Tribulation - The Horror Review

For today's review I decided to review an album I recently listened to for the first time, after hearing a lot of buzz about the band and that band is Tribulation. The album is called, "The Horror" and it destroys like you would not believe. Tribulation plays a brand of metal that is mainly in vein of the old Death Metal masters from Sweden but there are also glimpses of Thrash and American Death Metal present, making for an awesome combination of music.


The guitar tone on the album is great and is very reminiscent of the bands like Dismember and Carnage but with a more modern production. The riffs here are all great and are the main reason that this album is as amazing as it is. They range from OSDM type riffs to thrashy riffs, all the way to dark melodic passages and doomy breaks. Johannes Andersson's vocals sound like the bastard child of Tom "Angelripper" and Matt Karki, and he does a brilliant job of mixing the vocals perfectly with the heaviness of the music. 


There aren't really any complaints that I could make about this album and I'm sure it will get better the more that I listen to it. There's enough variety in the riffs and song structures that should please any fan of extreme metal. And now for the track-by-track review of this beast!

Crypt of Thanatophelia - This is how you kick off an album the right way. This is my favorite song off of the album as it doesn't bullshit at all and just gets straight into the fast/heavy riffs and vicious vocals of the song. There are plenty of nice tempo changes in this song, and a lot of different riffs ranging from fast and brutal to eerie and melodic. 5/5.


Curse of Resurrection - How do you follow up the best song on the album? With the second best song of course. This track picks up where the other left off by firing off with a heavy thrashy intro accompanied by some fast blast beats. There are plenty of solos in this song as well as some riffs that are absolutely impossible to not headbang to. 5/5.


Beyond the Horror - It's definitely hard to follow the two best tracks on the album but this song does it just fine. While it may not be as good as the first two, it is still a great song that continues to pummel you with heavy and evil sounding riffs, and then it ends with a slow outro featuring some dark sounding clean guitar notes. 4.5/5.


The Vampyre - This song is probably the weakest on the album IMO, but it is still a good song nonetheless. It starts off with a clean intro and from there gets really fast and crazy and never really looks back from there. 4/5.


Sacrilegious Darkness - Another one of my favorite songs off of this album, and it's probably one of the most Death Metal oriented songs on here. It features some awesome Death Metal melodies, headbanging riffs and some very well executed tempo changes throughout. 4.5/5.


Spawn of the Jackal - This song starts off with a slow, heavy intro and then it turns into an awesome headbanging riff that is followed up with some great riffing and it also features some of the catchiest vocal parts. 5/5.


Seduced by the Smell of Rotten Flesh - One of the heavier and more melodic tracks off of the album, this song crushes. There are some cool riffs here and there as well as some nice melodies, tastefully mixed in, to make a good song great. 4.5/5.


Graveyard Ghouls - The final track of the album and it is a very nice one at that. This song has a vibe to it that reminds me of Morbid Angel on "Altars of Madness." It's very fast and heavy while containing that evil aura and atmosphere that Morbid Angel was able to capture perfectly. 4.5/5.


So there you have it people, I highly recommend that you check out Tribulation if you haven't already, as these guys will most surely rip your face off and have you headbanging until you are sore all over, and then you'll want to do it all over again because they are indeed that great. Check 'em out on Facebook and like their page to stay updated with what's going on in the Tribulation camp.


http://www.facebook.com/pages/Tribulation-Official/169889709720460?sk=wall


Final rating - 4.6/5 or 92%.

Executioner - Fear the Blade Review.

Executioner are a 5 piece thrash band from the deep bowels of the forests in Kentucky who play some ripping thrash, no gimmicks needed, and they do it quite well at that. They recently released their debut demo, "Fear the Blade" that features their two original songs, "Last Stand" and "Tomb of the Pharoah" as well a cover of a classic Slayer song. 

If I had to describe Executioner's sound, I would say it sounds like Slayer (Show No Mercy Era) with hints of Demolition Hammer and Exodus, so that's quite the range of different sounds here. The riffs are pummeling and fast and the vocals suit the music very well which makes this demo sound that much better.

