Their Heads

Gwar is a distasteful band and I can't believe they're still making music...just kidding. Gwar might come across as disgusting, with their simulated decapitations, disembowelments of celebrities on stage, and their occasional big fake penises that ejaculate on the crowd (wait, that is disgusting), but it's all in good fun. Aside from their infamous performances, they're an extremely talented metal band. With their blazing guitar riffs and driven power-metal chords, this would be the ultimate soundtrack to play in Hell. On this album, Gwar played 8-string guitars rather than your traditional 6 or 7-string guitars which resulted in an ultra heavy sound. The arrangement and complexity of the music on this album is not only a substantial reason why they should be nominated for the Grammys (again) but is also why they are noted for being one of the better metal bands.

LoopedEyeless

Past Works:
Lust In Space
Beyond Hell
War Party
Violence Has Arrived
We Kill Everything
Carnival Of Chaos
Ragnarok
This Toilet Earth
America Must Be Destroyed
The Road Behind (EP)
Scumdogs Of The Universe
Hell-O

Track:
Gathering Of Souls*
*Note: The abrupt ending to "Gathering Of Souls" is due because the first four tracks on this album are considered one long track.
                                         

I encountered Sister Sin early this year with their album "Switchblade Serenades" and I was impressed with what I heard. So, needless to say I was stoked to hear that they were coming out with a new album. Their sound is labeled as "old school metal" but I would like to say if Motley Crue and .45 Grave made love they would have given birth to a rock child and that rock child would be Sister Sin. They have the older style metal generic sound but what makes this band so anomalous is their lead singer Liv Jagrell. Liv takes vocals to a new level for female fronted rock/metal bands and I've never heard anything quite like her before. Their isn't much complexity to the band but what they do they do it well...very well. Most of these Swedish bands have similar sounds but Sister Sin does stand out from the majority and if they play their cards right they will be able to make it here in America..

LoopedEyeless

Past Works:
Switchblade Serenades
Dance Of The Wicked

Track:
Sound Of The Underground

Track:
24-7

Medieval symphonic melodic death metal would be the best way to describe this band that has been around since 1993. When I first heard Dimmu Borgir I thought I was in a death metal heaven (or hell...whatever) I couldn't believe what I was hearing. That sound turned out to be something brand new to me...that sound was Symphonic Death Metal. I said "Really?" Like an orchestra behind the band? Playing along with the band? Answer: Yes. I still can't believe what I hear every time they come out with a new album, they still impress me more and more to this day. They have your standard black metal drum beats (double kick bass) and guitar riffs, but they utilize it in a very diverse course than your usual black metal bands. Also they don't use the "growling" vocals like other bands do which turns a lot of people off from this genre in the first place. When you listen to it the first time and you will see what I'm talking about. Usually black metal is frowned upon by the majority of the public because it is to loud and "satanic" but you can't let that get in your way of your "morals", these guys are real musicians and they know what they are doing. For you metal lovers out there this will be a treat if you don't know who these guys are, but for you non-metal lovers I will warn you. It. Gets. Loud.

LoopedEyeless

Past Works:
In Sorte Diaboli
Stormblast MMV
Death Cult Armageddon
Puntanical Euphoric Misanthropia
Spiritual Black Dimensions
Godless Savage Garden
Enthrone Darkness Triumphant
Stormblast
For All Tid

Track:
Chess With The Abyss