Blogcritics Author: Metal Dad

Music Review: Walls of Jericho - Redemption

Metal Dad — Fri, 27 Jun 2008 23:36:06 EDT

Tunes with personal flavors
Redemption is an EP by Walls of Jericho released on April 25, 2008. Produced by Slipknot's Corey Taylor it features an acoustic sound which is a radical departure from their metal informed hardcore.Vocalist Candace Kucsulain has a pleasant singing voice only hinted at on previous recordings. As a hardcore screamer, Candace is one of the...

Music Review: Ambitions - Stranger

Metal Dad — Wed, 24 Oct 2007 07:52:51 EDT

This 13 track release is no exercise in hardcore nostalgia or trendy fashion-core.
It must be difficult to be a band in a genre which is strictly defined as hardcore. Witness some of the negative reaction to Throwdown's latest release, Venom and Tears, which brings to the fore influences like Pantera and Machine Head. It's not 1982 so you can't expect things to sound the same as they did twenty years ago. In my...

Announcement: Short-content feeds

Phillip Winn — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 12:00:00 EDT

Sunday, August 26, 2007, marks the switch of all Blogcritics.org article feeds from full-content to short-content. This is the result of several converging factors, and is unfortunately a permanent decision (as permanent as any decision can be on the web, that is). We are aware of all of the reasons that this is a Bad Idea, and we are aware that some of you will be quite upset about having to click on something to read the free content, and we're sorry. Unfortunately, despite great effort, full-content feeds are not currently economically viable. Two other factors are involved: full-content feeds have resulted in an unprecedented level of content theft, with BC content appearing on many websites, usually spam sites, without attribution or permission. This duplicate content causes a cascading set of problems, not the least of which is that search engines generally aren't favorable to duplicate content, and don't always guess correctly. Finally, our RSS advertising partner is strongly in favor of short-content feeds. We hope that you'll continue to subscribe to BC via RSS, and when an article grabs your eye, it's only a click away, still free on the BC website. Thank you for your understanding.

Concert Review: Holy Roman Empire w/The Coop at The House Cafe

Metal Dad — Mon, 16 Jul 2007 18:57:50 EDT

July 13, 2007 - DeKalb, IL was the launching point for the first show of a tour on the heels of the release of The Longue Duree which will take Holy Roman Empire through Western Canada and then on to some dates on the West coast of the U.S. I would highly recommend seeing these guys if they roll through your town. Their latest release, The Longue Duree, is a strong collection of well arranged and well-played songs. I was totally unprepared for the power of this band live, especially Emily Schambra's voice, even after listening to The Longue Duree a number of times. "Undeserving You" kicked major ass - unrelenting guitars, driving rhythm section, and vocals that cut through the wash of sound and burned a path right through your heart. The band ran through much of the material from The Longue Duree and it sounded even better than it does on the CD. I enjoyed seeing this band in an intimate venue like The House Cafe but in my opinion they could hold their own in any size venue. They looked comfortable on stage but more importantly they looked like they were really enjoying it. So many bands seem like they're just going through the motions so it's refreshing to see a band who look like they're having a ball up on stage.It was great seeing Tony Tintari on the drums. He has played in a couple of my favorite bands, Shai Hulud and Rise Against. Along with bassist Geoff Reu, who we've seen before with Killing Tree, he kept things percolating quite nicely. The guitars of Neeraj Kane and Jay Jancetic meshed well and always complemented the songs. No flash for flash sake here, although I'm sure both of them are capable of some major flash. My eldest son went with me to the show and he often serves as a sounding board for me. He opined that Holy Roman Empire sounded a bit like Stavesacre with female vocals. Stavesacre is/was an band from Southern California which was known for some pretty intense live shows, smart lyrics, and heavy, musical songs. I don't like to get into the comparison thing, but sometimes it can be helpful for providing a reference point. I could hear what he was saying. I would go out of my way to see Holy Roman Empire again. They put on a very good show.I have to mention one of the supporting bands: The Coop out of West Dundee, IL. Self described as "a genre-bending, analog recorded sonic delight." They were that and more. A rhythm section, guitar, alto sax, and a keyboard player who doubled on tenor, they played some really interesting music. One of the best moments in their set was in the opening number when the alto and tenor were trading fours. A couple of times the band took it "outside" but they kept it very musical. I'd like to see them again

Hardcore is a way of life. As long as you keep it real and do it from your heart, that's being hardcore. It's not a pair of baggy jeans and a band t-shirt that make you hardcore. It's a family. I count on you, you count on me. I'm husband to a remarkable wife, father to two sons and a daughter, and a network wizard in my spare time.

