WISDOM IN CHAINS - "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" (2018)

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS"
(Running time: 39:44 minutes; 13 songs)
("Demons Run Amok"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, finally a new post up here and obviously I couldn't keep up the momentum from the promising start of this month, so to say, but in real life the pre-christmas-time is this year simply damn work-intensive and with also having a real social life then so this little blog of mine up here simply comes off a little bit short currently but I guess that's just life and so all is more than just good and fine with that at the end of the day(s). But with that out of the way it's finally time to do again a little bit up here and so here and now you get my record-review on one hell of a masterpiece and this one is the new WISDOM IN CHAINS album "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" released this summer via "DEMONS RUN AMOK" and if you know this blog now already for a few years longer and/or if you know me personally than you know that WISDOM IN CHAINS are some of my total favorites and this latest since they way back then released their immortal "CLASS WAR" masterpiece in 2007 and now we are eleven years later in 2018 and WISDOM IN CHAINS are going sort of stronger than (ever) before with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS", hell yeahr, and two months ago I did my record-review on SLAPSHOT's new one and what I wrote there about it (of) being my Hardcore album of/for 2018 I definitely stand for it but I also definitely already knew back then that this 'title' SLAPSHOT's "MAKE AMERICA HATE AGAIN" had too share with WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" but simply did not want to 'pre-anticipate' and spoil it back then already, yes, and so now here we are. (And after the almighty SICK OF IT ALL also finally released also their new one very recently we will later on see what that now may mean…) WISDOM IN CHAINS serve us here on and with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" the newest and most impressive dose of their highly intense and highly atmospheric, incredible creative and clichée-free Hardcore full of ongoingly delivered heavy truckloads of devastating heavy and highly dynamic energy and and a rousing attitude and potential like not much else outta there, yeahr, and they even enriched it all far more today in 2018 with "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS", so at least my impression, and cultivated it even more than before with totally getting rid of any bullshit Hardcore clichée crap and with just doing their completly own thing and this so even far more consequent than already before. Melting heavy amounts of catchy and sharp Heavy Metal and crushing Thrash Metal as well as symphonic Classic Rock into their bonecracking heavy and at the same time incredible hymnal and with breath-taking melody lines shining Hardcore the Land of Kings style and that's still deeply rooted in the NY(H)C and that then is all pushed only more and only heavier forward by a massive input of Punkrock, Streetpunk and some Oi! ingredients and that is this time with working- in some good and healthy doses of atmospheric ambient-Pop even only made more rich, rousing, grapping, exciting, and also entertaining. And also only even more conquering. So expect one hell of an impressive and 'overwhelmingly-conquering' rich and grapping songwriting full of great fresh ideas, surprising twists and turns all down the road along the ride as well as open huge surprises and a in that definitely larger than life way still before "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" in that manner just unexpected and so damn strong moments of unrestrained and 'bubbling-over' creativity without any 'scene-limitations' that is just so damn impressive and grapping that WISDOM IN CHAINS take you for an overly exciting ride full of authentic, heartfelt big emotions that they will leave you with your mouth opened wide and a satisfied joker-grin drawn on your face, oh yes, and all is marked by a very strong and huge own unique identity and charcter and a larger than life intensity as well as a damn dense'n'tight atmosphere, yes, served to us by damn skilled musicians from start to finish on the highest grade of quality and full of soulful and heartfelt, sympathic authenticity and that's something that hopefully will never change in camp WISDOM IN CHAINS. All is delivered via highly charismatic and today more than ever versatile lead vokillz backed up by widescreen crew back ups and well placed co-lead vokillz, by a damn diverse and multi-layered, multi-facetted guiatr work, by a heavy smacking bass, and by a thunderous drum work. Any band comparisions? Senseless, too huge, too strong, too characteristic, and too unique is the identity of WISDOM IN CHAINS. But, okay, let me try it this way: Throw SICK OF IT ALL and MADBALL together with METALLICA, ANTHRAX, and LED ZEPPELIN into one big bowl and garnish it with some BONECRUSHER, RANCID, and OXYMORON and you have a good starting point to finally discover WISDOM IN CHAINS on your own. If you ask for any listening tipps then it should be clear that the whole album is the purest platinum outta there and this from start to finish, definitely, but if you're interested in my personal favorites then this are probably "LIFE LESSONS", "SOMEDAY", "BETTER THAN I WAS", "THE BOY AND THE CAVE", "HEART OF A CHAMPION", "TURN MY BACK", "DUCK DOWN, STAY DOWN", and "HALFWAY THERE" simply because this are the songs I've probably listened the very most to and so maybe check this songs out first. A great, sinister 'cartoonish' artwork, a heavy smashing and yet clear and warm production-sound, and absolutely first-class lyrics then finally turn WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" into the complete package and the real deal. What? You still need some finishing closing words? Really? Okay, then… damn it, just go out and (finally) get WISDOM IN CHAINS' "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS" and this instantly. One hell of a fantastic album. Hardcore!!! Fist!!!

