Between The Buried And Me - The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues [EP] (2011)

This is Between The Buried And Me's first EP, The Parallax: Hypersleep Dialogues, the first of two planned, related concept albums.

1. Spectacular Reflection [11:21]
2. Augment of Rebirth [10:19]
3. Lunar Wilderness [8:22]

First of all, I think it's a pretty damn good EP. At just over half an hour long, there's plenty of material to listen to, and some of it is brilliant. I feel that there's not enough diversity throughout this EP; the majority of the time, if you listen to a part of a track, it sounds too similar to almost any other part of the album.

Just because I find it repetitive doesn't mean the music itself isn't bad; this is how death metal should be done. Very technical stuff, as usual for BTBAM, with a focus on how the song flows and sounds, as opposed to, I don't know, Cavalera Conspiracy. God, that last of theirs album turned me off metal for two whole fucking weeks! But I digress.

Overall, I love the length of the EP, and the progressive, technical song structures. In short, it's perfect for head banging. It's a concept album, which I'm always a sucker for, but I couldn't tell what the hell this album was actually about. Like I mentioned above, it does consist of large portions I feel don't stand out for themselves, but honestly, it's a great listen overall.

Final Score:
81/100

Cavalera Conspiracy - Blunt Force Trauma (2011)

Blunt Force Trauma is Cavalera Conspiracy's second studio album, and is a complete letdown on virtually every level.

1. Warlord [3:05]
2. Torture [1:52]
3. Lynch Mob [2:32]
4. Killing Inside [3:28]
5. Thrasher [2:49]
6. I Speak Hate [3:10]
7. Target [2:37]
8. Genghis Khan [4:23]
9. Burn Waco [2:52]
10. Rasputin [3:22]
11. Blunt Force Trauma [3:58]
12. Psychosomatic (Special Edition Disk) [3:07]
13. Jihad Joe (Special Edition Disk) [3:29]
14. Electric Funeral (Special Edition Disk) [5:39]

Blunt Force Trauma is one of those albums you either love or you hate. Though to be honest, I can't understand how someone could love this album unless they were a die-hard fan. The lyrics (on the off chance you can understand them) lack any depth or significant meaning, the guitar riffs are what you would expect to hear in a typical (almost comically stereotypical) death metal album, and the tracks are all too short to elaborate on anything that actually has potential. Each track revolves around being as loud as possible, and as short as possible (If you picked up the standard album, it's just a little more than half an hour long!).

The only tracks on this album I can say I enjoyed at all were Lynch Mob, for it's vocals, and Electric Funeral, for the song structure and lyrics. Ironically, Lynch Mob features the guest vocals of Roger Miret (from Agnostic Front), while the latter is a Black Sabbath cover. Normally, I try to at mention most of the tracks on any given album I'm reviewing, but there's so little in here worth talking about I'm at a loss. The last 40 seconds of Target is melodeath, instead of just death metal, and the last half of the track Blunt Force Trauma cuts the vocals and actually sounds decent, so I guess that's something interesting. *shrug*

So in the end it turns out that there's next to nothing about Cavalera Conspiracy themselves that I actually like. On the other hand, I suppose Blunt Force Trauma is the perfect template on how to make a bland and unimaginative death metal album; solos that sound like they were made up on the spot, lyrics that were possibly made up even quicker, and the constant recycling of quick drumming and strumming. Unless you're the metal enthusiast who needs to listen to every metal album they can get their hands onto, I recommend you stay away from this one.

Overall Score:
39/100

Protest The Hero - Scurrilous (2011)

Protest The Hero has finally released Scurrilous, their third studio album, and followup to the 2008 Fortress. It's an easy call on my part to say that this is a very solid album, and if you find yourself not liking Protest The Hero at first, they easily grow on you.

1. C'est la Vie [3:33]
2. Hair-Trigger [4:50]
3. Tandem [5:16]
4. Moonlight [4:50]
5. Tapestry [4:35]
6. Dunsel [4:54]
7. The Reign Of Unending Terror [3:24]
8. Termites [3:58]
9. Tough-splitter [4:34]
10. Sex Tapes [4:39]

With the release of Scurrilous, Protest the Hero has once again demonstrated that they've got skill and talent in abundance. They don't capture the majesty that was their first album, Kezia, however Scurrilous either holds up to and excels Fortress on almost every level. Tracks like Tandem and Tapestry are prime examples of how skilled Protest the Hero are at composing music, and their lyrics are still as enigmatic, beautiful, and profane as their previous albums.