Music Review: Holy Roman Empire - The Longue Duree

Metal Dad — Sat, 14 Jul 2007 15:06:58 EDT

Holy Roman Empire is comprised of guitarist Neeraj Kane (ex-The Hope Conspiracy, The Suicide File, Stabbed By Words, Sweet Cobra), guitarist Jay Jancetic (ex-Arma Angelus, Stabbed By Words), bassist Geoff Reu (Killing Tree), drummer Tony Tintari (ex-Rise Against, Shai Hulud), and vocalist Emily Schambra (ex-Longdistancerunner). Holy Roman Empire was listed as one of Alternative Press' "100 Bands You Need to Know in 2007." They have shared stages w/ Rise Against, Anti-Flag, Spitalfield, Piebald, Damnation AD & many more.Combining their hardcore roots with influences like The Cure and Sunny Day Real Estate, HRE has staked out a unique position on the post-hardcore landscape. Their latest full length release, The Longue Duree, on Hewhocorrupts Inc. is 12 tracks of powerful guitar driven music fronted by a very talented female vocalist and supported by a rock steady rhythm section. These are sharp, well arranged, intelligent, and well-recorded songs.I have to admit to a predilection for female fronted bands but not in a sexist, leering way. I really like women. I was the only boy in my family with three sisters. I enjoy being around women, I value their insights, I admire their strengths and virtues. Although my musical tastes generally run along extreme lines such as hardcore, death metal, and grindcore, I found myself listening to The Longue Duree quite a bit."Undeserving You" opens the CD with a really nice guitar motif which is nicely fleshed out when the rest of the band kicks in and Emily starts singing. There's a nice part about half-way through where the band drops out, leaving only a single guitar playing the opening motif underneath Emily's vocal and then the rest of the band comes back in. It's a compelling musical moment. There is some nice guitar interplay on "An Alliance of Thieves" with Emily's vocal soaring high above the fray."Hail Mary" has a thick, heavy sound that enhances but does not overpower the song's melody. A bit of feedback and a nice guitar figure lead into "Mute Hearts." Emily Schambra's voice stays in your head long after the music is over. I gave this CD to some co-workers so they could listen to it and give me their impressions. They view musical gifts from me with a wary eye knowing my fondness for hardcore, noise, and grind but they liked this CD very much and I think you will as well. I'm sure there will be some comparisons to Lacuna Coil or Evanescence which are also fronted by strong female vocalists. These kinds of comparisons do none of these bands justice. HRE, along with the aforementioned bands, stands or falls on their own merits. I think they stand very well.I've long admired Hewhocorrupts, Inc. for their roster of sonic adventurers like 7000 Dying Rats, Tower of Rome, and Hewhocorrupts. While Holy Roman Empire may be somewhat more accessible than some of their HWC, Inc. brethren, they are no less an interesting or satisfying listen. If you like bands like Sunny Day Real Estate and Sensefield, or if you just like kick-ass rock with great vocals and well arranged songs, I think you will find The Longue Duree worth your time.HWC018Release Date: 6/5/07Track Listing: 1. Undeserving You 2. The Ace 3. An Alliance of Thieves 4. Hail Mary 5. Our Whole Lives, Waiting 6. Shatter Historic 7. Olympus 8. Mute Hearts 9. Action Figures 10. Take it Outside 11. Fire Drill 12. Vicarious Haunting

