Angra
Aurora Consurgens
SPV
50:47 – 10 Tracks
The new release from Angra. There’s always a lot of buzz around these guys, but I don’t always get their new stuff sent to the radio station, as in the case of their last album. I was looking forward to hearing this new one, as it’s my first time hearing the new singer. He certainly holds his own. Big shoes to fill. Angra has a great sound, fast heavy metal, but still having some nice cheesy power metal element there to round it out. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit.

The Haunted
The Dead Eye
Century Media
55:02 – 13 Tracks
This CD starts off all metal and kicking your ass, as you would expect The Haunted to do. As you delve into the CD more, it does still stay heavy, although some tracks slow down and get a bit more “deep” or even Black Sabbathy (track 4). They seem to stay true to their roots. My first listen, I didn’t really like it much, I thought it sounded more like metalcore, but upon second listen, it’s classic The Haunted. I must have been half asleep! You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Insomnium
Above The Weeping Worlds
Candlelight Records
53:00 – 9 Tracks
Melodic scandanavian death metal! They have a bit of a Hypocrisy sound, but possibly with more death vocals. Some great guitar harmonies and melodies. It’s a bit of a run of the mill scandanavian melodic death album. It’s good stuff though, you’ll hear it on the Mosh Pit!

Children Of Bodom
Chaos Ridden Years: Stockholm Knockout Live
Spinefarm
42:06 – 9 Tracks
Not much you can say about this. It’s a live album from Children of Bodom. The sound is a bit boomy. It doesn’t sound like there was much post production involved. I’m not sure if that’s a good or a bad thing. Right now, I’m going to have to say that’s a bad thing. With a band as intricate as CoB, I’d expect a bit more of a clean sound. But hey, it’s CoB, and I’m sure it’ll sound better over the air, therefore you will hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Gaza
I Don’t Care Where I Go When I Die
Blackmarket/Metal Blade
50:05 – 11 Tracks
The bio sheet says they play “a dark, glooming and frantic breed of hardcore and metal mixed with grind.” That sums it up pretty good too. It’s heavy and intense. If there’s time, you’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Grave Digger
Yesterday EP
Locomotive
20:58 – 4 Tracks
Just a 3 song EP from these guys, one track is a Led Zep cover of “No Quarter”, two of the tracks are the title track, “Yesterday” one normal version and one with an orchestra. The title track is a bit slow and doesn’t ever really get rockin’. The one other track, “The Reapers Dance” does get pretty heavy. Again, if there’s time, you’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Killswitch Engage
As Daylight Dies Sampler
Roadrunner
12:27 – 3 Tracks
A three song sampler from their new album (“As Daylight Dies”) out on Nov. 21st. This is classic KsE. Heavy, whiney, heavy, singy, heavy, heavy, singy. The title track almost has some Pantera vibe in the guitar sound. They still have their metalcore trademark sound, which will never change. It’s new KsE, they came up through metal radio, and we’ll play this new stuff for you first too.

A Static Lullaby
A Static Lullaby
Warner Bros.
As expected… stereotypical metalcore here. Heavy songs, melodic singy choruses. This seems to have more clean vocals in spots than good angry screams. The songs are put together well, cool guitar riffs and stuff. But as with most new metalcore stuff these days, nothing groundbreaking, and you may hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Stuff that didn’t arrive by show time last week…

Tyr
Ragnarok
Napalm
60:51 – 16 Tracks
A folky metal band. Take some prog, scandanavian metal, of course, some Amorphis, and maybe a little more folksy vocals. There are some cool proggy breakdowns. It’s interesting stuff. Wanna hear it? Request it!

The Esoteric
Subverter
Prosthetic
43:57 – 10 Tracks
First impression reminds me of a little more sloppy grungy Mastodon. This Cd stays pretty true to that impression throughout. Pretty decent and not really like a lot of stuff out there.

Autumn’s End
Act of Attrition
Hammermill
48:07 – 12 Tracks
Technical death metal sounding. It’s got a little bit of everything metal. Some good ol thrash sound, some death metal vocals, some black metal screams… all sorts of cool stuff. It’s interesting, you may like it… if you’re curious… request it!!