C'est la Vie is an average track, compared to the rest of the album. Hair Trigger raises the stakes a lot more, giving you a better taste of the other great tracks to be found on the album. Tandem, Moonlight, and Tapestry are all instant favorites of mine, showcasing all that I enjoy about PtH; Rody Walker's unique voice capturing both low and high notes bang-on, the constantly changing time signatures and tempos, and the many catchy riffs present in any single track. Dunsel and Termites are both average tracks, and pleasant to the ears, however The Reign of Unending Terror and Tongue-Splitter I would consider lower points on the album. And last, and in this case, least on the album there's Sex Tapes, where I don't find many redeeming qualities; the lyrics are humourous and intriguing, but I'm not the kind of person who likes my metal to contain the repeated lyrics "And all the boys are jerking off in private on the internet" for example.

Overall, a pretty solid album. Like I touched on above, Scurrilous didn't impress me to the degree that Kezia had when I first heard it, but it has a much more polished and practiced sound to it than either of their previous albums. In no particular order of preference, Hair-Trigger, Tandem, Moonlight and Tapestry are all standout tracks on this album, and I know they'll be included on best-of playlists of mine for years to come. Dunsel and Termites are other tracks I would recommend, though maybe not to the degree to the four I previously mentioned.

Final Score:
86/100

Deadlock - Bizarro World (2011)

Bizarro World is Deadlock's fifth studio album. Clean and heavy sound, mix in some catchy riffs and a beautiful female lead vocals - I think I'm hooked.

1. Virus Jones [4:59]
2. State Of Decay [3:43]
3. Falling Skywards [4:21]
4. Earthlings [3:41]
5. You Left Me Dead [4:11]
6. Brutal Romance [4:08]
7. Alienation [1:42]
8. Renegade [3:25]
9. Htrae [4:48]
10. Bizarro World [2:11]
11. Paranoia Extravaganza [3:08]

Something I need to clarify right off the beginning about Bizarro World - there are two vocalists. Johannes Prem exclusively does the death growls/harsh vocals, while Sabine Scherer covers the clean vocals. If you're a shallow-minded individual who only likes male lead vocals, then prepare to be disappointed. The rest of us can be left to enjoy this musical treat-to-the-ears.

Virus Jones gives a very good indication for how half of the album sounds; harsh vocals incorporated throughout the track, clean vocals for the chorus and melody, and a very heavy sound overall. Other tracks that follow this scheme are Falling Skyward, You Left Me Dead, and Brutal Romance. Meanwhile, State of Decay represents the other half of the album; 'casual' metal, with a slow tempo, soaring clean vocals, and a near (or complete) absence of death growls. The other tracks similar in style to this are Htrae (ie. 'Earth' spelled backwords), and Paranoia Extravaganza (which isn't actually metal at all; it's Sabine singing with a piano backup). Renegade is an interesting track to say the least, in that it combines both styles mentioned above, with synthesizers mixed in to boot.

There's actually a third 'theme' at play within the album as well, which is a sort of "minimalist-style", as heard on the tracks Alienation and Bizarro World. Essentially, there's no vocals, no drums and only the slightly semblance of a melody at play with the guitar/piano/violins that are heard. They add absolutely nothing to the album, except to act as a bridge between songs.

Well, the album as a whole is actually quite good, despite my bickering above. Virus Jones and Falling Skyward are both album favorites of mine, as is You Left Me Dead. If you're still interested after listening to these tracks, I'd add State of Decay, Brutal Romance and Htrae to that list, but would in all honestly stop there. Paranoia Extravaganza shows off Sabine's vocal capabilities, but the track doesn't fit in at all with the rest of the album (which is presumably why they placed it at the end of the album).

Overall Score:
80/100

Scale The Summit - The Collective (2011)

This is Scale the Summit's 3rd studio album, The Collective. In a contrast to the constantly upbeat mood of their previous album, Carving Desert Canyons, The Collective has a darker and more serious feel to it.

1. Colossal [3:48]
2. Whales [6:28]
3. Emersion [2:33]
4. The Levitated [3:02]
5. Secret Earth [3:38]
6. Gallows [4:33]
7. Origin of Species [2:45]
8. Alpenlow [3:58]
9. Black Hills [7:59]
10. Balkan [3:44]
11. Drifting Figures [3:10]

It's hard to describe, but suffice to say everything about this album is less 'in your face' and more laid back than Carving Desert Canyons. It doesn't make it better or worse, just different. Colossal immediately sets the tone of The Collective as a whole, with its somber guitar melody mixed into Scale The Summit's already characteristic drumming and definitive guitar playing style. Whales is much more experimental in terms of Scale The Summit's style, with a blend of both soaring guitar arpeggios with very technical drumming, and slow ambient guitar combined with easy-going drums. The main chorus is a little grating, with the over-repetitive use of one chord, over and over.

Gallows and Alpenglow are other great examples of how Scale the Summit has changed and matured since their last album, while Emersion and Black Hills are both instances of how a band can both create a new feel, while not losing what already sets them apart from other bands.

