365 Days of Metal: Destroying the Things That Make the World Go Round

Day 48

The Acacia Strain - Wormwood

Artist Origin: Chicopee, Massacusetts, USA
Genre: Deathcore
Label: Prosthetic
Running Time: 47 minutes
Release Date: July 20, 2010

Best Part: Chug-chug, chug-a-lug.

Favorite Tracks: The Impaler, Jonestown, BTM FDR, and Unabomber

Grade: 3.5

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Wormwood in 20 words or less:

Technically improved, and 100% brutal - a good step forward for a band that had severely failed to impress me during a past live performance.

The Band:

The Acacia Strain is an American deathcore band who specialize in heavy rhythms, slow and brutal breakdowns, and increasingly misanthropic lyrics. Although that isn't very uncommon in the genre at all. Going through some of their older material however, you can spot much of the technical evolution and improvements they've made to their music over the years - without taking away from their intrinsic brutal style.

The Acacia Strain's other releases include: ...And Life Is Very Long (2002), 3750 (2004), The Dead Walk (2006), and Continent (2008)

Jay's Take on Wormwood:

The first time I had ever heard The Acacia Strain was at a live performance in town, opening for Despised Icon. At first glance, they really didn't impress me - the sound quality at the show was also not very good, making the bands low tuning sound dirtier than a thai hooker. Up until that point I had essentially ignored the band, until the release of Wormwood, which is where I gave strain a second chance. Wormwood is a considerable improvement over their earlier work, and show off some technical improvements to go along with it. And also includes a guest appearance from Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed on the opening track. The mood of each track is dark, gloomy and brutal as all hell, with lyrics that push the envelope of darkness and misanthropy. Wormwood is the kind of record you want to listen to when you want to just break stuff - or unleash some of that inner rage in synch with its many slow, pounding, chuggy beats.

Sample of the Day:



- J

365 Days of Metal: Rebecca Black Metal Friday vol. 4

It`s been almost three weeks since Rebecca graced us with her presence. Unacceptable.

Day 47

Keep of Kalessin - Reptilian

Artist Origin: Trondheim, Norway
Genre: Melodic Black Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Running Time: 57 minutes
Release Date: May 10, 2010

Best Part: Closing track.

Favorite Tracks: Reptilian Majesty, The Dragontower, Dragon Iconography, and Leaving the Mortal Flesh.

Grade: 4.0
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Reptilian in 20 words or less:

The third record under the new iteration of this captivating melodic black metal band that continues to push the traditional boundaries of the genre.

The Band:

Keep of Kalessin is a melodic black metal band out of Norway that plays a variant that also goes against the grain of traditional Norwegian black metal by using instruments not generally associated to the genre, such as piano and synths. Formed originally in 1993, Keep of Kalessin split-up in 2000 although lead guitarist and founder Arnt "Obsidian C." Grønbech would not give up on the project. After auditioning and joining Satyricon Obsidian C. continued to work on Keep of Kalessin, reviving the project in 2003 for the release of the Reclaim EP, and eventually reconstituting the band, bringing in a new lineup in 2005.

Keep of Kalessin's other releases include: Through Times of War (1997), Agnen: A Journey Through the Dark (1999), Armada (2006), and Kolossus (2008)

Jay's Take on Reptilian:

Reptilian is Keep of Kalessin's most recent release and third release under Obsidian C.'s new formation of the group. Featuring the same style that has been a staple for the band throughout the years, Reptilian is fast, melodic and still manages to carry the necessary amounts of technicality in its composition. Alternating between the traditional tremolo picked and distorted guitars, to eerie synth driven atmospheric moments, Keep of Kalessin has always kept a certain epic feel to their music, regardless of its relative level of harshness, which continually shifts on the fly. The band has also always managed to keep their records relatively clean for the genre they play, something that lends considerably to the melodies they create. Since the new iteration of Keep of Kalessin re-emerged with Armada, the band has continued to grow and evolve as musicians, something which Obsidian C. kept as a core value for keeping the name alive during his years with Satyricon - the time having been used to become a better musician and lyricist.

Sample of the Day:



- J

365 Days of Metal: Walking On A Tight Rope

Day 46

Behold Oblivion - Witness

Artist Origin: Boston, Massachusetts, USA
Genre: Progressive Death Metal / Djent
Label: Unsigned
Running Time: 50 minutes
Release Date: July 4, 2011

Best Part: Hard to say, considering the whole thing is fucking Amazing.

Favorite Tracks: Terraform, Immolator, No One Left, Hive Mind, and Legion Atrophic

Grade: 5

Side Note: Unless a good few more records manage to completely blow my pants off, this will probably make the cut in my yearly top 10.