Imperial
We Sail At Dawn
Pluto
32:37 – 11 Tracks
I had one song from these guys last week. They are more of the Unearth line of metalcore, mostly just heavy, not too much in the whiney chorus clean vocal area. That’s not to say it’s completely absent. The vocals stay pretty brutal and the guitar work sounds scandanavian, so what can you say?

Draconian
The Burning Halo
Napalm
54:00 – 8 Tracks
Gothic Doom metal from Sweden. That’s pretty much right on. Growly death male vocals and nice pleasant female singing around it, with some long drawn out classic gothic doom metal music to back it up. I’m personally not into this genre, but if you want to hear it…yup, you guest it. Request it!!

It Dies Today
Sirens
Trustkill
38:47 – 11 Tracks
They are one of the better, more popular metal-core bands. It’s nothing groundbreaking, but it’s still pretty solid heavy stuff, along with some singy sing along choruses. They have a bit of the Unearth thing going on, but with less metal and more whiney chorus. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Stolen Babies
There Be Squabbles Ahead
The End
49:14 – 13 Tracks
This is hard to put a finger on, one could compare it to some Rob Zombie for the creepy factor, but also to Dog Fashion Disco for the wacky crazy with organs factor, or even some vocal harmonies similar to Faith No More. You could throw some Mindless Self Indulgence in the mix too. It’s definately creepy and all over the place, just in time for halloween too!!

Imperial
We Sail At Dawn (single)
1 Track
This CD didn’t arrive in time, but it’s another new metal-core-ish release. This song, however has some great guitar melodies and some great chugga chugga metal. It does stay troooo to the “Breakdown”, but it has some almost black metal sound to some parts. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Endwell
Homeland Insecurity
Victory
41:27 – 12 Tracks
It must be new metalcore release week! It starts off just about every song all brutal and metal, and just like any stereotypical metalcore song, it’ll lead into the singy melodic chorus part. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Circle II Circle
Burden of Truth
Locomotive
49:51 – 11 Tracks
This is the hard rock/prog power metal band featuring the old singer from Savatage, Zak Stevens. This is the third album from this project. It’s more hard rock than metal, pretty conservative. It is more reminiscent of old Whitesnake or that sort of power metal type of stuff. There are some heavier tracks on here, so you may hear those on the Mosh Pit.

Bludgeon
World Controlled
Magic Circle
37:26 – 11 Tracks
These guys are back with their next real metal CD. While I thought their last release was just balls out metal. This one is all metal, but has a more stand out scream for vocals, rather than some brutal screaming. This album has a bit more hardcore sound than their first album. It’s still great stuff, as it’s more metal and thrash than any sort of hardcore or metalcore.

Amon Amarth
With Oden On Our Side
Metal Blade
42:23 – 9 Tracks
Pretty much the originators of Swedish Viking death metal, they are back with their first album in a couple years. It’s heavy, with meaty riffs, great abrasive, brutal vocals and a driving drum attack. This kind of music is always welcome on the Mosh Pit, and to have it be from a long time artist, not just another copy cat makes it even better!

Into Eternity
The Scattering Of Ashes
Century Media
41:22 – 11 Tracks
The best of power metal and power technical death/black metal these days. They’ve gone through a ton of lineup changes, but as with a lot of bands like that, they have the one visionary that is his band (Tim Roth) that keeps the sound on the track. The songs are well put together, heavy, melodic and crisp and clear sound. You’ll definately hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Fahrenheit 451
If I Knew Then What I Know Now…
Awake Strong Records
76:28 – 22 Tracks
Kind of old school metal/rap/punk… similar to Bad Brains… This CD/DVD set has demos and a lot of previously unreleased material, which if you are a fan, it’s cool, but this is not really Mosh Pit material. Due to a light week of new stuff, you might hear this!

Regurgitate
Sickening Bliss
Relapse Records
36:09 – 26 Tracks
A lot of really short tracks on this CD. Glassic gore/grind sounding death metal. Simple death metal blast beats and guitar grinding, vomitous screams and growls round this out. There isn’t much stuff like this out there anymore, and it will be a welcome addition to the Mosh Pit!

Chthonic
Seediq Bale
Down Port Music
Melodic black metal from Taiwan! Some cool keyboard stuff, great guitar shredding, and drums either severely triggered or from a drum machine thrown all together with some classic black metal scream growl vocals. It all works together, and it’s also a bonus that it’s some extreme metal music coming from Asia. You’ll hear this in the Mosh Pit.