My main complaint with The Collective is the same one I had with Carving Desert Canyons; there's not enough variety to distinguish tracks from one another. The Collective is certainly a step in the right direction, as Carving Desert Canyons felt like one long song, but if you take a 10 second snippet from any track, 4 times out of 5 you'll probably not be able to confidently say which track it belongs to. Honestly though, and I said this for Carving Desert Canyons too, the music is so well structured and sounds so nice, that I just need to shut up and enjoy it.

Final Score:
85/100

Serenity - Death & Legacy (2011)

Serenity's 3rd studio. Fucking incredible too; one of the best symphonic metal albums I've heard in a while, and that's not something I can say lightly. Death & Legacy is not without it's faults though, but it's still amazing.

1. Set Sail To [0:29]
2. New Horizons [6:50]
3. The Chevalier [5:32]
4. Far From Home [4:48]
5. Heavenly Mission [5:24]
6. Prayer [1:22]
7. State Of Siege [6:48]
8. Changing Fate [5:42]
9. When Canvas Starts To Burn [4:48]
10. Serenade Of Flames [4:55]
11. Youngest Of Widows [4:08]
12. Below Eastern Skies [1:35]
13. Beyond Desert Sands [4:55]
14. To India's Shores [4:34]
15. Lament [0:40]
16. My Legacy [4:45]

From the moment I started listening to this album, it blew me away. The riffs, the lyrics, the energy in every track, this album has it all. I always find people who enjoy more 'hardcore' metal easily dismiss symphonic metal, but I for one can't get enough of it. Serenity does an amazing job with this, I honestly can't get enough of this album.

Right off the bat, New Horizons, The Chevalier, and Far From Home gave me a high opinion of the album as a whole, and I still had 12 tracks to go! Thinking back, the only tracks I didn't really dig were the interludes    Prayer and Lament, but conversely I found at the same time they enriched the experience of the album (and although I couldn't find anywhere whether this was technically a concept album or not, make no mistake, it is). Below Eastern Skies is the most out of place track on the album, with is largely based on stereotypical Middle Eastern music, but is a very interesting to listen to (though a little short). Changing Fate is probably the track I liked the 'least' on this album, but in comparison, if it were on an average symphonic metal album I would probably rank it as one of my favorites on it. Death & Legacy is that great of an symphonic metal album that I can't find any particular track I would do without.

Death & Legacy isn't perfect though. I find singer Georg Neuhauser's voice to be only a bit better than your typical symph metal vocalist, but overall he does a fair job. Let me just say that the guitar, drums and female vocals are all perfect in most cases, while the lead vocals are a little lacking in some respects. In addition, I found there wasn't enough difference between certain songs for me to be able to instantly recognize them, like When Canvas Starts To Burn, Beyond Desert Sands, and My Legacy - there's not enough diversity between them to be able to hear a 5 second snippet and be able to determine which is which confidently. I'm being nit-picky though; I know I am. There's so much awesome in this album that it far outweighs anything that could be considered a fault.

Overall Score:
92/100

Power Quest - Blood Alliance (2011)

Blood Alliance is English power metal band Power Quest's 5th studio album. It's certainly a good album, but is it great? We'll see...

1. Battle Stations [1:46]
2. Rising Anew [4:35]
3. Glorious [4:58]
4. Sacrifice [6:13]
5. Survive [6:02]
6. Better Days [5:24]
7. Crunching The Numbers [7:26]
8. Only In My Dreams [6:09]
9. Blood Alliance [9:04]
10. City Of Lies [6:38]
11. Time To Burn (Bonus Track) [5:42]

Looking back now, I'm surprised I enjoy this album as much as I do. It's better than your average, generic power metal album, but that's little reason to actually listen to it. The first time I listened through it, I thought very little of it, but the more I listen through the album, the more I find myself liking it.  I find vocalist Chitral Somapala's voice is hit and miss, depending on how long he's holding a high note, but overall he does a good job.

I feel there's not a lot of depth to this album, but that being said there's a fair amount of diversity, which is always a plus in my books. As with any good power metal song, there's got to be a catchy riff, and Blood Alliance delivers on that front with almost every song. Rising Anew has a particularly nice riff, but I feel the main chorus ruins it a bit, though songs like Sacrifice and Glorious keep their awesomeness throughout. Not all songs are great though - City of Lies is nothing special, and the vocals in Crunching The Numbers and Only In My Dreams have more bad moments than good.

I'm just not feeling this album all that much, though it's grown on me a bit after half a dozen playthoughs. There's just not much to make it stand out from a typical power album, but I quite like Glorious, Sacrifice, and the album namesake, Blood Alliance. Props to the band for having an album that isn't just generic song after generic song, but there's not enough to differentiate it from most other power metal albums out there.

Overall Score:
77/100