(10 of 10 points)

https://de-de.facebook.com/WisdomInChainsPAHC (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

WISDOM IN CHAINS - "THE BOY AND THE CAVE" (2018, "NOTHING IN NATURE RESPECTS WEAKNESS")

CIRCLE OF SILENCE - "THE CRIMSON THRONE" (2018)

CIRCLE OF SILENCE - "THE CRIMSON THRONE"
(Running time: 42:38 minutes; 11 Songs)
("Massacre Records"; 2018; CD):

Hey guys, yes, trust your eyes, already the next round's aimed at you and so here and now you get my record-review on the (brand)new (very) recently in 2018 via the very well-established "MASSACRE RECORDS" label released CIRCLE OF SILENCE full-length-album "THE CRIMSON THRONE", yes, and without any further smalltalkin'n'introducin' ramblings here we go one more time again, yes, and so let's go: The german CIRCLE OF SILENCE were before "THE CRIMSON THRONE" absolute strangers to me, yes, another band of "that kind", so to say, and it was pretty much mostly to only due to the (in the book of my personal taste) fantastic artwork that I got curious when I saw the CD in my local media store and so I risked one or two ears, then took it with me, sneaking to my car grinning from ear to ear like a hobgoblin who discovered the one ring of power for himself, yes, and so now here we are… okay, at least more or less like this so the story goes. Anyhow and anyway, yes, because here we are now… So, okay, CIRCLE OF SILENCE are a german band and they play Metal, yes, goddamn fucking no holds barred and no prisoners taking Metal. METAL!!! Heavily by harsh and devastating Thrash Metal fueled and yet all the time melodic and catchy and above all massively forceful Power Metal with some strong or deep roots in hymnal and anthemic Heavy Metal and some fast raging Speed Metal injections with some (few) very clichée-free and nicely alive-lively modern approaches here and there worked very fresh into it all CIRCLE OF SILENCE serve us here on and with "THE CRIMSON THRONE" and this on just an incredible strong, skilled, and high level of quality and with such a strong own and damn unique identity that it all is nothing else and especially nothing less than just damn fucking great and in parts even more than this. Very fresh and absolutely forceful songwriting full of great variations of pace/tempo, a huge diversity when it comes to the rhythm structures and the arrangements of the songs in general as well as to the compositorial side of the songs and how all the different riffs, parts, moods, and elements that 'make' the songs are in parts nearly perfectly melted together, and also when we talk about the multi-layered and multi-facetted identity of each single song as well as the whole album, yes, this all turns CIRCLE OF SILENCE's "THE CRIMSON THRONE" into one hell of an exciting, grapping, rousing, and filled with some nice little to big twists'n'turns and some fresh surprises and/or unexpected moments ride and this all along the road. And what is also nothing but great is that CIRCLE OF SILENCE really know how to build big to giant mountains of tension in and with their songs, yes, and also that the amazing verses are as strong as the truly larger than life refrains, yes, and that the highly dynamic songs are nearly all the time burstin'n'explodin' for only hardly controlled high octane energy also only speaks for them, yes, for CIRCLE OF SILENCE and their "THE CRIMSON THRONE". All is filled with stunning and incredible forceful and majestic guitar work that delivers amazing riffs and in general just damn mighty rhythm structures and arrangements and shines above all especially with phenomal melody lines, great leads and stunning solos, and that is backed up by a thundering lightning striking rhythm section, while the clear and clean, melodic and yet all the time still very, very strong and hard and powerful lead vocals, at all the right moments backed up by loud'n'proud widescreen crew shoutings, put the crown on it all. The whole album is nothing but damn great and greater stuff but I think my personal favorites would be or maybe better are "DESTROYERS OF THE EARTH", "RACE TO THE SKY", "POSSESSED BY FIRE", "LIONHEART", "THE CRIMSON THRONE", "INTO THE FIRE", "THE CHOSEN ONE", and "ENDGAME" and so maybe check this purest platinum gems out first. An absolutely gorgeous artwork, very good and also pretty multi-layered lyrics, and a clear and heavy production-sound then round it all up in a fantastic way. CIRCLE OF SILENCE's "THE CRIMSON THRONE" is personally for/to me one of the biggest or maybe better one of the most unexpected surprises of/for 2018 so far and for sure one of the strongest albums we will (still) see this year and this in and for but also 'above'n'beside' Metal musick. I can only highly and clearly recommend CIRCLE OF SILENCE's "THE CRIMSON THRONE" to you and so you really better should go out and get it just in case you still don't call it your own, point and fact.

(9,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/circleofsilence (-the link to the facebook site of the band)

CIRCLE OF SILENCE - "LIONHEART" (2018, "THE CRIMSON THRONE")

INTEGRITY - "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" (2017)

INTEGRITY - "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME"
(Running time: 57:37 minutes; 14 songs)
("Relapse Records"; 2017; CD):