Wolf
The Black Flag
Prosthetic
47:33 – 10 Tracks
This is a pretty cool power metal album… Classic in the style of Maiden or musically like King Diamond. It’s a higher screamy vocalist, and the songs and music are awesome. Great production. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Mystic Prophecy
Savage Souls
Locomotive
59:36 – 11 Tracks
It’s power metal week! This has music more along the lines of a lighter Dragonforce, but with more “Whitesnake-ish” vocals. The music has a good amount of “balls and chunk.” And it stays pretty heavy most of the time, just slows up a bit in some of the choruses. Overall, it’s solid, crisp and clear sounding, as it’s mixed by Fredrik Nordstrom. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit

Unleashed
Midvinterblot
SPV
46:27 – 15 Tracks
Good old classic thrashy black metal. This is their eighth album. Sounds crisp and sharp, heavy, evil. There isn’t anything really groundbreaking, but it’s got a good classic chugga chugga death/black metal sound. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Brand New Sin
Tequila
Century Media
46:44 – 14 Tracks
These guys have their good ol Rock n Roll sound still chuggin along. The production is okay. Their sound has stayed the same over the years… maybe a little less heavy. Peter Steele guests on a track. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Trivium
The Crusade
Roadrunner
57:32 – 13 Tracks
Each album, these guys have matured. The music pretty much heavy, complex, but yet still Metal-core. I could do without a lot of the singalong choruses, but that’s their gig, right? It’s got a nice clear sound, some great playing and as I said, a bit more complex than older stuff. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Unexpect
In A Flesh Aquarium
The End
60:36 – 10 Tracks
This is a little bit out there… a bit experimental like Mr. Bungle… but heavier. Keyboards, clean female vocals, black metal vocals, growls, blast beats, pianos, orchestrations, opera chorus stuff. I’d have to say they are most similar to Dog Fashion Disco, but a bit heavier and a bit more experimental. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Destroy The Runner
Saints
SolidState
43:48 – 13 Tracks
Melodic metalcore once again from our friends at SolidState. Death growl vocals, regular metalcore screams and singy choruses mixed up with melodic guitars. It sounds decent, but nothing new… same old stuff again. Although, since we play new stuff on the Mosh Pit, you may hear a track.

Cradle of Filth
Thornography
Roadrunner
64:42 – 12 Tracks
This is a pretty straight forward black-ish metal release from CoF. They aren’t quite as underground as they used to be. They are a lot more polished and more of a “mainstream” black metal band. It still has catchy heavy songs as always. It’s good and you’ll hear it on the Mosh Pit.

Amon Amarth
2 Song Sampler
Metal Blade
8:22 – 2 Tracks
It’s good solid black/death metal once again from these guys. It’s heavy, but throws in some melody as the singer barks out the lyrics. It’s good stuff, I would like to hear the rest of the album… these 2 song samplers are a tease! You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Light This City
Facing The Thousand
Prosthetic
40:05 – 10 Tracks
So I popped this CD in, and then had to dig around some CD piles to look for something and didn’t read the bio sheet or liner notes right away. I figured this sounds like a straight ahead metal band, but with a little scandanavian black metal influence with the vocals that sound a little bit like Cradle of Filth, how they are layered with some back and forth with more screaming with growls echoing. It was to my suprise and delight that it’s a female vocalist. So immediately one must compare them to Arch Enemy. I think Light This City comes off as a bit more brutal than Arch Enemy, as it’s not quite as obvious it’s a female vocalst. Once again Prosthetic records comes through with a solid metal release. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Psychostick
Beer (1 song)
Rock Ridge
2:14 – 1 Tracks
“Humorcore” is how they are described. That’s exactly a great way to describe this one song homage to Beer. I like beer, so this song’s chorus “Beer is good beer is good and stuff” rings so true. The breakdown “hardcore” chorus is fun, and I can’t wait to hear the rest of this album! You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Norma Jean
Redeemer
Solid State
41:46 – 11 Tracks
For a band that helped pioneer this scene, it’s too bad everyone else had to come around and oversaturate this genre of metalscreamoemo-core. It’s got good playing of course, some spacey interludes, but it’s mostly screamo-emo stuff. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Diecast
Internal Revolution
Century Media
46:53 – 11 Tracks
This CD falls into the metal-core area. I don’t recall these guys being so “singy” I thought they were always more of a thrash band… then again, I don’t always have a great memory. So yes, there are some great brutal metal moments, but just about every track goes into a melodic clean vocal chorus. It’s pretty catchy, just not as metal as I remember. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit though.