The first song, "Last Stand" starts off with a nice melodic, kind-of intro that fires into a blazing thrash riff and it never really stops after that. The only thing that kept this song from being better, was that it seemed to drag on a little because there weren't really any tempo changes and the song seemed to follow the same pattern, but the song itself is still very good but could have been great. 4/5.

The other song "Tomb of the Pharoah" is definitely a brilliant song, that features some nice Egyptian-sounding riffs and melodies but also brings a more brutal side out of Executioner. The vocal patterns with the riffs are done really well and there are even some minor glimpses of gang vocals to be found here on this track. There's a nice break and some cool solos. Overall a really good song and my favorite of the demo. 5/5. 

I highly suggest checking out Executioner and listening to their demo on their Facebook page and be sure to like the page as well to stay up to date on the happenings in this bright young band. 

http://www.facebook.com/ExecutionerKy?sk=app_2405167945

Final rating - 4.5/5 or 90%.

Autopsy - Macabre Eternal Review.

Au-motherfucking-topsy is back with another release, and I know for a fact that I am not the only one who was eagerly anticipating this album. This was definitely one of the most looked forward to metal albums of 2011 for me as I'm a big Autopsy fan. Their latest offering "Macabre Eternal" is very reminiscent of the more doom-y side that Autopsy portrayed on "Mental Funeral" but it still retains the heaviness and catchiness that we all love of Autopsy. 

Let's start with the good shall we? The best tracks to be found here are the ones that mix that fast paced DM sound with the Doom parts to keep from just playing 200 mph the entire time. Songs like "Dirty Whore Gore," "Macabre Eternal," "Deliver Me From Sanity," and "Spill My Blood" are perfect examples of this. These four tracks are definitely the best on the album and they all mix the two sounds very well. Some more good things about this album are the drums. The drumming itself is very good and is placed very well in the production mix for a great overall sound. 

Some of the songs on this album were rather average, nothing too good but nothing bad. Songs like "Hand of Darkness," "Seeds of the Damned," "Bridge of Bones" and the 11 minute epic "Sadistic Gratification." These songs were all just short of being some of the more awesome tracks on the record either because they seemed to not be as catchy or were just lacking something special that gave it that "wow" factor like the other aforementioned tracks did.

Then of course we have the not so good... Let's start with the vocals in the mix. For some of the songs the vocals seemed to be low in the mix and not exactly matched up with the music, however this is just a minor problem that shouldn't take away any of the music's greatness. The main problem with this record was that some of the songs here just seemed to drag along and didn't have anything catchy about them. They would go into a heavy, slow, doom-ish part but they would be boring and you would be waiting for it to pick up but it wouldn't. Songs like "Born Undead," "Sewn Into One," and "Bludgeoned and Brained" all fall victim to this trend.

Overall I enjoyed this record and I will be giving it a few more listens to see if anything changes but in the meantime, Autopsy did not fail to deliver on this record as the goods outweighed the bads here, and allowed them to produce a very well put together album. 

Overall rating - 4/5 or 80%. 

Guillotine - Blood Money Review

First off, I've heard a lot of buzz about this album in the past yet I never really got to it until today and I REALLY regret it. This is easily one of the best newer thrash albums out there and could rival albums like "Waking into Nightmares" and "Time is Up" IMO. Anyway it's time for the review.

Insane Oppression - This track opens up with the vocals which sound an awful lot like Schmier (not a bad thing at all) and then it gets going. This song is fast but it also has a break midway through, as well as some melody and cool solos. One of the best tracks off of the album and there isn't really a better way to start this album. 5/5.

Rebellion - A basic thrash formula here with the verse --> chorus --> repeat --> break --> solos here. However these parts are all plenty catchy and make this typical formula work great. 4.5/5.

Insanity - A really cool intro here and then it gets going into a heavy riff. A very catchy song that's fast and heavy. One of the best tracks on the album here. 5/5.

Liar - Another badass song. This one has a good mix of harmony and heavy but retains all of the thrashy awesomeness found on the songs before this one. 5/5.