I think I've already mentioned one or two times before that 2017 was a very, very strong year music-wise, at least so in my book, and that it also saw the return of the almighty INTEGRITY is only one more further proof for/of my statement. 'Today' for the first time (ever) via the legendary "RELAPSE RECORDS" the outstanding INTEGRITY released their newest gem "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" at the 14th of July of 2017 and it is (so I think) the successor album to/of "SUICIDE BLACK SNAKE" from 2013 (don't ask, I still don't know it so far... shame on me) but in my case it is finally my first 'meeting' with them again since their (al)mighty "THE BLACKEST CURSE" killer (from 2010) that I seven years... or so... ago also reviewed up here. Since then a lot of various records in different formats had been released by INTEGRITY but due to 'troublesome real life stuff'n'issues' most of them went under my radar (so far) and I know it (by) myself so you don't have to say it... shame on me... But anyhow, because finally in 2017 I managed to get my hands on INTEGRITY's newest offering "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" already last summer pretty soon when it was released back then and this totally mindblowing fantastic masterpiece absolutely 'consumed' me, it conquered me and it 'kept me conquered' up to this present day since then. To or for me INTEGRITY were always and still are one of the very best (if not sort of the best) and also one of the most unique and inspiring as well as influential Hardcore bands ever outta there and of an importance of a far wider (out)reaching kind than solely being just a Hardcore 'thing'. They were and still are sort of an absolutely lifechanging importance to/for me in a lot if not (nearly) all ways and meanings. My first experience with INTEGRITY was way, far way back in 1995 with their absolute groundbreakers and total lifechangers "SYSTEMS OVERLOAD" and "HUMANITY IS THE DEVIL", two albums that will forever rank up high on my larger than life albums list, and in 1997 with "SEASONS IN THE SIZE OF DAYS" they absolutely conquered their crown and throne and both they maintain unrivaled up to this day and age and present day. And in 2017 they are finally back again and serve us this outstanding piece of art that "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" totally is. I am absolutely blown away again and again by this masterpiece every time I put it on, again and again, and all the time. This is once in Cleveland born'n'based'n'raised metallic Hardcore fueled by blasphemic/satanic and nihilstic rage and energy without end and sheer 'atomizingly' harsh exploding dynamics and sheer 'ultra-violent' force that absolutely takes no prisoners, no, not a single bit, not a single one, and that simply conquers everything and anything by storm and that especially outshines all and everything with its tight, dense, very sinister and diabolic and nihilstic atmosphere and its massively mindblowing and worldshattering and definitely larger than life overwhelming intensity that marks it all in a very, very immense and stunning way. All is done and delivered by highest skilled musicians via phenomenal outstanding songwriting that is not only larger than life 'overwhelmigly' intense and mercylessly heavy and tough as nails harsh but also incredible diverse and highly varying and all is also massively 'rich' in every meaning(s) and so on "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" the almighty INTEGRITY work (and this in an impressive smooth flowing way without any sort of breaks or holes or any blank space/-s in the song-architecture/-s) not only massive(ly) Metal elements and influences and impressions into their absolutely unique metallic Hardcore musick, first and foremost especially Thrash Metal but also Black Metal and Death Metal marks are clearly to be found and also sometimes bigger, sometimes smaller Doom (Metal) inspirations crush right out of the speakers and overwhelm you instantly and totally, but also traditional Heavy Metal and classic Hard Rock elements (especially in the guitar leads and the harmony and melody lines in general this influences very or pretty often shine bright but also in the rhythm structures this impressions can be found) and even Blues and Country just wait to be discovered here on INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME", oh bloody hell yeahr, and also the more or less for INTEGRITY typical 'classical/traditional' (slightly) Industrial marks rage one more time again beneath the surface of it all, yes, and also every resistance down hammering Hardcore Punk roots that are still very alive and well you will find en masse on and in it all here. The foundation clearly is very unique and sinister, evil, harsh, heavy, intense, crushing, and fast raging, very fresh and totally alive/lively done metallic Hardcore (some may call it Metalcore, okay, but personally I wouldn't do so, but okay...) but or and from this foundation on so incredible more is happening and going on on here, hell yes, INTEGRITY will leave your mind absouletyl blown (out) and your eyes and mouth wide open while your ears ring in constant excitement and hellish pleasure. All is without regrets and without mercy pushed forward by the intense and absolutely unique and charismatic hellish screamed and throaty'n'harsh shouted 'all-out-war-blasted' lead vocals of/by the legendary Dwid Hellion himself, the devastating crushing guitars, and the smashing and thunderous/thundering rhythm section, yes, and all done on one hell of an impressive level of skills and identity. To name any bands to compare INTEGRITY with makes no real sense after all because INTEGRITY pretty much were the first and still are the best and the greatest of'n'in their style but for example a great band like the mighty RINGWORM (and so many others more) would not exist or would not be around the way they are around without INTEGRITY, point and fact. This is HOLY TERROR HARDCORE of and at its very, very, very best!!! The whole album is incredible rich and more than 'just' great and in all honesty it's (nearly) perfect, yes, from start to finish, yes, and so I spare me the mentioning of any sort of personal favorite tracks because you definitely need to experience INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" in all its larger than life glory. Fantastic lyrics, an outstanding gorgeous artwork, and a blasting'n'bombing production sound finally round it all up, yes, it's (at least nearly/almost) perfect, period. INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTNARE SHALL CONSUME" is an absolutely phenomenal and amazing album and one of the very, very best (and most unique) ones of 2017 and surely in years as well as for years to come, oh yes, and if I would have done a more sort of my 'traditional' year-retrospections on 2017 then you would find INTEGRITY's "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME" definitely in my personal top five (if not even in my personal top three) list. Okay, so I think now you should know all what you need to know so far and my last words here and now are that anyone and everybody only slightly into extreme (Hardcore) musick really have to know and own this absolutely mindblowing larger than life masterpiece. HARDCORE!!! FIST!!!
(10 of 10 points)
https://integrity.bandcamp.com/ (- the link to the Bandcamp site of the band)

INTEGRITY - "DIE WITH YOUR BOOTS ON" (2017, "HOWLING, FOR THE NIGHTMARE SHALL CONSUME")