2 Cents
Lost at Sea
East West
37:56 – 12 Tracks
A little bit punk, a bit metal, ummm… It’s heavy, straight forward, but yet has an element of rock…. it’s not brutal metal, it’s more like mid-90’s metal. It’s not complex, mostly clean vocals, not much in the way of brutal screaming… It’s pretty decent, and you’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Mastodon
Blood Mountain
Reprise
13 Tracks
These guys are catchy, heavy, loud, complex and fun, all without you really picking out any of those traits. That’s probably why there is so much buzz about them and why so many people tend to like them. This new album doesn’t tread much new ground for these guys and why should it, they know what they are good at! You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Mindless Self Indulgence
Straight To Video Single
Metropolis
12:36 – 3 Tracks
I’ve always liked these guys, mostly electronic, catchy fast paced stuff. But…. there’s always a but, right? The But is: it’s more suited for the show before the Mosh Pit…”Something Wonderful” So, I’ll pass that on to him.

Blind Guardian
A Twist In The Myth
Nuclear Blast
77:58 – 14 Tracks
It’s classic Blind Guardian. It’s great power metal for slaying dragons, playing dungeons and dragons, etc. etc. It starts off pretty heavy and rockin’, more metal than cheesey power metal.
The rest of the album goes more in the power prog metal vein and not as much balls out metal. Don’t get me wrong, it’s still good, it just doesn’t stay as heavy as the first track throughout. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Suffocation
Suffocation
Relapse
44:13 – 11 Tracks
Classic brutal death metal at its finest. These guys have stuck to their guns throughout the years. This CD just has that classic death metal sound and you’ll just have to check it out. You’ll hear it on the Mosh Pit!

Goatwhore
A Haunting Curse
Metal Blade
39:13 – 11 Tracks
Combine some death metal with some say just straight ahead metal and a bit of black metal and you have Goatwhore. I used to not care for these guys much, then I saw them live and I was converted. This new CD is pretty good, straightforward heavy stuff. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Built Upon Frustration
The Book of Mourning
Da’ Core
38:58 – 10 Tracks
This is pretty straight-ahead hardcore-ish death/black metal. Yes, once again, more stuff that crosses many genres. Some of the music is a bit just plain old hardcore. The vocals are more brutal screams with some black metal screams in there as well. It’s got good production, but it’s nothing really fresh and new, just a bunch of stuff all mixed together. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Vader
Impressions in Blood
Candlelight
37:16 – 11 Tracks
Vader is the shit. Just so heavy, brutal, technical, fast, and what metal should be about. This CD is just non stop heavy riffage. The vocals are just so abrasive and mesh perfectly with the music. This is another one for the best of 2006! You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Dry Kill Logic
…Of Vengeance and Violence
Repossession
52:24 – 13 Tracks
There’s some great riffage on this here CD. They try and keep it heavy, but yet sometimes slip into the whiney vocals. The songs are catchy, even brutal in some parts. They seem to be trying to kick their “metal” up a notch, as each song seems to get pretty darn heavy in parts. I guess the “heavy” would be more hardcore or metal-core, even a bit Pantera-ish in parts. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Ankla
Steep Trails
Beiler Bros.
48:59 – 12 Tracks
Made up of some former members of Puya, you’ve got a hint of latin-Sepultura sounding metal here. They keep it pretty heavy with the occasional latin-ey interlude here and there. It’s definately for fans of Ill Nino, Sepultura, Nonpoint, Puya, but a bit heavier. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Mendeed
This War Will Last Forever
Nuclear Blast
68:02 – 14 Tracks
They said on SNL many years back… “If it’s not Scottish, it’s CRAP!” Well, this is Scottish metal and it’s not crap. It’s not brutal or super heavy, but it has some cool stuff along the lines of metal-core, straight up metal and some melodic stuff too. They compare them a bit to Avenged Sevenfold, which I have to agree with, but without the extra whiney vocals that A7X has. While not breaking new ground, these guys hold their own and may be worthy of some airplay on the Mosh Pit!