Immigration Bill Dies the Death

Metal Dad — Thu, 28 Jun 2007 23:30:49 EDT

For reasons which will become clear, it was difficult to watch cinematic depictions of the battle at the Alamo and know which side to root for. #1 son once declared while studying the portion of American history which dealt with Texas' struggle for independence from Mexico and its subsequent absorption into the United States, "I feel so conflicted!" My maternal grandparents were "illegal immigrants" from Mexico. They crossed the Rio Grande into Texas and settled in Ozona where they lived the remainder of their lives and raised a family of first generation Mexican Americans. I've been told that my grandmother never went back to visit Mexico because she was afraid she would not be able to get back into the States. My grandfather worked on local ranches as a vaquero all his life. They paid taxes and were very active in the community. They required their children learn English and pursue higher education, and although my grandmother would never speak English, it was commonly believed that she understood it quite well. I am neither proud nor ashamed of my ethnic heritage. My Mom married an Anglo, we lived up north, and never learned to speak Spanish at home. I do not particularly identify as being Mexican-American other than flying a Mexican flag from my front porch on Mexican Independence Day and Cinco de Mayo, making tamales for Christmas, or irritating a racist neighbor by drawing attention to my ethnicity. I've told my sons in the past that if anyone gives them grief about their ethnic heritage to tell them, "lay off or we'll tell our relatives not to mow your lawn." The fact is my grandparents were in violation of the laws of the United States. There is no way around that. Should they have been deported? Probably, but I'm glad they weren't and that I had the opportunity to grow up in this country. Signed, Conflicted

Concert Review: Destroying All That You Love, Summer Tour 2007

Metal Dad — Tue, 12 Jun 2007 08:46:36 EDT

Along with some nasty weather, a sonic tornado rolled through the town of De Kalb, IL on June 7, 2007. The House Cafe, owned and operated by NIU music professor and Chicago music legend Fareed Haque, was the scene for some musical mayhem provided by Tribunal Records in the guise of Killwhitneydead, Woe of Tyrants, and The Demonstration.Shadow of the Reaper, a local band, kicked off the evening. These guys are long on chops and attitude and I expect to hear more from them as they mature and get wider recognition. Their twin-guitar attack, along with some solid drumming, bode well for the evening.The Demonstration came on next. Singer Zachary Messick has one of the strongest voices I've heard in some time, I'm here to tell you. I understand Mr. Messick is a fairly new addition to the band. Great guitar playing from Charles Matheny and David Shoaf was undergirded by the crushing rhythm section of Josh Coe on bass and Peter Jackson on drums. Listening to these guys made me wonder what they put in the water in North Carolina, from which they hale. I'm looking forward to hearing more from these guys. Their latest release on Tribunal Records, Words of a Con-Artist is worth picking up. On a personal note: during their set a pretty large guy planted himself right in the middle of the floor which was filled with kids two-stepping and windmill kicking. This guy got clipped by a hand or fist, a common hazard when one gets in the middle of the pit. He starts pounding on this much smaller kid, an egregious breach of mosh pit etiquette. My oldest son, who had come to the show with me, flies out of nowhere, grabs this big lug around the neck, pulls him away from his target and moves him to the back of the venue. I was pretty proud of my son for standing up to this mosh pit bully. I like to think my wife and I raised him right. It's a shame that this happens frequently at shows. There is always some cretin who is not there for the music or the camaraderie of the pit but just looking for trouble and a fight.Woe of Tyrants, out of Ohio, came up next and played a blistering set of thrashed up metal. Old school influences were evident but these guys don't live in the past. They have an approach not unlike Lamb of God. Heavy, intelligent music will never fade away as long as there are bands like Woe of Tyrants who combine the best of the old with a fresh attitude and perspective. Look for their latest release, Behold the Lion, out on Tribunal Records.I have been looking forward to seeing Killwhitneydead ever since I heard their debut, Inhaling the Breath of a Bullet, which is described on the Tribunal web site as "A frantic combination of grind-core, death metal and Slayer influenced dance floor hardcore (Kerry King solos included), which is then overlapped and intertwined with layers of samples, killwhitneydead pound out eleven tracks in just less than 15 minutes. To say that killwhitneydead push the boundaries is an understatement; they are prepared to annihilate everything and everyone standing in their way. Killwhitneydead have arrived so let the mayhem begin. Violence never sounded so good!" And I whole-heartedly agree.Killwhitneydead is actually the studio project of Tribunal's boss, Matt Rudzinski augmented in live perfomance by the able talents of members of The Demonstration. Their set ignited with "If It Ain't Johnny Cash, It Ain't Country" from Inhaling the Breath of a Bullet and it just got sicker as the show continued. They played material from their latest release, Nothing Less Nothing More, which did not disappoint. I remember seeing the Chariot a couple of years ago and they used lots of movie samples in their show but it was distracting and did not enhance the songs. Killwhitneydead's use of samples from films like Full Metal Jacket and American Psycho always fit and never seem like they were tacked on as an afterthought. One benefit of getting to this show was being able to update my collection of Killwhitneydead's recorded output by picking up Nothing Less Nothing More and the sold at shows only Hell to Pay. Anger and revenge never sounded so good.