ÜBERGANG - "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT" (2017)

ÜBERGANG - "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT"
(Running time: 33:20 minutes; 13 songs)
("Demons Run Amok Entertainment"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, yes, already back on track again and here's now already coming the next record-review-post by me for you. Yesterday was pretty busy up here but today I don't think that that much more beside this very post here and now will be coming up here (due to real life, you know), hm, and after I still have sort of around 12 to 15 releases of 2017 waiting to be reviewed up here by me for you and to be honest, yes, then I don't think I will get it all done before 2018 will be here, even I'll try my best... more or less, and so expect the first days of 2018 still to be filled with record-reviews on 2017 releases, just that you know it. So, okay, enough of the 'introducing smalltalk' right now right here and so now finally into the proper action and this time it is all about the debut full-length-album of/by the new Thrash Metal/Hardcore-Crossover (Metal) band ÜBERGANG from the german city of Göttingen that features Sebi/STOMPER 98 at the mic (here carrying the name of Cliff Nastii - why the bloody hell ever) but music-wise ÜBERGANG and STOMPER 98 have nothing in common, definitely not, and so enough 'bout this. ÜBERGANG pretty much appeared from out of nowhere over the course of the last years from sort of 2014 on I guess and they knew how to (a)rouse a lot of curious tension surrounding them and also they managed that me, myself, and I had them right from the get-go on the radar screen, for sure, and not at least because I am a huge STOMPER 98 fan and also a huge Hardcore and Metal fan and I still can remember the "ROCK HARZ" festival back then in 2002 when I talked there a bit with Sebi about Metal and all and so I was really curious. Yes, and so with saying all this it should be clear that I simply needed to get my hands on ÜBERGANG's "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT" when it was finally (and still pretty recently) released via "DEMONS RUN AMOK ENTERTAINMENT", yes, and so I finally did; and it was a wise move to do so. It's amazing what a blasting and raging intense blizzard of incredible harsh and heavy forward raging and massively onwards rolling and 'moshingly' into battle stomping Thrash/Hardcore Metal bomb this is, oh yes, it's so damn 'stunningly' intense, breathing a twisted atmosphere out of every onwards raging second and still it's filled with eyes'n'ears-wide-opening melody lines, symphonic leads, and bright (yes, maybe sick and sinister but anyhow all the time very bright) shining solos to bring much flavour and colour into the harsh sawing thrashing Crossover Metal that's surely marked by bonesmashing heavyness and truckloads of sheer intensity and aggression and an un-bowed and battle-scarred 'militant' attitude set first class into musick, definitely, but that's at the same time due to the much skilled musicians and the first class songwriting that offers a lot of surprising rhythm and pace changes and 'tricky' twists'n'turns of and in the arrangements all the time a surprising and exciting, grapping highly intense ride over all the complete distance and that they managed to work out the sort of very often 'ever-changing' verses as strong as the very 'hooky'n'catchy' refrains also speaks only for ÜBERGANG and their "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT". This is a very unique and charismatic album and also surely an album not for everyone (and I would bet that ÜBERGANG are all more than fine with this/that) and also for sure an album that's pretty demanding and that you won't just listen to 'in the background', no, it demands and needs some time to really work and dig in it and trust me when I say that it will be all worth your time and effort because it really offers that much - and especially when ÜBERGANG work ice cold blasting Black Metal aggression into their musick you will be left banging and moshing yourself straight into Hades with a twisted satisfied grin on your face. The lead vokillz are hysteric and high pitched and pissed off and highly aggressive as well as nicely diverse with spoken word passages and surely a big trademark of the musick of ÜBERGANG and if you ask me then for all the right reasons. Same is to say for/about the incredible heavy and intense and yet pretty diverse and very melodic guitars that are absoultely first class stuff. The rhythm section then backs it all up with adding a lot of really beefy and truly bulky meat to the backbone of ÜBERGANG's "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT". Rousing and pretty (sort of) 'poetical' completly in german done lyrics (that are surely personal but also surely outspoken, socially aware and critical), a pretty cool artwork, and a hammering heavy production sound then round it all finally up. A lot of other reviews name you CRO-MAGS, AGNOSTIC FRONT, CARNIVORE, DRI, CRYPTIC SLAUGHTER, NUCLEAR ASSAULT, EXODUS, GBH, RAWSIDE, and VORKRIEGSJUGEND and all this named bands would be or are more or less all maybe pretty correct but with comparing ÜBERGANG to them you would do ÜBERGANG (and the named legends, too) no justice because 'here' it's all a very self-conatined affair and so maybe just take this names as loose starting points from where to go on and start your discovery of ÜBERGANG and their "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT". My personal highlights are first and foremost "KÄMPFERHERZ" as well as "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT", "NICHT ALLEIN" and "VAKUUM", "LEIDENSCHAFT (IM DUNKLEN GEWAND)", "LUCY FAR" and "VERÄNDERUNG" and so maybe start your discovery of ÜBERGANG's "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT" with this bestial slashers first. A few of the other songs aren't that strong or maybe simply just don't speak to me, myself, and I (who knows and who am I to judge), like for example "NICHTS ZU VERLIEREN" and "VON INNEN NACH AUßEN", and so (sort of...) 'block-out' an even higher rating here and now by/from me (but that's 'maybe-but-surely' isn't saying that much after all at the end of the day) but also so ÜBERGANG's "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT" is one hell of a damn strong to great album that I can only clearly and calmly recommend highly to fans of blackened metallic Hardcore, clichee-free Metalcore, and very self-contained and harsh sawing and shredding Thrash Metal a-like. So if you still don't have it but your anyhow into the named target-audience-group then make sure to finally change this and get your hands on a copy of ÜBERGANG's "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT" and make damn sure to support this strong going young Thrash Metal/Hardcore - Crossover Metal Roughnecks from Germany, point and fact.