Here are some extra mini-lame reviews by yours truly of what’s new this week. If you don’t like my reviews, well, listen to the Mosh Pit and draw your own conclusions and if it’s something that I say “might” be played, be sure to call in and request it!

Michael Schenker Group
Tales of Rock n Roll
Locomotive
56:50 – 19 Tracks
It’s the MSG guy, yup. Good ol hard rockin’ stuff here. Just a whole bunch of songs on this CD, all about the same intensity. Actually there are many different singers on this CD, and Schenker wrote, arranged and produced everything. It’s good for the hesher crowd, and you’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Various
Gigantour CD/DVD Sampler
Image Entertainment
3 Tracks
Not much to say about this, live tracks, one each from Megadeth, Fear Factory and Life of Agony. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Napalm Death
Smear Campaign
Century Media
45:09 – 16 Tracks
It’s new Napalm Death. I can just see Barney now, movin’ his head back and forth barking lyrics out… etc etc. This is another one of those bands that doesn’t change much and they don’t need to. You know what you are getting, and it’s nice to have a new collection of stuff to play. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Destroy Destroy Destroy
Devour The Power
Blackmarket Activities
39:50 – 11 Tracks
Described at viking metal, it holds a bit more of the metal-deathcore sound. They do have some of the viking metal sound, which is neat because these guys are from the Nashville, TN area. They have some keyboards which add to the cool factor of the band, it does make them stand out a bit from all that sounds similar. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Rhapsody In Fire
Triumph or Agony
SPV
62:37 – 11 Tracks
Yes, this is the same old Symphonic Epic Hollywood Metal band, and due to copyright and trademark issues, they added an “In Fire” to their former moniker, Rhapsody. Of course they have the same epic sound they always have. How they keep doing it is beyond me. It sure is unique and like, hard for a lot of people to get into. But it’s neat, and you’ll hear it on the Mosh Pit.

Modern Life Is War
My Love My Way
Deathwish
28:32 – 12 Tracks
This is more of a punk/hardcore-ish album. I’ve never really been a fan of punk, as I believe it is its own genre, independent of metal. But of course, that’s just my opinion. This isn’t completely punk, as it has some hardcore mixed in. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit.

The Hope Conspiracy
Death Knows Your Name
Deathwish
35:24 – 11 Tracks
You’ve got some metal-hardcore-screamcore here. There seems to be some punk mixed in as weel. Aggressive vocals, a bit of a groove in the music. It’s in your face and it’s alright. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Teeth of the Hydra
Greenland
Tee Pee Records
51:02 – 8 Tracks
They kind of have the more grungy stoner Cathedral thing going on. Some of it gets going pretty fast, it’s alright, the production is a bit muddy… or just not very crisp I guess. I think that is done on purpose with this type of band. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit.

The Jonbenet
Ugly/Heartless
Pluto
45:02 – 12 Tracks
A bit scream-core, a bit stoner metal sound. But it’s mostly got the emo-metalcore stuff going on, but without some whiney stuff EVERY song. You might hear this on the Mosh Pit… the songs are nice n short.

Mushroomhead
Savior Sorrow
Megaforce
49:10 – 12 Tracks
It’s been a while since these guys released something that I’ve heard! They haven’t changed their sound a whole lot. It’s a bit more “accessible” than what I remember. We’ll probably be able to work this into the Mosh Pit!

Iron Maiden
A Matter of Life and Death
Sanctuary
Bruce and the boys are back! They are just as good as ever. This sharp sounding CD is chock full of everything that makes I.M. great. Of course it’s not going to top any of those classics in the 80’s but nothing ever will. You will hear this on the Mosh Pit

Dream Theater
Score
Rhino
3-CDs – Lots of tracks
If you know me even a little, you’ll know that DT is my favorite band, so of course this writeup will be a little bit biased… This CD release co-incides with the same show on DVD. It represents the culmination of 20 years of DT at a show at Radio City Music Hall in NYC. It’s a big long setlist, representing each album of their career with their big epic song “Octavarium” and “Six Degrees of Inner Turbulence” (and others) performed with a full orchestra. Yes, other bands have done it, but these two more recent albums from DT really benefit from this extra added goodness. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit… but as usual, I won’t try and shove DT down everyone’s throats, as I know they aren’t for everyone.

