I've been diving deep into the pile of discs that inhabits the right of my desk. This time I have been casting an eye over some of the most recent releases from labels like the mighty Candlelight.
Tardy Brothers: Bloodline
You could be forgiven for believing this lot are a bunch of blues merchants or a hip-hop group, but you'd be wrong, my friends. This is, in fact, a new project from two members of a band previously known as Xecutioner, better known as the mighty thrash metal behemoth Obituary. In fact, the Tardy brothers were founding members of the band. The pair have not drifted far from what they are used to with this release, except in maybe making it a bit more accessible to more traditional metal fans.
Along for the ride is Obituary guitarist Ralph Santolla, as well as original Xecutioner guitarist Jerry Tidwell. This is a chance for the brothers to play with some of their metal mates and let their hair down to play around with styles probably not normal for their core band. Obituary are not defunct by any means and this sees the brothers expanding their horizons a bit. Band members are even trading instruments on this release.
While not an essential release by any means, it's refreshing to hear musicians pushing their boundaries and having fun. If you are a fan of the Obituary, then this is worth checking out. If you are looking to expand your metal horizons, check this out. All I can say is that I enjoyed it, which is what really matters.
Throne of Katarsis: Helvete/Det Iskalde Morket
If you want your music as black and as bleak as anything to come out of the Norwegian, extreme-metal scene, then this release might be just up your dreary alley. These guys produce stuff that reminds the listener of titans of the Norwegian black scene like Burzum. This is black metal not for the faint of heart. Five tracks of extreme heaviness, that never lets up or gives you a break.
As you might imagine themes of death, destruction, and Satanism abound. This grim duo who augment their sound in the studio with a few more musicians are keen to take their music to further extremes. This music is not easy to listen to nor is it meant to be. Blasphemous and heavy as hell, check out the likes of “The Darkest Path”; the guys are serious about their blackness and evil. Poseurs wilt in their nastiness as do the legions of the good. If the legions of evil needed a soundtrack, they would come to these guys.
Article comments
1 - Brian aka Guppusmaximus
Imagine a bunch of Philadelphia based thrashers[Crown the Lost] on an Italian label doing music that rises above the new wave of American, thrash-by-the-numbers merchant.
This doesn't sound like Thrash in the least! And Chris Renaldi sounds like a bad rip off of the almightySteve Grimmett.
These guys are paying homage to their heroes by taking the music and adding their own twist to it.
First off, Anthrax had the operatic singer back in the day so this isn't a "twist". Second, this isn't thrash...Like I said. It sounds like the faster modern version of Power Metal like Dragonforce,etc..