(8,5 of 10 points)

https://www.facebook.com/uebergang.de/?fref=ts (- the link to the facebook site of the band)

ÜBERGANG - "VERÄNDERUNG" (2017, "ZEICHEN DER ZEIT")

ANNIHILATOR - "FOR THE DEMENTED" (2017)

ANNIHILATOR - "FOR THE DEMENTED"
(Running time: 48:16 minutes; 10 songs)
("Silver Lining Music" & "Neverland Music"; 2017; CD):

Hey my dear readers, yes, it's me and I'm back @ work again, yes, and I hope you all had a great christmas time and also that you started good into the last few days of 2017, okay, and so now here I am again delivering you my newest post and this means (again) my newest record-review for you and this time we're right back in the Metal department with this record-review being on the new ANNIHILATOR full-length-album "FOR THE DEMENTED" released pretty recently this very year of 2017 via "NEVERLAND MUSIC" and "SILVER LINING MUSIC" (that guys that also released pretty recently the stunning new MORBID ANGEL full-length-album titled "KINGDOMS DISDAINED"), yes, and so now straight and direct and right into the action: ANNIHILATOR were one of the first 'more extreme' Metal bands that I had/have ever discovered back then and this was via their absolutely groundbreaking masterpiece "NEVER, NEVERLAND" a long time ago back in 1991 when I first listened to it when being ten years young and since then ANNIHILATOR always were and still are one of the most important bands to/for me and also one of the best out there, no matter what music-genre, period. And ANNIHILATOR also always were one of the Metal bands that I have ever and always listened to even in times when I haven't listened to Metal that much at all, to say it that way. Hm, and so I think it's really about time that finally a post features them up here, yes, really about time, definitely, and so here it finally is. "FOR THE DEMENTED" is the second brandnew ANNIHILATOR album since Jeff Waters himself overtook the vocal duties again, yes, the second after ANNIHILATOR's 2015 output "SUICIDE SOCIETY" (maybe I will do a record-review on it as well some day in the future); and the compilation-album "TRIPLE THREAT" from some time of the late end of 2016 to the early beginning of 2017 we won't count here as a proper new album for/due to obvious 'compilation-reasons'. "SUICIDE SOCIETY" was and is an album that I very much liked and that I still like very much even it sort of missed some punch in the long(er) run of now already two years since it was released but it's still a damn good one and so I was pretty curious when I noticed that "FOR THE DEMENTED" was released not that long ago and it didn't take me long to grab a copy of it - and it pretty much instantly started to conquer me. First of all I have to say that I am a big fan of Jeff Waters as a singer/vocalist and the two 1990's album "KING OF THE KILL" and "REFRESH THE DEMON" on which he took over lead vocal duties for the first time are way up high in my all time favorite list and when we talk solely about ANNIHILATOR full-length-albums they hold the third ("KING OF THE KILL") and the fourth ("REFRESH THE DEMON") rank and stand their ground in my personal ANNIHILATOR top five list up to this day only beaten by "SET THE WORLD ON FIRE" (second rank) and "NEVER, NEVERLAND" (first rank) and even before "CARNIVAL DIABLOS" (fifth rank), yes, so you see, yes, I am a big fan of Jeff Waters singing - and so I am still or again today with "SUICIDE SOCIETY" (2015) and even more with "FOR THE DEMENTED" (2017). I simply like his style of singing and his pretty unique and very charismatic voice, rough and tough and still very melodical and offering a great hymnal and catchy potential pretty much all the time. Yes, it's pure gold in my book respectively my ears, yes, and so also one more time again here on and with ANNIHILATOR's "FOR THE DEMENTED". Beside this, yes, ANNIHILATOR's musick always was highly to highest skilled and very, very unique, pretty much in all ways, Thrash Metal somewhere between harsh shredding and highly energetic'n'dynamic full force all time yet all the time phenomenally melodic, catchy, filled with hymnal hooks, and incredible vayring and diverse and really multi-layered and also filled with big emotions, yes, and so really full of treasures and gems only waiting to be discovered by us - and so it's still today and with "FOR THE DEMENTED" even again quite a bit more than before. Hm, and if the world would be an anyhow 'just-place' then ANNIHILATOR would be at least so big like MEGADETH or SLAYER, period. Anyhow... so yes, one of the biggest and to be honest (and for all the right reasons) not only one but the biggest trademark of ANNIHILATOR had always been, still is and probably as well as hopefully will always be Jeff Waters' absolutely unique and outstanding larger-than-life guitar playing with its very own unique and characteristic tone and approach and so it is also today and no matter if we look at the mindblowing riffing and the highly dynamic and diverse rhythm work or (and maybe even especially) the everything outshining leads and solos, yes, it's just absolutely amazing and sort of 'being on a level of its very own' and this all the time; and it's marking the songs massively - and this for all the damn right reasons. Then there's still the amazing tight and precise and well-versed and also nicely diverse rhythm section that's backing it all up with stunning and massive amounts of energy, yes, and this 'for all good'. The songwirting, that's highly diverse and very dynamic and full of energy and strongly varying while all flowing and melting nearly perfectly together as one in the end, is then cultivating and enriching it all and is full of/with exciting and grapping moments and elements and also still today again and again offering great fresh ideas like the through and through modern Hard Rock tune "THE WAY" or the soul- and playful 'funky' parts of "NOT ALL THERE" to name just a few examples here and now for you. ANNIHILATOR is still today with "FOR THE DEMENTED" all about highly skilled and unique multi-layered Thrash Metal with huge doses of Speed Metal in it and that's embracing a lot of traditional to modern Power Metal impressions with open arms while still standing proud to its hymnal and anthemic Heavy Metal roots and this on a very high level of quality; and this will hopefully never change as long as ANNIHILATOR will be around. My personal highlights are "ONE TO KILL", "FOR THE DEMENTED", "PIECES OF YOU", "THE DEMON YOU KNOW", "THE WAY", and "NOT ALL THERE", yes, so if you need maybe some starting points for your discovery of ANNIHILATOR's "FOR THE DEMENTED" then why not start with this monsters... and great 'psycho' lyrics, interesting liner notes to each song, a beautiful artwork, and a heavy slashing production sound we finally get on top of it all. My final words for you: Get it, now!!!