Dead Rabbits
Sin Eater
215 / Overit
69:15 – 17 Tracks
I’m not sure how to describe these guys, maybe stoner metal on steroids? They’ve got a bit of COC sound, some of that southern metal rock sound, and a lil bit of thrash too. It gets a little long in parts, but overall, it’s pretty cool. You’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

A Love Ends Suicide
In The Disaster
High Impact/Metal Blade
39:09 – 11 Tracks
Yet another melodic death metalcore band… If there weren’t so many of these bands out there, this would stand out a bit more. I really can’t say there is anything new and refreshing here. It’s got great production, it’s heavy, melodic, great playing… So yeah, nothing groundbreaking, but it’s still pretty solid, so you’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit

Black Label Society
Shot To Hell
Roadrunner
44:11 – 13 Tracks
Zakk is bakk with a new BLS album! New label, same sound. This has a pretty “thick” sound, but it’s got the same guitar sound, Zakk’s trademark “ozzy-like” vocals. Some songs are heavy, but most of them take the light road…. oh well… Some tracks are cool, so you’ll hear that stuff on the Mosh Pit.

Motorhead
Kiss of Death
Sanctuary
A new Motorhead album! The good thing about Motorhead is that they are consistent. You know what you’ll get with Motorhead. A good heavy, loud album. There is some good catchy stuff on this too. Straight and to the point, it’s Motorhead and you’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Jucifer
If Thine Enemy Hunger
Relapse
The bio sheet with this CD says it’s for fans of “PJ Harvey, White Stripes and Sleater Kinney” If that’s the case, then they didn’t make a good case for metal radio airplay. So, while we give everything here a fair shake, it’s a bit more rockin’ than those bands, it’s still a tough sell to get it on the Mosh Pit. You may hear a track, since a couple do get sorta hard rock-like, but probably not.

Here are the goofy reviews of the new stuff this week….

Wednesday 13
Fang Bang
Rykodisc
45:48 – 13 Tracks
Well, they seem to have the modern day Alice Cooper thing goin’ on. The glam, halloween type metal. It’s not really mosh pit material, but if you are into this sort of thing, you may want to check it out!

Gojira
From Mars To Sirius
Prosthetic Records
66:58 – 12 Tracks
A bit spacey, maybe a bit like Neurosis, grungy, proggy, almost a bit stoner. There isn’t really an easy way to put a finger on these guys. They aren’t the normal New Wave of American Metal that Prosthetic seems to put out these days…. for one, they are French, two, they are just all over the place. Some songs are pretty straight ahead metal. Overall it’s pretty good, and you’ll probably hear it on the Mosh Pit.

Mercenary
The Hours That Remain
Century Media
62:17 – 10 Tracks
A new release from the progressive power thrash band… They sound like Evergrey with a bit more eurothrash melodic death mixed in. We like this sort of stuff on the Mosh Pit, so you’ll probably hear it!

Agalloch
Ashes Against the Grain
The End
59:51 – 8 Tracks
A bit doom metal, a bit black metal, I’d have to say they might fit in the same vein as Opeth or November’s Doom. A bit dark and gloomy, but definate metal elements at work. There isn’t as much catchy heavy stuff as Opeth, but some songs do get going. This is more of a listen all the way through type of album. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit.