Die Live - Not as good as the two songs before it but still a great song that has an amazing break that had me headbanging like crazy! 4.5/5.

Skeleton City - Another great song here and there isn't much I can say about it other than it CRUSHES! Great use of tempo changes and melody here definitely boost the song's awesome-ness. 5/5.

Dying World - After a short clean instrumental we have Dying World. this song has a really cool intro and then a heavy riff after where the song continues from there. A really cool break and melody are found later here to continue the trend of awesome-ness. 5/5.

Welcome to Dying - This song has a kind of weird riff to open it and then it gets to some serious thrashing. There are some cool harmonies to be found here and some nice solos to go along with it. 4/5.

War - This was one of the lesser songs on the album, mainly because it lacks the catchiness that the ones before it had, but its still plenty good and thrashes just as hard. 4/5.

Our Darkest Day - One of the best songs off of the record right here. This song has a really cool intro and is one of the heavier tracks on the album. 5/5.

Blood Money - The title track of the album to close the CD, but it falls just a bit short when it comes to hanging with some of the other songs on this album but it remains an awesome track nonetheless. 4/5.

Guillotine now have my attention and I can't wait to hear more from them in the future, hoping for another kickass record like this one.

Final Rating - 4.6/5 or 92%.

Foreskin - B.I.T.P. Demo Review

Hello all, for today's review we have Pakistan's own Foreskin. Foreskin are a 2-piece crossover act that doesn't try to follow any kind of trend or reinvent any kind of sound but instead they play some fun, kickass crossover thrash that will definitely get your headbangin'!

The B.I.T.P. demo consists of 6 songs and clocks in about under the ten minute mark, kicking off with an instrumental called, "The Cuntess Commands Thee." This song has some catchy ass riffs that will definitely keep you entertained as well as sets the tone for the rest of the demo. Next up is the title track and not much can be said about it other than it will have your headbanging to the crossover assault. The next two songs are really short and hit you like a brick really quick and then it goes into a short song, that's really just a simple drum beat. The demo closes with the track "Attack of the Radioactive Posers." This song is definitely a great way to end the demo as it thrashes all the way through and shows that Foreskin are an up and coming band to be aware of. So if you're a crossover fan or a fan of catchy headbanging music then, I highly recommend checking out Foreskin.

http://www.facebook.com/foreskinband?sk=app_2405167945

Wolf - Legions of Bastards Review

Hello all once again, for today's review we have Sweden's Heavy Metal veterans, Wolf's newest outing, "Legions of Bastards." Wolf doesn't really pull any tricks on this album and they tend to stick to that Traditional Heavy Metal sound which is not a bad thing at all. Overall this is a very well done album and the trend of good metal throughout 2011 has continued. Time for the review!

Vicious Companions - The first track here is Vicious Companions and it opens with a drum intro along with a nice riff and intro solo. This song has some really cool solos along with some harmonies that are very reminiscent of the great Judas Priest. Great way to kick off the album. 4/5.

Skull Crusher - This track is even better than the one before it. It's a tad bit heavier as well as more catchy from the riffs to the vocals. Also there are some more nice solos to be found here as well. 4.5/5.

Full Moon Possession - One of the more melodic tracks on the record this song doesn't live up to the two that came before it but it still a nice track that shows off Wolf's skills. 3.5/5.

Jekyll & Hyde - This song kicks off with a nice wah pedal riff and continues with some heavier riffs. This song like the one before has a good mix of heaviness and melodies as well as nicely executed solos. 3.5/5.

Absinthe - One of the better tracks on the album as well as one of the heaviest. The mixture of heaviness and melody continues here but is a little bit more catchy than the previous two tracks. 4/5.

Tales From the Crypt - This is hands down the best track off of this record. It kicks off with a cool muted intro that is soon followed by a nice harmony and intro solo. this song just takes off from there and never looks back. 5/5.

Nocturnal Rites - This song came right after the best track on the album, but sadly this is my least favorite. It has a really long weird intro and then the song after is average at best. 3/5.