(9 of 10 points)

https://www.annihilatormetal.com/ (- the link to the homepage of the band)

ANNIHILATOR - "ONE TO KILL" (2017, "FOR THE DEMENTED")

BODY COUNT - "BLOODLUST" (2017)

BODY COUNT - "BLOODLUST"
(Running time: 41:04 minutes; 11 songs)
("Century Media Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey folks, back on track again. A little bit 'exhausted' after today again new ink was 'integrated' into my body, yes, but all is (more than) fine. And look, we are also finally back in 2017, review-wise, like promised/announced. So, okay, here we now have the current 2017 release of/by the legendary BODY COUNT titled "BLOODLUST" and released via (the german based) "CENTURY MEDIA RECORDS". My last encounter with them... whoooaaa... it's decades ago and was and still is named "BORN DEAD", a true classick. The first two BODY COUNT albums were and are absolutely killer records in my book and of pretty huge importance for/to me and my personal 'development'. Don't ask me why I lost them then out of sight, and even the precursor album, hm, I think titled "MANSLAUGHTER" or so and released one or two or so years ago, sort of, totally flew under my radar. And then 2017 hit the scene and I listened to almighty "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" and "NO LIVES MATTER" via YouTube for the first time and then... fuck it... then it was damn fucking clear that I definitely would need to call this Album finally my own again. And so I did. And fuck this damn bloody world but how great BODY COUNT's "BLOODLUST" is, what a monster of an album, yes, absolutely a masterpiece, and this lyric- and musicwise. This is one hell of a great and fantastic Crossover fusion out of Hardcore, (Thrash) Metal, Hardcore Punk, and Rap, melted together in a total devastating and in every sense and way more than "just" relevant Crossover Metal cocktail that takes no prisoners and knows no regrets. ICE-T and 'his crew' are back, and perhaps sort of better than ever. Crushing and smashing and yet still very diverse and soul- and playful guitars really shine on the whole album, no matter if in (pretty organic) grooving and catchy anthems like the larger-than-life "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" or in incredible shredding and sawing purest through and through SLAYER-esque sledgehammer Thrash Metal slashers like the breathtaking "RAINING IN BLOOD/POSTMORTEM 2017" or in fantastic harsh yet hymnal as fuck and often Beatdown fueled beasts of songs like "THE SKI MASK WAY", "NO LIVES MATTER", "BLOODLUST", or "BLACK HOODIE" or in an sort of epic killer song like the mighty opener "CIVIL WAR" featuring MEGADETH mastermind Dave Mustaine, all is done high skilled, incredible intense, very diverse and multi-layered as hell, soul- and playful, yes, and still it's all the time beefy and bulky, bonesmashing and headcracking on one hell of a demolishing level.  Beside the totally blasting guitars the fantastic and so incredible unique and charismatic lead (Rap) vocals delivered by ICE-T and nicely backed up by very strong co-vocal(ist)s and broad and fat widescreen gang back up chants are the next biggest marking trademark of BODY COUNT's "BLOODLUST", and for all the right reasons. The totally precise, versatile, and massive to the point played and delivering rhythm section then is the final puzzle-piece rounding "BLOODLUST" in an impressive way up. The songwriting is not only incredible intense and done in a high skilled way, but also very fresh and just damn strong, and that this fine gentlemen know how to play should be clear anyway anyhow. The lyrics are very strong and outspoken, political, critical, and socially aware, yes, and all on a very high level of quality, I love it. ICE-T and BODY COUNT in best form, in absolute best form, and this lyricwise and musicwise, point and fact. A very sinister artwork, that's a perfect match to/for/with the very tight dark, angry, pissed off, militant, gladiatorial, and intense atmosphere of "BLOODLUST", and a full and heavy first class production sound then round the complete package finally up. My personal favorites are "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" (my absolute favorite), "NO LIVES MATTER", "BLOODLUST", "BLACK HOODIE", "CIVIL WAR" (featuring MEGADETH's Dave Mustaine), "THE SKI MASK WAY", "ALL LOVE IS LOST" (featuring SOULFLY's & the CAVALERA CONSPIRACY's very own Max Cavalera himself), and "RAINING IN BLOOD/POSTMORTEM 2017", so maybe check out this songs first - but in all honesty, nearly every song is a total killer, and only "GOD. PLEASE BELIEVE ME" isn't really kicking me, hm, but maybe that's just me. So, yes, any fan of Hardcore (Punk), (Thrash) Metal, Rap (Metal), and Crossover (Hardcore/Metal) should get his/her/their hands on BODYCOUNT's "BLOODLUST" because this is for sure one of this year's highlights for all of you, and with saying this I mean for all of us. And so, yes, enough words had been spent, for sure, so go out and (finally) get it as soon as possible. Damn fucking great!!!