DVD Review - Mott the Hoople: Under Review, An Independent Critical Analysis

Metal Dad — Sun, 10 Jun 2007 23:48:28 EDT

This 90 minute DVD covers the career of a great band not often remembered, but a band who wielded great influence as probably the best pre-punk band to come out of the UK.Mott the Hoople came out of the Hereford band Silence which consisted of Mick Ralphs (guitar), Verden Allen (organ), Pete Watts (bass), and Dale Griffin (drums). After adding Stan Tippens on vocals they recorded a few tracks. The group caught the eye of Island Records, were signed, and moved to London to begin recording with legendary producer Guy Stevens.Stevens got them to change the name of the band to Mott the Hoople from the novel of the same name by author Willard Manus. A veteran singer/songwriter named Ian Hunter was invited to join the band which led vocalist Stan Tippens to become the band's road manager. The band had begun to amass a loyal following by virtue of their live perfomances. In 1969 the band released their eponymous debut, Mott the Hoople, to mild success. Three more albums followed by 1971, Mad Shadows, Wildlife, and Brain Capers. In spite of their rabid fans, these albums did not sell well and did not receive very favorable press.The DVD chronicles how the band, on the verge of splitting up, were offered the song "Suffragette City" by David Bowie who was a fan of the band. Mott declined the offer, leading Bowie to write "All the Young Dudes" for them. This song became the single and title track of the Bowie produced album. It also gave Mott The Hoople their first hit single, and broke them in a huge way in the UK and the United States.Mick Jones (The Clash) remembers how "All the Young Dudes" was a turning point for Mott much in the same way that "Ride a White Swan" indicated the change of Marc Bolan's Tyrannosaurus Rex to T-Rex. Journalists Daryl Easlea, John Robb, and Kris Needs are joined here by Nicky Horne -- who produced shows on BBC Radio 1 from 1970-1973 -- to discuss the merits and deficiencies of Bowie as producer on All the Young Dudes.The image shift of the band to the burgeoning "Glam" scene is discussed with a general consensus that the band was unfairly tagged with the glam label. Daryl Easlea offers an interesting comment on the gender politics inherent in the Glam scene.Prior to the recording sessions for Mott's next album, organist Verden Allen left the band due to dissatisfaction with the touring life. He was replaced by Love Affair keyboardist Morgan Fisher. The album Mott was released in 1973. This release showed a maturing, somewhat jaded band. Ian Hunter was coming into his own as a songwriter. Mick Ralphs' "I’m a Cadillac/El Camino Dolo Rosos" was a real gem among the collection of Hunter tunes. Subsequently Ralphs left the band to form Bad Company with Paul Rodgers. His replacement was Luther Grosvenor from Spooky Tooth who was re-christened Ariel Bender.This was the lineup which went into the studio to record their 1974 release The Hoople. Ken Emerson wrote about this album in Rolling Stone, "It seemed a post-glitter breakthrough, debunking superstardom and demythologizing rock."The special relationship Mott had with the band Queen is explored. Queen had a supporting spot on the bill of the major U.S. tour Mott undertook behind The Hoople.After a UK show which turned out to be their last, Luther Grosvenor left to be replaced by former Bowie guitarist Mick Ronson. A scheduled UK tour was subsequently cancelled when Hunter had an emotional and physical breakdown. Hunter and Ronson soon left the band to record and tour as a duo. The band shortened their name to Mott and recruited vocalist Nigel Benjamin and Ray Major. Two more albums were released, Drive On and Shouting and Pointing. Neither album sold well, and Benjamin departed to be replaced by John Fiddler and the band changed their name to British Lions.British Lions would eventually disband. Hunter went on to a fairly successful career as a solo artist and with Mick Ronson in the Hunter-Ronson Band until Ronson's death in 1993. This is a fascinating retrospective of the career of a band whose influence surpassed by far their commercial success. One of the extras available is some Super-8 film shot by Morgan Fisher while on tour with Mott in the States in 1974. The footage and commentary provide a remarkable insight into the life of a touring band. Ian Hunter has always struck me an one of the most literate rockers who ever graced a stage or picked up a guitar. His book, Diary of a Rock 'n' Roll Star provides a glimpse into the trials, frustrations, and joy of a band on the road. His songs have stood the test of time and are as relevant today as they were back in the early Seventies. He once sang that "rock 'n' roll's a losers game." But he was no loser and rock is much richer for having seen the likes of Mott the Hoople.