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Witness in 20 words or less:

A truly imaginative recording from a band that despite being unsigned manage to hang with the respective best within their genre.

The Band:

Originally known as Tight Rope, Behold Oblivion is a five piece progressive death metal band out of Boston who met as classmates at the Berklee College of Music. In 2010, they rounded out their lineup and solidified themselves as a professional metal group with the addition of guitarist Eric Lee taking up the role of the bands lead vocalist. They self-recorded and produced their debut EP The Infinite Being under the name Tight Rope, and ambitiously looking to make their splash into the metal community released it for free to download for fans, industry professionals and musicians alike. Changing their name to Behold Oblivion the band recently released their debut full-length record

Jay's Take on Witness:

I ranked The Infinite Being as my fifth favorite EP of last year after a friend suggested a track off of it to me. Being a self-recorded and produced EP, the quality of the recording struck me right from the beginning of the first track and I knew the band was going places. One year later, under a new name that same band returned with their debut full-length record, taking the sound they developed on their EP to the next level. The music itself is heavy, fast and carries that not-at-all subtle layer of technicality in their use of some sweet progressive and djenty riffs, melodic transitions and of course breakdowns. Eric Lee's vocals are very solid, covering a good range of low raspy growls, to arching melodic cleans, and grinding screams. Returning on Witness are three tracks from their EP, including many a fans favorite (including mine) Legion Atrophic, adding nostalgia on top of the awesome new tracks that litter the album from beginning to end. Behold Oblivion remains unsigned, but its hard to see that remaining true, as Witness has garnered respect and attention from fellow musicians and fans alike. Behold Oblivion also filled in a spot on the last leg of the Frak the Gods Tour, which featured some of the best the genre has to offer - not a bad deal at all for this ambitious crew.

Sample of the Day:



- J

365 Days of Metal: Luke, I Am Your Father

Day 45

Vader - Welcome to the Morbid Reich

Artist Origin: Olsztyn, Poland
Genre: Death Metal
Label: Nuclear Blast
Running Time: 44 minutes
Release Date: September 13, 2011

Best Part: Re-recording of Decapitated Saints.

Favorite Tracks: Black Velvet and Skulls of Steel, I Am Who Feats Upon Your Soul, Decapitated Saints, and Return to the Morbid Reich

Grade: 4.5 

Side Note: One of my favorite Death metal bands, ever.

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Welcome to the Morbid Reich in 20 words or less:

Vader returns with a worthy successor to their 25th anniversary release, featuring a new talented lineup and an iron-man performance from Peter, as always.

The Band:

Vader is a four member polish death metal band that has been around since 1983. Vader is fronted by vocalist and lead guitarist Piotr "Peter" Wiwczarek who is both a founding member of the band, and the only consistent member since 1986, before Vader had even released their first demos as a death metal band. Often featuring entirely new lineups with each new release Peter seems to enlist a new set of able recruits to push Vader one step further, and has collaborated with a wide range of death metals finest, such as Vogg from Decapitated. Vader has a very storied career in the death metal scene, having released nine full-length records, six EP's, two live albums and two compilation albums, which also includes 2008's XXV celebrating Vader's 25th anniversary, with a collection of re-recorded songs from their earlier releases, with Welcome to the Morbid Reich being their latest.

Vader's other full-length releases include: The Ultimate Incantation (1992), De Profundis (1995), Black to the Blind (1997), Litany (2000), Revelations (2002), The Beast (2004), Impressions in Blood (2006), and Necropolis (2009).

Jay's Take on Welcome to the Morbid Reich:

While Vader's previous release Necropolis was a fine record, Welcome to the Morbid Reich is surely the follow-up album that many Vader fans would have expected after the release of the XXV compilation album. The re-recording of classic Vader songs was a great idea, and was one that Peter clearly kept in mind when recording this record. Absent from XXV was one of Vader's most classic tracks, Decapitated Saints but that was rectified with Welcome to the Morbid Reich. Decapitated Saints, from their debut album The Ultimate Incantation has been re-recorded for the listening pleasure of old school Vader fans, and also providing a fitting track even for newcomers to the polish death metal mainstays. The new lineup filling out Vader is fitting as ever, with great atmosphere pouring out of each members contribution, notably James Stewart on drums and Tomasz 'Hal' Halicki's great rhythm work encompassing the guitar work of Peter and Marek 'Spider' Pajak. Peter's guitar work and solos are as strong as ever, and his vocals continue to set the tone, even in this his 45th year - continuing to set the pace and putting younger louts to shame. He can still belt out the spoken vocals from Decapitated Saints as fast as back on the demo versions of the track from the 1980's.