(9,5 of 10 points)

http://www.bodycountband.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band, do and check it out)

BODY COUNT - "THIS IS WHY WE RIDE" (2017, "BLOODLUST")

BODY COUNT - "BLACK HOODIE" (2017, "BLOODLUST")

OVERKILL - "THE GRINDING WHEEL" (2017)

OVERKILL - "THE GRINDING WHEEL"
(Running time: 64:10 minutes; 11 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2017; CD):

Hey guys, here's the next one coming for you and like (yesterday) announced it is finally again a new record review on a new 2017 album and in this case we will now have a detailed look on OVERKILL's "THE GRINDING WHEEL" released this yery year via the german "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" label. OVERKILL were one of the very first Metal bands that "went beyond Heavy Metal" that I far way back then came in contact with and I fell promptly in love with them, and if the world would be an anyhow/anyway just place, only a very little bit, OVERKILL would definitely occupy safely their place in the ranks of the so called "Big 4" of Thrash Metal but anyhow. Over the last decade I lost them a little bit out of sight and so "THE GRINDING WHEEL" is their first album to make its way into the ranks and onto the shelfs of my collection since their "KILLBOX 13" masterpiece from sort of one and a half decade ago or so. The albums since then I know, some more and some less, but somehow none of them made its way into my home, why ever, but this finally changed again with "THE GRINDING WHEEL". Reading first reviews on it back when it was released at the beginning of this year of 2017 made me damn curious on/about it and so I went and bought it finally one beautiful day and oh hell yeahr how it should conquer me, damn it!!! OVERKILL's "THE GRINDING WHEEL" is, in my perception, a mixture out of their very hymnal and anthemic early days and records when they played a very strongly Heavy Metallic sort of Thrash Metal and of their phenomenal stunning intense and heavy yet still very diverse atmospheric mid to late 1990's phase and especially their absolute masterpiece and my all time favorite of them "THE KILLING KIND" comes to my mind (and its also just fantastic successor album "FROM THE UNDERGROUND AND BELOW", too), and I would say that when you add sort of an epic approach to it all you may get a pretty good impression or imagination of what "THE GRINDING WHEEL" is all about, and just by the way "THE GRINDING WHEEL" is OVERKILL's 18th full length album and it's so incredible fresh, play- and joyful, delivered with so much heart, passion, soul, and energy like the most and biggest majority of today's oh so much celebrated newcomers and young ones in (Thrash) Metal not a single bit get it done, yes, and this says a lot (if not everything). The energy level is all the time shifted to/on "high octane full throttle" mode and it's just fantastic that OVERKILL so easily manage to work into the surely mostly by mid paced tempo dominated songs one hell of an incredible big dynamic and a lot of surprising elements and parts, atmospheric and emotionally intense tones, as well as just purely exciting twists and turns, massive slamming grooves, top notch changes of the tempo and the pace of the songs, massive sing along anthemic and hymnal parts and "hooky" refrains, just pure damn crushing heavyness, and one hell of a strong and great inner diversity of the songs, all marked by an amazing compositorial work and just absolutely shining arrangements. It's just, yes, damn fucking outstanding amazing, period. The harsh and heavy yet just highly diverse and rich-on-variations as well as just fucking intense and atmospheric guitars really shine with their brilliant rhythmic work and their "godlike" melody lines, leads, and solos. Blitz' vocals, that are backed up by top notch loud crew back up chantings, just totally shine in their still very own extremity and with their very own unique identity and character and also with a huge load of fantastic melodies worked into the lead singing performance. The absolutely top notch rhythm section then finally is sort of the "crowning point" of/to it all. The songs are nothing but epic or at very least "epicly done" with no song being shorter than five or six minutes and yet they are so exciting and grapping over all the time and just so diverse and varying and just "valuable'n'rich" that their flow is definitely nothing but highly-to-highest impressive. And with so much to offer and so many absolutely rousing, grapping, and exciting force in it all "THE GRINDING WHEEL" is just one hell of an intense and great ride. That these fine gentlemen are also high skilled musicians should be clear anyhow. If you ask for my personal favorites then I would name you "MEAN, GREEN KILLING MACHINE", "GODDAMN TROUBLE", "SHINE ON", "THE LONG ROAD", "LET'S ALL GO TO HADES", "RED, WHITE AND BLUE", and the larger than life bombastic and epic titletrack "THE GRINDING WHEEL" itself. The bonus song "EMERALD" is also a fantastic piece and a true gem and with its very strong melodic and hymnal, pure Heavy Metal character it is also one of my absolute favorites on this one here. But also the not mentioned ones are anyhow pure Gold as well. Absolutely first class lyrics, a beautiful artwork, and a top notch production sound we get on top of it all. So, yes, here we have a through and through pure and true force of an album that's nothing but incredible great and comes damn close to being a through and through perfect album. Okay, I think I've said enough, closing time up here right now again, yes, so my final words are: Amazing, get "THE GRINDING WHEEL" as soon as possible if you still don't have it in your collection. And now, of course, cheers and good night.

