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CD Review: DREAM THEATER A Dramatic Turn of Events

dream theater

It’s been almost impossible to avoid hearing about Dream Theater this past year if you’ve been exposed to metal in any way. The news of founding member and drummer Mike Portnoy’s departure from the band was one of the bigger pieces of news for the genre in 2010, leaving many of the band’s diehard fans wondering what would happen next. Well, after a slew of obnoxious updates from the band’s lawyer and hours of unnecessary and self-indulgent tryout videos, the prog-metal titans picked Mike Mangini (of Steve Vai and Annihilator fame). Quite the dramatic turn of events indeed. If only the band’s eleventh full-length could live up to its name. (more…)

Reviews

CD Review: THE BLACK DAHLIA MURDER Ritual

Black Dahlia Murder - Ritual

With this year’s Summer Slaughter Tour coming up quickly, The Black Dahlia Murder could not have picked a better time to release their fifth full-length album, Ritual. Now with the same line-up as 2009’s solo-happy Deflorate and their third album being handled by metal mastermind Jason Suecof, how would this band deliver the goods? In short, The Black Dahlia Murder have made a slow but gradual convert out of me. Ritual is far heavier than their previous effort, as well as much more consistent, both vocally and in terms of general songwriting. And while it is by far the longest album from The Black Dahlia Murder to date, it seems to fly by quicker than any of their previous four albums. (more…)

Reviews

CD Review: MORBID ANGEL Illud Divinum Insanus

Morbid Angel - Illud Divinum Insanus

When it comes to the David Vincent era of Morbid Angel, there’s really no debate; the band was at the top of their game. The band’s first four releases are among the most highly revered examples of death metal and have influenced countless bands since. Now with David Vincent’s first recording with the band in fifteen years (and the band’s first recording in eight), expectations were more than high for these reunited veterans. It pains me to say this, but Illud Divinum Insanus is easily the biggest disappointment of 2011 thus far, as well as one of the biggest let-downs in the genre’s recent past (Cryptopsy’s The Unspoken King, anyone?) (more…)

Reviews

(Double) CD Review: DEVIN TOWNSEND PROJECT Deconstruction & Ghost

devin

Deconstruction and Ghost have certainly been some of the most anticipated records of the year for me personally, and now the wait is finally over. After being incredibly impressed with both of the Devin Townsend Project’s initial releases, Ki and Addicted, I couldn’t wait to see how the final two pieces of this project would play out. Needless to say, Devin Townsend has come back with two equally unpredictable slabs of both progressive metal and ambient/folk rock. Only this time, he’s surpassed everything in his catalog. And yes, that does include the undeniable classics like 2001's Terria and Strapping Young Lad’s City. (more…)

Reviews

CD Review: PROTEST THE HERO – Scurrilous

Scurrilous

Canada’s Protest The Hero has been making quite a buzz in the metal scene ever since their 2005 release, Kezia. The band has always seemed a few steps ahead of the curve in terms of both technicality and catchiness (especially considering the band’s age). 2008’s Fortress was also a huge leap for the band, pushing their musical chops to new heights, while maintaining a healthy amount of the hooks that their previous album offered. Now, after two very successful albums, a rigorous touring schedule, and almost a year out of the spotlight to write their third LP, where was the band to go? Scurrilous, to be blunt, isn’t the huge leap in sound that Fortress was to Kezia, but it’s rather a refinement of their now-established sound. Fans of the band will love them for what they’re able to accomplish, and haters of the band will surely despise them even more. (more…)

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