Landmine Marathon - Rusted Eyes Awake

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/landminemarathon
Release Date: 2008
Label: Prosthetic Records
Release Type: Full-Length

Now I don't know about you, but I personally think the name Landmine Marathon has got to be one of the badass band names ever, even in the realm of death metal. The image the name conjures up alone is enough to send me into a bloodthirsty, maniacal, morbid glee. Okay maybe that's a bit of an exxageration, but the point is, Landmine Marathon is a pretty sweet band name. And they have one hell of an album cover as well. What a whacky Freakenstein pig-zombie they've got there.

Now it'd suck major donkey balls if Landmine Marathon's music didn't live up their kickass moniker, but fortunately it does. Death metal is the weapon of choice here. Crunching riffs atop pounding drums isn't anything new, no way on God's green on earth, but there's nothing wrong with brutality if it's done like this. Landmine Marathon do a pretty good job of balancing between brutality and melody. There are plenty of straight-up tremolo riffs-and-blasts stuff here as well as headbanging riffs and evil leads. The vocals are no slouch in comparison to the instrumental, and often come into the spotlight, like with "Xenocide" and its fierce vocal hooks. What's more impressive is the fact that these are vocals are delivered by a female and that despite the fact she looks like she's probably the friendliest, most soft-spoken person in the world, she can pull off some of the most throat-lacerating screams to ever shred your ears. Not to capitalize on the fact that their vocalist has an X chromosome, but damn, can she shriek.

Anyways, that will be enough from me. Enjoy the music and the album cover. Those fucking eyes man.

They just keep glaring at you.

Purchase
- Amazon

Hellshock - Only the Dead Know the End of War

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/pdxstenchcore
Release Date: 2003
Label: Yellow Dog Records
Release Type: Full-Length

Now what we have here is a nice slice of apocalyptic crust punk with a heavy dose of thrash riffage. The band name is definitely a nod to good 'ol Hellbastard as well as a clever play on the word "shellshock". The band's moniker definitely fits their music perfectly, which conjures up hellish images of war-torn wastelands, skies blackened by toxic fumes and smoke, filth-ridden trenches, and omnipresent death. A good soundtrack to the endtimes I suppose.

Welcome to Trench Hell

Insect Warfare - Noise Grind Power Death

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/insectwarfare
Release Date: 2009
Label: 625 Thrashcore
Release Type: Full-Length

Insect Warfare's final release, 8 minutes and 56 seconds of vicious, unadulterated noise. Not for the faint of heart and the weak of mind. Need I say any fucking more?

I guess not.

Weapon - Para Bhakti... Salvation

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/theweaponchakra
Release Date: 2008
Label: The Ajna Offensive
Release Type: EP

I've never understand why this was myself, but black metal and solos seem to mutually exclusive phenomenons. Virtually all of the black metal bands I've encountered lack solos of any kind. It still befuddles me to this day. Especially when we have a band like Weapon putting solos into their own brand of black metal so well.

At two songs, Para Bhakti... Salvation is a relatively short affair, although to say it doesn't command your full attention throughout its 14 and a half minutes is very, very wrong. "Archana" sucks you in with its hypnotic and violent whirlpool of pounding blastbeats, crunching tremolo riffs, and satanic vocal incantations. The leads are effortlessly weaved into the song, adding an extra element of melody, but don't detract from the atmosphere whatsoever. "Archana" climaxes with a rousing solo and a wall of pounding double bass.

At this point it is safe to say that Weapon are no slouch when it comes to musicianship. The production has a raw, primitive edge to it yet retains enough clarity for the individual instruments to cut through. The drummer is no one-dimensional blastbeat machine, as he augments the songs with a variety of crashing fills and cymbal crashes. The guitar, is by no means, typical either. There are numerous catchy riffs and leads here, though they are far from being melodic and pretty.

"Para Bhakti... Salvation", the second half of this EP is a slightly different animal. While "Archana" retained a constant, slightly droning, blast-beated rhythm throughout, "Para..." shifts gears ever so slightly. The opening of it could very well be death metal, although there is an undeniable black metal mavolence to it. The song shifts into a slightly "rocking" midtempo swagger about two minutes in, though it could just be me. The song takes a steep dive into blastbeat territory, before it shifts back into the "rocking" riff, albeit backed by driving double-bass this time. The solo here isn't too commanding on its own, though juxtaposed to the rhythm, it adds a sinister and aloof melody. The song ends with an eerie chanted melody and tribal drums, begetting at the great and terrible things that are sure to come from this band.

Highly potent and highly recommended.

Download: http://www.mediafire.com/?yme20imwynz

Purchase

- Full Moon Productions

Ceremony - Violence Violence

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/ceremony
Release Date: 2006
Label: Bridge Nine Records
Release Type: Full-Length

Now in my book, fast and pissed does not usually equate to a band's music being automatically excellent. Things such as dynamics, musicality, emotional expression, and whatnot are often important factors in distinguishing the cream from the crap. Now Ironically enough, Ceremony are fast and pissed if nothing else. And you know what? It doesn't fucking matter one bit. This is white-knuckled hardcore played at ridiculous speeds. Turn this up loud enough and you can practically taste the spit and sweat. I think that should cover it about right so now I'll just let you find out for yourselves the sheer power of this fucker.

Pack your fists full of hate and get ready to take a swing at the world

Purchase:
- Deathwish Inc.
- Amazon
- CD Universe