Tuesday, June 25, 2013

FMA Reviews: Lair of the Minotaur: Godslayer (2013)

Originally reviewed here.
I have been a big fan of Lair of the Minotaur since I first heard their War Metal Battle Master album. Since then I have been able to track down most of their releases. LotM have not released a new full-length since 2010. I suspect this short EP was released to keep the fans happy while continuing to wait for the new release. This EP was released as part of this year's Record Store Day, an event which I have unfortunately never been able to attend as I do not live within two hours of any independent record store.

This is a very short EP, featuring only two songs and clocking in at less than nine minutes but it exhibits all of the best characteristics of LotM. The riffs are fast with a lot of bottom end and the sound bears no small resemblance to a runaway train. It just steamrolls the listener into submission, but that is all part of the fun.

Of course they slow things down a tad at points with some ridiculously heavy riffing and the frantic howls of Steven Rathbone.

All in all this is exactly what I expect from a Lair of the Minotaur release and I am definitely looking forward to more.

Quick Update

Yes I am still alive and yes I fully intend to get back to writing soon.  It's been pretty busy lately.  Summers usually are for some reason.  Next month I fully expect to have at least two jury trials.  Hopefully after that there will be a little bit of a respite.

I know there are a ton of albums that have been sent to me that I need to get to.  I assure you, I will at some point soon.  I have not forgotten.  I just have not had the time.

Monday, June 17, 2013

Suffocation: Pinnacle of Bedlam

Suffocation has never put out a bad album.  That is impressive.  Since rising out of the early 1990's New York death metal scene, Suffocation has been one of the most influential metal bands in the world.  Think of all of the genres we would not have without Suffocation.  We would not have brutal death metal, slam death metal, technical death metal, or deathcore.  It does not matter what you may or may not think of those genres, Suffocation is the band to which all bands in those genres strive to be.

Despite the band's long history, this is just their seventh full-length album.  This is due to a long hiatus from 1998 through 2004.  This is the band's first full-length without pioneering drummer Mike Smith who left the band in 2012.  Dave Culcross had been with the band briefly in the late 1990's so he was no stranger to the large shoes he had to fill.  Smith revolutionized death metal drumming and is largely responsible for the blastbeat style of drumming.

Well enough introductions, it's time for a new Suffocation album.  I was slightly disappointed with Blood Oath, which is not a big deal, since it was still a damn good album.  And I was a little concerned with how this album would go without Smith for the first time.  But it turned out to be business as usual in the Suffocation camp.  This album still absolutely crushes everything in sight.

All of the necessary elements for a Suffocation album are here: blastbeat-driven drums, heavier-than-fuck riffs, and the ferocious bark of frontman Frank Mullen.  Suffocation have once again proven that none of their imitators can ever hold a candle to the masters.  Suffocation is still one of the heaviest bands in the world and do not look like they will be giving up that title anytime soon.

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

It is Going to be a Busy Month

I want to get back to a normal posting schedule, but this month is going to be a killer.  I am currently scheduled for five trials, three of which are jury trials.  So I am going to try, but I am not going to make any promises.