Sample of the Day:



- J

365 Days of Metal: A Journey Through the Desert

Day 44

Myrath - Tales of the Sands

Artist Origin: Ez-Zahra, Tunisia
Genre: Progressive / Symphonic
Label: XIII Bis Records
Running Time: 45 minutes
Release Date: September 26, 2011

Best Part: Sort of felt like wandering through Act II of Diablo II at times.

Favorite Tracks: Requiem for a Goodbye, Sour Sigh, Tales of the Sands, and Under Siege.

Grade: 4.5

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Tales of the Sands in 20 words or less:

The successor to their sophomore wonder Desert Call, Myrath continues to provide prog metal that takes you on an audible journey across an exotic wonderland.

The Band:

Myrath is a five member progressive metal band playing out of Tunisia who play a tight style of progressive metal that incorporates the feeling of their exotic locale with the orchestration of Symphony X and the grooves of Dream Theater. With three records now under their belt, they carry with them veteran experience in their compositions, lively use of local instruments and the arching vocals of Zaher Zorgatti. Myrath also holds the honors for being the first metal band from Tunisia to be signed to a major record label.

Myrath's other releases include: Hope (2007), and Desert Call (2010).

Jay's Take on Tales of the Sands:

I was only recently exposed to Myrath as I was looking for some interesting prog metal to listen to, but with a twist. Myrath is to prog much like Cthonic is to black metal. The band has tremendous skill in forging their compositions, and the music features local instruments and percussion that only add to the exotic and unique feel that the band provides you with from the beginning to the end. Tales of the Sands features some very tight guitar work, with solid riffs and well strung together grooves, which are accentuated by the exotic instrumentation which is a cornerstone of the bands sound. Zorgatti's vocals fit the vibe of the music to a tee, reaching over top of the instrumentation and drawing you in. Myrath is definitely a band on the international scene to take note of, if they haven't already crept into your ear canals.

Sample of the Day:



- J

365 Days of Metal: Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea

Day 43

Oceano - Depths

Artist Origin: Chicago, Illinois, USA
Genre: Deathcore
Label: Earache Records
Running Time: 51 minutes
Release Date: April 7, 2009

Best Part: Title track - an instrumental track is a slight shift in pace and doesn't feel out of place.

Favorite Tracks: Samael the Destroyer, Districts of Misery, Depths, and A Mandatory Sacrifice

Grade: 4.0

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Depths in 20 words or less:

Far from your bargain basement deathcore experience, this record is laden with interesting surprises and dynamics instrumentation for the genre.

The Band:

Oceano is a five member deathcore bands playing out of Chicago that are all about bone crushing brutality, from the meaty, chuggy guitarwork down to the bass drops, blast beats and breakdowns. Oceano amassed a local following between 2007 and 2008, eventually signing to Earache records and releasing their debut. Then band has gone through a number of lineup changes, with only vocalist Adam Warren, remaining as a member of the first full lineup. Which is more than enough, as Warren carries a distinct set of vocals, personality and image - the man is a tank, with a very powerful live presence, as I've seen him with Oceano and as a replacement vocalist on tour for Chelsea Grin when Alex Koehler broke his jaw.

Oceano vocalist Adam Warren

Oceano also released their second album Contagion in late 2010.

Jay's Take on Depths:

Most metal heads who are on the fence about deathcore or who generalize it all as being a terrible genre to begin with often forego giving most bands labelled under it a chance. But for someone looking for equal measures of brutality, technicality and harmony, oddly enough Depths has a lot of Depth to it. Oceano's debut album features a number of dynamic tonal shifts, including fast, hard charging blastbeats, heavily down tuned and drawn out drags, churning riffs, Warren's signature croaking gutturals and the use odd time signatures and progressive post-metal feels that echo of bands such as Neurosis and Isis. The entire record packs a considerable punch that is enough to keep any seasoned metal veteran on their toes - if of course they enjoy this particular brand of no holds barred brutality. Depths is a record that knows its place within the genre it represents, and utilizes the strengths of that genre tied together with bits and pieces of other genres to create a record that doesn't try to be a Jack of All Trades, but rather a strong coalition of heaviness, atmosphere and brutality all at once.

Sample of the Day:

Today's sample Districts of Misery, and the interestingly placed title track which is an instrumental interlude that really covers all of Oceano's bases.





- J

365 Day of Metal: Following the Blaze

Day 42

Priestess - Prior to the Fire

Artist Origin: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Genre: Stoner Metal / Stoner Rock
Label: Indica Records / TeePee Records
Running Time: 47 minutes
Release Date: October 20, 2009

Best Part: That music video for Lady Killer - antlers!