(9 of 10 points)

http://wreckingcrew.com/Ironbound/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

OVERKILL - "SHINE ON" (2017, "THE GRINDING WHEEL")

ANTHRAX - "FOR ALL KINGS" (2016)

ANTHRAX - "FOR ALL KINGS"
(Running time: 59:39 minutes; 13 songs)
("Nuclear Blast Records"; 2016; CD):

Hey guys, next one is coming up online already today (or at least I'll try to). After last time (which means two hours ago or so) we went back in time, "review-wise", and landed again in 2015 (after yesterday we finally reached 2017 again) we now start to move ahead in time, "review-wise", again and this time we will have a close look on a 2016 album, yes, before we will then hit 2017 again with the next post (but that probably won't happen still today). So, yes, 2016 is now in the centre of our interest up here respectively a 2016 album that I will review right here and now for you, okay, this 2016 album is no other than ANTHRAX' last year "FOR ALL KINGS" longplayer that was released via the german "NUCLEAR BLAST RECORDS" label. ANTHRAX returned with "FOR ALL KINGS" to carry on the legacy that they've created so far already with "WE'VE COME FOR YOU ALL" (an almighty masterpiece) and "WORSHIP MUSIC" (a damn strong one) so you can expect and prepare yourself for thrashing Modern Metal or modern Thrash Metal (I guess that depends on your own favorite perspective) and all with some good doses of some heavy hitting & sharp cutting Modern Rock in it, too; with a clear and damn strong focus on crushing grooves and a very forceful and charismatic rhythm work and with also a big focus on slashing mid tempo pace and just pretty cool and stunning as well as more or less often surprising and always strong rhythmic and "guitarwise" gadgetries. What I personally like very much is the fact that ANTHRAX play it all very fresh and independently, not copying anything or anyone and even not them-/theirselves. For sure, "FOR ALL KINGS" carries forth what they've started with the two above mentioned albums, no doubt about it, but "FOR ALL KINGS" really stands for it own and it definitely stands and holds its very own ground and this also in the ANTHRAX discography, well, and if you really desperately want to compare "FOR ALL KINGS" to any other ANTHRAX album then imagine a very unique and independently, self-contained mixture out of "WE'VE COME FOR YOU ALL" and "PERSISTENCE OF TIME" and you maybe get a pretty good imagination of what "FOR ALL KINGS" is all about. Make sure that you are well prepared for an impressive guitar work that shines damn bright in the rhythm department but that also carries huge loads of fantastic melodic lines, leads, and solos; for really fantastic lead vocals that absolutely excel on the whole album no matter what the conditions to master are (and that are nicely backed up here and there in a beefy way); and for a just forceful, stunning, tight, and to the point played rhythm section. It's all surely top notch stuff. ANTHRAX deliver that all on a very high skilled level and melt it all together via energetic and dynamic, intense and also pretty atmospehric and nicely varying songwriting, and all is on point. The whole album is also marked by a pretty cool and powerful "catchyness" and the songs are very melodic as well as "crushingly" in a rockin'n'groovin' way and showcase also a lot of hymnal/anthemic potential, as well as a lot of rousing and grapping moments and elements so that a lot of tension is caused. That the delivery is all the time on point should be clear and should need no further mentioning, and so it is here just mentioned for "reasons of completeness". Strong and good, also pretty diverse and socially aware/politically outspoken lyrics, a highly beautiful artwork, and a fat "bombing" powerful production sound then round it all up, yes, and this in a fine way. My personal favorites are "YOU GOTTA BELIEVE", "MONSTER AT THE END", the title track and über-anthem "FOR ALL KINGS", the absolutely brilliant "SUZERAIN", "ALL OF THEM THIEVES", and "THIS BATTLE CHOSE US". But the not mentioned songs don't fall off (much) anyway anyhow - beside the incredible boring and sort of "just" too "blocky" (in an annoying, negative way) "DEFEND/AVENGE" - even I would here and there wish for sort of a little bit more "fresh excitement" or how else you may call it other/better, hm, but maybe that's just me and so anyhow. At the end of the day I can calmly and clearly recommend ANTHRAX' "FOR ALL KINGS" to any fan of the "new" ANTHRAX and fans of modern Thrash Metal and hymnal thrashing Modern Metal as well as surely also fans of heavy hitting Modern Rock, yes, because it's simply a really strong and also a damn good album that you definitely should have in your collection, yes, and so in case you really don't have or even know it so far you just finally should get your ass off, go out, and get a copy of it, hell yeahr, because it's for sure a strong and a truly damn good album, point and fact. And now, yes, I guess that's it so far and so now I just wish you a nice evening tonight and we will read us sooner or later again the next days, cheers.

(8 of 10 points)

http://anthrax.com/ (-the link to the homepage of the band)

ANTHRAX - "SUZERAIN" (2016, "FOR ALL KINGS")