CULT OF LUNA „Salvation”
And I thought The Beyond was a sprawling epic! Swedens Cult of Luna made a massive impression in 2003 – the expansive immensity captured on The Beyond had fans and critics alike singing huge praises for the band. In terms of style, they rank along side only two other peers – Neurosis and Isis.
PN „The Art of Being We”
To all but those in Western Europe, PN is very much a new name to the emo/metalcore crowd. Having honed their craft for the past 12 years, this Belgium quartet have secured an American/rest of the world deal with seminal Metalcore label Life Sentence records in Utah.
AURA NOIR „The Merciless”
Cool songs: Upon the Dark Throne, Condoe, Hells Fire, Funeral Thrash, Merciless
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xDEATHSTARx „The Triumph”
The inevitable Slipknot comparisons arise when taking about xDeathstarx. Not because they sound like them (no, the only similarities here are the distorted guitars), but because they comprise of eight members! Granted, its a tenuous link, but hey, eight member straightedge hardcore bands are a rare breed you would agree.
WITH DEAD HANDS RISING „The Horror Grows Near”
Cool songs: Corey Feldman as the Devil, Early Winter Transmission, Distress Patterns
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CHTON „Chtonain Lifecode”
Cool songs: Invitation to Hell, Book of Black Earth, Chtonian Lifecode, Hammered (down)
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STRANGULATION „Atrocious Retribution”
The most mind numbing, frustrating aspects about reviewing music is finding the ability to come up with something new for something that has been repeated ad nausem. I guess we all do it out of respect for the time and effort most bands put into their music, but trying to dress up a review with colorful prose and adjectives while knowing all along that what youre describing is nothing but the same shit under a different name can be damn well infuriating.
FATES WARNING „FWX”
Cool songs: Wish, Left Here, A Handful of Doubt, Stranger, Simple Human, Another Perfect Day,
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