5. and you will know us by the trail of dead - Source Tags and Codes
Each song gets better as this album progresses. Each song is arranged for beauty clashed with anger and (I'm sure) throwing guitars. The guitars play beautiful melodies and then go into harshness and angriness. You never quite know how you should feel while listening to this album. Should you feel melancholy over the sweet sad melodic guitar lines or angry over the abrasive drums and guitars. All you know that you know is that you shouldn't be happy, unless of course you are happy because of the awesome quality this music possesses. Released February 26, 2002

Mike Frost - Music Editor for Buzzgrinder
1. Suffering and the Hideous Thieves - Real Panic Formed
This CD was a flat out kick in the teeth. When Jeff Suffering came onto the radar with the 90 Pound Wuss debut album, I was hooked by the raw fury and unbridled energy that they brought to their music. When Raft of Dead Monkeys was brought to my attention (I missed the self-titled, but Thoroughlev was ten times better anyway) I was an instant sucker for the Fugazi-ish punk musings that literally sucked you into their world. As much as I loved Suffering's past bands I was completely unprepared for the staggering jolt I would feel for months. I seriously have never heard an album that was this good. At a point in time where the music being pushed out was flat-lining two weeks after release date, Suffering and the Hideous Thieves came out of nowhere and shattered everything that was 'cutting-edge' music. This album was not only revolutionary at its release; I expect that this album will have an incredible impact for years to come.

2. Suffering and the Hideous Thieves + The Hush Hush - Double EP
A second dose of Suffering and crew, just when you thought it couldn't get any better. This incredibly talented collection of musicians took Real Panic Formed, and evolved. The sound is more direct and focused. The vocals are better. It would take over the number 1 slot, but it only has 5 songs. The Hush Hush contribution is a wonderfully easy to take encounter. The entire CD is smooth and understated. Very much a late-night relaxing drive CD.

3. System of a Down - Steal This Album!
One of my favorite recent purchases. This takes the number 3 slot in no small part because I still have no idea how they got as popular as they have. Let me explain why...
a. Bands who are politically vocal don't gain widespread popularity as easily as bands that sing about other topics (I know you're saying Rage Against the Machine, but see the next point).
b. They are barely radio friendly (where as RATM had the heavy rap-rock hook-laden beats that drove radio DJs nuts). It really doesn't fit well with many of the formats of X-radio stations that play them.
c. Serj's vocals are unlike any other popular mainstream metal act. It isn't forced either, flowing naturally with the hammering guitar, bass and drums.
d. They consider their music art, not simply entertainment. This is a whole mindset that unfortunately goes against the grain for popular music as a whole. Most musicians who have a similar art-based mindset as Soad see their music as a vehicle to take one to another level, reaching for the experience. Entertainers just want to get paid. Ultimately they only end up pissed off about Peer to Peer file sharing and totally miss the event that they could have created