Merendine Atomiche
Raw
Mausoleum Records
Yet another band that I can’t really describe. I can say it’s not death, black, or any of that extreme stuff. It’s more of a hard rock meets just plain ol metal. It almost has that glam sound with some of the vocals, but the music is much more chugga chugga metal. It’s pretty catchy and heavy in spots which really keeps a person interested in hearing more. You may hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Deicide
The Stench Of Redemption
Earache
41:22 – 10 Tracks
They’re back! The Hoffman Brothers are out and Deicide is no different! Getting Jack Owen formerly of Cannibal Corpse and Ralph Santolla (Iced Earth and others) really seemed to keep Deicide on track. Glen Benton’s vocals are up there with any other album he’s done, and it’s just flat out classic death metal. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Poisonblack
Lust Stained Despair
Century Media
48:17 – 11 Tracks
Doomy poppy euro-metal! But wait… the former lead vocalist from Sentenced is now in Poisonblack, so they got that going for them. I’d have to say this album is a mix of Lacuna Coil and Amorphis. They’ve got big basslines with keyboards, and don’t ever seem to get super heavy. It’s still good and you’ll probably hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Legion Of The Damned
Malevolent Rapture
Locomotive Music
39:12 – 10 Tracks
This is pretty decent black/thrash metal. It’s too bad the production is a bit mushy. It’s not bad by any means, I think I just get spoiled by a lot of this stuff out there lately and when you get a little boomy bass drum, it stands out more. It’s good and heavy, it has that chugga chugga marchy sound going on on a few tracks. Overall it’s solid, they are a tight band, and you’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Mastodon
Blood Mountain Sampler
Reprise Records
11:23 – 3 Tracks
Well folks, it’s new Mastodon! They keep doin’ what they’re doing. Solid stuff. It’s heavy, loud, fast, tight… all the stuff you expect. They are not breaking new ground, but the ground is good to hang out on with these guys. You’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Lamb Of God
Sacrament
Epic Records
46:12 – 11 Tracks
With this release and the tours these guys are on this summer (Unholy Alliance and Gigantour), they are going to quickly fill the american metal void left by Pantera. While NO ONE can fill Pantera’s shoes, everyone (including myself) seem to try and compare bands and try to place them in the big picture. I have to say, with “Sacrament,” Lamb of God is getting right up there. Their live shows are crazy and this new album is 11 tracks of metal goodness. Playing this on the Mosh Pit is a no brainer.

Unearth
III: In The Eyes Of Fire
Metal Blade
43:59 – 11 Tracks
All that new wave of american metal stuff above? Well, it almost holds true about Unearth too. These guys have whipped up crowds at every show I’ve seen them play. They come from the metalcore end of the spectrum. They keep it heavy and fun at their shows. This new album shows a good progression from their last. Just balls out metal-hardcore-melodic-thrash. It’s got solid production by none other than Terry Date. You will hear this on the Mosh Pit.

On The Last Day
Meaning In The Static
Victory
43:27 – 11 Tracks
This is kind of an emo-metalcore thinger. A lot of singy vocals mixed in with good ol fashioned metal scream-growls. Some repetetive guitar work, layers of vocals, etc etc. It’s okay, but it’s not super big Mosh Pit material. You may hear this on the Pit… you may not.

Gwar
Beyond Hell
DRT
46:51 – 12 Tracks
Gwar are continuing their trend of the last couple albums… putting out some kick ass metal cds, instead of just relying on their image and stuff. They have catchy heavy tunes, yes, they still have their “image,” but it’s good ol thrashy metal backing it up. It’s produced by Devin Townsend, so you know it’s sound is crisp and a bit processed, but nice and clean. You will hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Behold The Arctopus
Nan-Nucleonic Cyborg Summoning
Metal Blade
53:05 – 9 Tracks
I saw these guys open for Yakuza and Dysrythmia not to long ago. To be honest, I had never heard of them and wasn’t going to be too broken up if I got there late and missed them. Well, I have to eat crow and say, I’m glad I got there early enough to see them. They have a crazy all over the place sound which is a bit hard to explain. The bio sheet compares them to Psyopus or the Red Chord (instrumental of course) . Crazy fast chaotic playing, very technical, thrashy, deathy, even jazzy in some parts? It’s crazy cool and you’ll hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Hatesphere
The Sickness Within
SPV
44:39 – 11 Tracks
This has that death/thrash metal sound. Kind of like Hypocrisy I guess. They have some quick thrashy moments, then take it back for some cool slower almost like those, you know, slower parts in black metal songs… It’s got some good production and is a welcome addition to the Mosh Pit!

Terrorizer
Darker Days Ahead
Century Media
39:25 – 12 Tracks
The re-formed Terrorizer has a new album… Two of the current members of Morbid Angel make up the new Terrorizer. Pete is from the original Terrorizer and also of Morbid angel… This is good brutal grindcore-death metal type stuff. It’s a mix of say, six feet under and Morbid Angel. Some great death metal with a bit of groove in there as well. I’m not familiar with their other album from 1989, but I might have to dig it up! You’l hear this on the Mosh Pit!

Motorhead
2 Song Sampler
Sanctuary Records
I only heard one song from this, courtesy of a promotions company, but what can you say, it’s Motorhead. Nothing groundbreaking from Lemmy and the boys, and that’s a good thing, why change now, right? You’ll hear it on the Mosh Pit!