Mother's Day

Metal Dad — Sun, 13 May 2007 07:51:55 EDT

Anyone who knows me well knows my antipathy towards domestic chores. It was inculcated by a father who would not allow me to do dishes, laundry, or other household chores because "boys don't do that." Having three sisters and being the only son of an old-fashioned East Texas hillbilly father and a 1st generation Mexican-American mother was a very nice place to be in the family order.I remember being able to come and go pretty much as I pleased. I routinely roamed the North side of Chicago and its downtown, starting when I was about 10 years old. On a typical summer day I would say, "See you later" and be gone until I got hungry or came in for the night. I don't really remember having a curfew. If my sisters went out, they practically had to have J. Edgar Hoover's stamp of approval and a detailed itinerary of where/who/when. As adults, I don't think they've ever expressed to me how unfair they probably thought this was, but I'm sure it chapped their asses plenty.All this is a long way around the barn to write about the greatest mother I have ever known - my wife. In spite of being hampered with an emotionally stilted husband who refuses to act his age and has any number of character defects, she's done a pretty remarkable job with our children. They're not perfect, but they could be a lot worse.She's instilled her sense of adventure and positive outlook in our youngest son. He seems to have inherited her people skills. He has more friends than Carter has pills. It has been nice to watch her evolving relationship with our oldest son who is back at home after a year at university. He decided to get a job and take some distance classes while he collects his non-thoughts and decides what steps are next. What was at times a difficult relationship (probably because he is just like me) is turning into a good friendship based on love and mutual respect.You would have to see my wife with our daughter who is a bit more challenged than most. We were told when she came to live with us that she would never walk, hear, or even roll over. The medical community has much to learn about the power of a mother's love as she walks, a bit unsteadily, but walks nonetheless, with the aid of orthotics. She loves music of all kinds - from Barney and Raffi to Parliament/Funkadelic, Bob Marley, and Minor Threat.My wife's language of love is action, so when asked what she would like for Mother's Day, she replied, "A clean house." Therefore this meager but heartfelt ode to my wife is being written while taking a break from cleaning the house from top to bottom. My sons' contributions will be clean bedrooms and clean bathrooms. Because of their incredible mother, I think they will not find doing chores around the house a foreign or mysterious concept. Even though I sometimes catch myself feeling weird mopping a floor or doing a load of laundry (like my father's ghost is frowning in disapproval), I'm happy to give this gift to my dear wife. Now, back to work!