Favorite Tracks: Lunar, Lady Killer, The Firebird, and The Gem

Grade: 4.0

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Prior to the Fire in 20 words or less:

The anthems are still present on Priestess' sophomore release, but the sounds of old school metal and doom reign on Prior to the Fire.

The Band:

Priestess is a four member group playing out of Montreal that tread a fine line at times between what some will consider Stoner Rock or Stoner Metal - for sake of argument you it doesn't matter much to me, hence why they're here! Priestess has stoner rock clearly emblazoned to the core of their sound, but include heavy riffs and interesting solo work to keep the pace of their music dynamic, with tracks that range of fast paced anthems, to slowed down quasi-ballads. Gaining some mainstream success with the release of their debut record and notably the track Lay Down, Priestess managed to find themselves sharing the stage with acts such including Converge, Mastodon and even Megadeth, in 2007.

Priestess' other releases includes their debut album Hello Master, released in 2006.

Jay's Take on Prior to the Fire:

The recording process for Prior to the Fire was painstaking for the band, as it went through a failed first attempt which led to their record label RCA cutting them loose, but allowing them to carry over the work to another label. Priestess was finally able to release Prior to the Fire after securing a new producer and label, allowing them to once again start touring like a band with a purpose. Prior to the Fire takes off where they started with Hello Master, trying to work off of vibes reminiscent of so many bands trying to recreate the sounds made famous by early Motorhead and even Black Sabbath. Prior to the Fire continues to include the hooks that Priestess included in their previous record, but has evolved from power driven anthems, to more of a more guitar driven doom-like vibe. The record covers a wide range of ideas and features song structure and sounds similar, such as their intro track Lady Killer sounding like it came straight off of the production line of one of The Sword's records. The use and blending of these different styles is clearly instrumental to their development and evolution as a group, all the while keeping true to their own play-styles. The track Lunar is also a great change of pace, with backing vocalist and rhythm guitarist Dan Watchorn taking up the lead vocal reigns from Mikey Heppner.

Sample of the Day:



- J

365 Days of Metal: A Looming Presence

Day 41

Jeff Loomis - Zero Order Phase

Artist Origin: Menasha, Wisconsin, USA
Genre: Instrumental Progressive / Thrash
Label: Century Media
Running Time: 54 minutes
Release Date: September 30, 2008

Best Part: That part where Loomis goes into solo mode.

Favorite Tracks: Race Against Disaster, Shouting Fire At A Funeral, Jato Unit, and Devil Theory

Grade: 4.5

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Zero Order Phase in 20 words or less:

Over 50 minutes of pure unadulterated signature shredding, soloing and being a boss, by Jeff Loomis.

The Artist:

Jeff Loomis is best known as one of the founding members and lead guitarist of the band Nevermore. Loomis is guitar skills cover a wide range fo styles which he has incorporated in his work with Nevermore, Sanctuary, on his solo work an din his collaborations. This includes use of genres such as power metal, thrash, neo-classical fretwork, and progressive metal riffage. At the age of 16 Loomis auditioned for the vacant spot in Megadeth left by Jeff Young, but was turned down by Dave Mustaine because he was too young, stating however that he would have a bright future as a guitarist. Loomis would then go on to have a very strong career with Nevermore, sharing the stage with some of metals greatest, including Megadeth during Mustaine's inaugural Gigantour. Loomis began working on a side solo project in 2005, releasing his debut in 2008. As of 2011, Loomis and drummer Van Williams left Nevermore citing personal differences with co-founder and vocalist Warrel Dane, who has stated that keeping the Nevermore legacy alive will be difficult as Loomis will be hard to replace.

Jay's Take on Zero Order Phase:

Zero Order Phase is the first solo recording released by Jeff Loomis, who began focusing on his solo work as of 2005. Loomis provided the instrumentation for the entire record except for the drumming which was provided by former Nevermore drummer Mark Arrington. The record also features guest appearances from former Nevermore guitarist Pat O'brien who is now lead guitarist for Cannibal Corpse, Ron Jarzombek of Watchtower and producer Neil Kernon, on fretless guitar, providing guest guitar solos, and jazz musician Michael Manring on bass for the track Cashmere Shiv. Overall Loomis' debut solo record is a great instrumental, guitar driven record, featuring his technical fretwork, ability to concoct creative and flying guitar solos, and non-stop shredding skills. Zero Order Phase has been compared much to the early recordings of Joe Satriani, in his creation of sweeping soundscapes, while using all of the guitar skills he has become known for over the years as lead guitarist of Nevermore.

Sample of the Day:



- J