Road to hell - Luckily this song was better than the one before it and got the album back on track. A lot of nice melody found here as well as some cool harmony solos. 4/5.

False Preacher - Another great track here. Catchiness isn't short on this track at all and keeps the album moving along really nicely. 4/5.

Hope to Die - A badass intro solo kicks this song off and we get all of the melody and heaviness present on the other tracks on the album but we even get a nice little break with some bass work. 4.5/5.

K-141 Kursk - This is the longest track on the album, and it isn't short at all of riffs or solos. Definitely a great way to close this album as it is a catchy tune. 4.5/5.

Wolf did not dissapoint with this record and continue to hoist the flag of awesome metal for the year of 2011.

Final Rating - 4/5 or 80%.

Cauldron - Burning Fortune Review

Hello all, today I'm here to share another review with you all, this time it will be Cauldron's "Burning Fortune." Cauldron are a 3-piece Heavy Metal band from the great white north of Canada and on this album they were looking to top their debut album, "Chained to the Nite" which I'd say that they may have accomplished here. Probably the best part about this album was the lead-guitar work, every solo here is executed very well and fit the songs perfectly whether the solos are just melodic or some serious shredding. Anyway let's get to the review!

All or Nothing - The first track on this album and the second best track here. This song follows a typical verse, chorus, solos, verse, chorus, etc pattern as do most of the songs on this album but it's pretty damn catchy. A very nice way to open the album. 4.5/5.

Miss You to Death - This song is a little more rock-ish than metal but it still kicks some ass. It features some cool solos, a nice break and some pretty cool riffs that aren't your typical metal riffs. 4/5.

Frozen if Fire - This song opens with a cool riff, however it doesn't really go anywhere throughout the rest of the song and is just a bit better than your typical song. 3.5/5.

Tears Have Come - This song is pretty much like the one that came before it. It's got some nice stuff but it's just a bit better than your average tune. 3.5/5.

Rapid City/Unchained Assault - After the two songs before it, this one is even better and is the best track on the album. It kicks off with a really cool bassline and then it gets into the real shit. Some great solos here (especially the one at the end) and some catchy parts. 4.5/5.

Queen of Fire - This song has a nice clean intro and is one of the slower tracks on the album but it's still a very cool track that features more awesome solos and some pretty nice riffs/vocals all around. 4/5.

Breaking Through - After two more awesome songs, this one doesn't really follow in their footsteps and just basically follows the same pattern as most of the other songs here. 3.5/5.

Taken by Desire - the song opens with a nice riff and maintains a relatively similar pace throughout. Definitely not the best song on the record and it closes the record on rather mediocre note. 3.5/5.

Despite the tracks on this album that were less than stellar, the ones that did manage to catch my attention, did so very well and earns my stamp of approval. Be sure to check these guys out on Facebook, like their page, buy the album and all of that other stuff.

http://www.facebook.com/CAULDRONmetal

Final Rating - 4/5 or 80%.

Multinational Corporations - Equality Review

Hello all, I'm back again with another review, this time of Multinational Corporations' Equality demo. Multinational Corporations is a death/grind band straight out of Pakistan who's music is inspired by the terrible governing that occurs in their country. If you're a fan of Napalm Death, Terrorizer, or Grindcore in general, I suggest checking these guys out on Facebook where you can get a link for their demo. Anyway I hope you enjoy the review.

Presidential Castration - This title alone should tell you alone that these guys are fed up with their government and it translates to some awesome heavy music very present on this track. It's got a good mix of speed and breaks, some nice solos and the drumming is really good in the mix. After a fast thrash break the song ends on a rather heavy note with some solos. Best song off of this three-track demo. 4.5/5.

Immolating the Parliament - This is just one short song that is typical of your favorite grindcore bands. Nothing too groundbreaking here, just some straightforward brutality. 3.5/5.

The demo is ended with a nice clean instrumental that features sound bites of Pakistani news I believe and is a nice way to end this demo.

Final Rating - 4/5 or 80%.

Check these guys out on Facebook and like their page!

http://www.facebook.com/multinationalcorporationspakistan?sk=info