Music Review: 7000 Dying Rats - Season in Hell

Metal Dad — Thu, 8 Feb 2007 02:36:18 EST

Grindcore is one of those genres which causes my wife to ask if I'm ever going to grow up. I tell her that just because I've ended up a middle-class suburbanite doesn't mean I have to act like one. I fully embrace Ian MacKaye's lyric from "Minor Threat": "I might be an adult, I'm a minor at heart."7000 Dying Rats exists as a studio entity formed by Steve Rathbone and D.J. Baraca who went on to form Lair of the Minotaur after 7KDR (7000 Dying Rats) decided to cease live performances. This musical aggregation has had many members over time, The current lineup consists of D.J. Barraca - guitar; Josh Diebel - lead vocals, samples, shakers, fish, pipes; Steve Rathbone - guitar, keyboards, samples, bass, harmonica, vocals; Derek Swanson - bass; Toney Vast-Binder - lead vocals, bass, keyboards, trombone, air organ, drums; and Weasel Walter - drums, vocals.7KDR is part of the Hewhocorrupts, Inc. family which is home to such sonic adventurers as Tower of Rome, Holy Roman Empire, and Hewhocorrupts. True to grindcore form, Season in Hell is 28 tracks of musical mayhem with tracks from 21 seconds to 3 minutes and 51 seconds in length. This release reminds me a lot of one of my favorite albums: Todd Rundgren's A Wizard, A True Star. Both albums are careening musical collages of noise and melody, although in 7KDR's case the melody belongs to some charming atonal violins on "Argument at Your Local Indie Record Store." "Altar of Goat Skulls", "Hack to Bits", "Bigfoot Destroy", and the hilariously titled "We had 'Dying' in our Name Way Before all Those Metalcore Cocksuckers Came Along" are blasts of make-your-ears-bleed grind.There is even a weirdly, techno/electronica cover of Black Sabbath's "Paranoid" which somehow works. Some may think the record is too scattered and not focused enough, but I was entertained by the shifts from Pig Destroyer influenced grindcore to moody, mysterious keyboards to a really wacky rap, "We Want Weez-E," and even the brooding, acoustic "Your Studied Indifference is Duly Noted" which segues into the glorious grindcore of "Satanium Bloodlust." This CD is not for everyone but if you're willing to take a chance and give it a listen you won't be disappointed and you might even enjoy it. If you are already familiar with 7KDR, make yourself another pot of coffee, put the headphones on, crank this baby up and get ready to be eviscerated.Track List:1. Intro2. Altar of Goat Skulls3. Hack to Bits4. Bigfoot Destroy5. Annihilator the Devastator6. Argument at Your Local Indie Record Store7. Your Studied Indifference is Duly Noted8. Satanium Bloodlust9. We Want Weez-E10. Eddie Money11. Balls of Bigotry12. Alzheimerz13. Death Hammer of the Bearded Ones14. Rock n Roll Weapon15. Baby Crusher16. Horrible17. Blondies18. Paranoid19. The Wound (Gapeth Open)20. A Real Kneeslapper21. Jesus Farted22. Forced Boat23. We had "Dying" in our Name way Before all Those Metalcore Cocksuckers Came Along24. Grind Fluffer25. Funeral March26. Balled of Chico27. Hellcatcher28. Outro

