PRIESTESS – Prior To The Fire

(Tee Pee/Impedance)

Who Goes There?: Canada’s Priestess are a hungry young band of miscreants determined to do it their way.

How Goes It?: Some albums are just tripe, some grow on you and some simply grab you by the gonads. Prior To The Fire definitely falls into gonad territory and with its unique take on metal, is sure to take the world by storm. Combining the sludgy, prog metal rhythms so popular right now with the crispness and precision of power metal and some of the most infectious melodies and choruses around, Priestess are undoubtedly a force to be reckoned with.

Sounds Like: Baroness / Barn Burner / Clutch

****

CARNIFEX – Hell Chose Me

(Victory / Stomp)

Who Goes There?: Carnifex are five individuals of Californian descent championing the latest crop of American death metal.

How Goes It?:  On a whole, Hell Chose Me dots all the i’s and crosses all the t’s when it comes to your prototypical new school deathcore album. Filled to the brim with breakdowns, Speedy Gonzales-riffage and the gut-wrenching cries of death himself and his younger brother iDeath 2.0, Carnifex almost hit a homer. Unfortunately, the only thing missing seems to be any obvious originality, with Hell Chose Me often sounding like a Black Dahlia B-sides collection – good, but just not good enough. Oh and seriously, get some solos!

Sounds Like: The Black Dahlia Murder / Darkest Hour / The Red Chord

**˝

CRIME IN STEREO – I Was Trying To Describe You To Someone

(Bridge 9/Stomp)

Who Goes There?: Crime In Stereo are band of hardcore dudes who are either geniuses or have a death wish.

How Goes It?: This album will and already has astonished many fans for its 355 degree turn from Crime In Stereo’s punk-hardcore past. Following a path paved by bands like Thrice, the band has almost completely turned it’s back on the genre that took them to the top of many fan’s lists. Instead of regurgitating another predictable album of fast riffs and ADD drum work, an indie-core masterpiece has been born. Tonally varied, instrumentally progressive and utterly intriguing, I Was Trying… will surely cut the wheat from the chaff, but at the end of the day has allowed the band to stand up and confirm their independence from the mainstream dirge with a compelling statement.

Sounds Like: Brand New / Thrice / Eleventh He Reaches London

****

CALLING ALL CARS – Hold, Hold, Fire

(Genius / Shock)

Who Goes There?: Calling All Cars are three Aussie gents intent on putting a little rock back on the map.

How Goes it?; Despite spending their formative years gracing the support slots of punk and emo bands across the country and some issuing some so-so mini releases, their debut album Hold, Hold, Fire sees the band settling into a more alternative rock template which suits them much better. With a knack for catchy hooks without the stereotypical subject matters of love and booze, and an ability to craft a song that shows a breadth of energy and emotion within three minutes, it’s not hard to see why the band just finished touring with AC/DC and definitely warrant keeping a close eye on.

Sounds Like: Gyroscope / Foo Fighters / Kisschasy

***

DEAD LETTER OPENER – Lumen

(Obsidian)

Who Goes There?: Dead Letter Opener are three Brisbane boffins with a penchant for proggy brutality.

How Goes It?:  Not to be confused with their slightly fruiter counterparts Dead Letter Circus, Dead Letter Opener produce good solid compendiums of technically challenging heaviness without the theatrics. Combining a little black metal with a pinch of thrash and even a dash of melodic euro-metal, all mixed together by a spoon called prog, Lumen is cohesive, crushing, at times even beautiful and more than enjoyable. It just proves that sometimes the best musical discoveries are in your own backyard.

Sounds Like:  The Haunted / Opeth / Devin Townsend

***˝

Honorable Mentions

TUBELORD – Our First American Friends: On top of a rad band-name, a unique and fascinating mix of indie and post-Hardcore makes this worth checking out. Tubular!

DRIVEN FEAR – Society’s Finest: Sneaky Brisbane hardcore band pop out of the bushes with some Raised Fist style excellence. Kick-ass!

HEADACHES – Demo: Get your hands on ex-Gifthorse members breeding Lifetime with Saves The Day if you can … check them out!

Dishonorable Mentions

TIME HAS COME – Disaster Zone: If you want to listen to Throwdown, buy a Throwdown album.

THE PROLETARIATE – Covered In Bruises: Too slow, too soft, too shallow and possibly the first sub-par release to come out of Perth in a while. Sorry.

PATRICK PERRIER

Comments (1)

Write Comment
Comments are submitted for possible publication on the condition that they may be edited. Poster's IP addresses are logged.
Name:
Comment:
Code:*