Music Review: Various Artists - The Best of Taste of Chaos Two

Metal Dad — Tue, 30 Jan 2007 10:06:43 EST

Taste of Chaos is a screamo/post-hardcore tour that was started in the winter of 2004 by Kevin Lyman, the creator of the successful Warped Tour. The Taste of Chaos tour was designed to bring in bands outside the usual punk, emo, and metal format that the Warped Tour usually caters to. The Best of Taste of Chaos Two double CD is due to be released on January 30, 2007.A quick perusal of the artists on this CD reveals that a wide range of styles are represented, from noisecore to metalcore to straight up metal. Underoath starts off disc one with one of their typical genre bending songs. Underoath isn't hardcore or metalcore and they're definitely more than post-hardcore screamo. They're simply very good at what they do. "In Regards to Myself" careens from metal tinged screamo to a positively melodic interlude with some really good vocals. I saw them open for Living Sacrifice a couple of years ago and they played an incandescent set. Metalcore is well represented by the offerings of Bullet for My Valentine and Every Time I Die. Saosin's "Follow and Feel" is an uptempo piece with nicely arranged guitars and vocals. Thursday and Taking Back Sunday present a couple of well done emo tracks. I really liked Anti-Flag's Press Corpse. I've always been partial to their brand of politicized hardcore punk and this is a well performed and recorded track. Norma Jean offers one of their standard pieces of chaotic noisecore with "Blueprints for Future Homes" which is a track from their current release Redeemer. It is in my opinion a marked improvement over O God, the Aftermath. Helmet does well with their unique post-hardcore tinged metal. I have never been a big fan of Emery's stylings but they present a well arranged and performed "So Cold I Could See My Breath."For me, disc one started to drag around track 14. I am just not a big fan of the emo of Bleed the Dream or the alt-rock of The Smashup and Opiate for the Masses.Disc two opens up with the hardcore influenced metal of As I Lay Dying and continues with the melodic, Gothenburg death metal of In Flames. The metalcore influenced thrash of Shadows Fall is displayed by "In Effigy." Unearth offers some tasty hardcore laced metal with "Giles." Dragonforce plays their trademark extreme power metal on "Fury of the Storm." This is not a genre I am particularly fond of but I recognize that these are some pretty talented guys and they do what they do very well. A strong metalcore piece, "Love in Slow Motion" by Bleeding Through continues the CD. This is a very polished and professional band and they make very good CDs. All That Remains offers the first track, "This Calling" from their CD, "The Fall of Ideals" and it is a very good sample of well played and produced metalcore. God Forbid follows with some well played thrash in "Chains of Humanity," a piece from their concept album, IV, "Constitution of Treason." The inclusion of a track from shock thrashers GWAR is a pleasant surprise. While probably better known for their insane liveshows, "The Eighth Lock" is a good listen. The intense industrial metal of Strapping Young Lad continues the heaviness. A Life Once Lost offers up some polyrhythmic deathcore. Moving along in the deathcore vein is The Red Chord. Job for a Cowboy plays a potent mix of grindcore, tech death metal and metalcore on "Entombment of a Machine." Diecast plays a bland type of metalcore which no doubt goes down well with the fashion-core kids on the tour. The heaviness continues with those metalcore stalwarts, Zao, although they are hard to pigeonhole. They have black metal influences as well as death metal influences. Their track does not disappoint. It is typical, brutal Zao. Parkway Drive plays an infectious brand of straight edge metalcore. This is one band I will be checking out more in the future. They did a split EP with the metalcore I Killed the Prom Queen who also appear on this compilation. The screamo of Behind Crimson Eyes did not do much for me but I greatly enjoyed the black metal of Carpathian's "Who the Fuck Taught You Snaps." New Zealand's Cobra Khan closes the second disc with some punk flavored metalcore.All in all, this CD was an enjoyable listen. I did prefer the second disc over the first as disc two2 contained bands who play heavier music, which is more to my tastes. I'd recommend this compilation to anyone who wants to explore post-hardcore bands and get a flavor of the music presented on the Taste of Chaos tours.Track Listing:Disc One:1. Underoath - In Regards To Myself2. Thursday - At This Velocity3. Bullet For My Valentine - 4 Words (To Choke Upon)4. Wolfmother - Colossal5. Senses Fail - Sick Or Sane6. Saosin - Follow And Feel7. Taking Back Sunday - Error Operator8. Anti-Flag - Press Corpse9 . Norma Jean - Blueprints For Future Homes10. Every Time I Die - The New Black11. Helmet - Gone12 . Emery - So Cold I Could See My Breath13. Chiodos - The Words 'Best Friend ' Become Redefined14. Bleed The Dream - Confessions15. The Smashup - Icarus Flies16. Opiate for the Masses - Dead Underground17. Aiden - Die Romantic18. Evaline - Calm TouchingDisc Two:1. As I Lay Dying - Empty Hearts2. In Flames - The Quiet Place3. Shadows Fall - In Effigy4. Unearth - Giles5. Dragonforce - Fury Of The Storm6. Bleeding Through - Love In Slow Motion7. All That Remains - This Calling8. God Forbid - Chains Of Humanity9. GWAR - Eighth Lock10. Strapping Young Lad - Wrong Side11. A Life Once Lost - Vulture12. The Red Chord - Antman13. Job For A Cowboy - Entombment Of A Machine14. Diecast - Fade Away15. Zao - Physician Heal Thyself16. Parkway Drive - Gimme A D17. Carpathian - Who The Fuck Taught You Snaps18. Behind Crimson Eyes - The Art Of War19. I Killed The Prom Queen - Sharks In Your Mouth20. Cobra Kahn - Wrapped In Plastic