Written In Blood: Hard Music for a Hard World

Channel Zero
Unsafe
Metal Blade

Some of the most unlikely places spawn some of the best music. The latest case being that of Belgium’s Channel Zero. The band formed in Brussels in 1990, have released two albums overseas, and have finally had the chance to bring their unique style of metal to the United States. Unsafe, the band’s third release, is filled with many different influences. It seems the band taps into something different on each song. The band goes from rock to rap/hip hop to all out, full-bore metal. Singer Franky D.S.V.D.’s vocal style was also surprising. The vocals, while being as strong as the music, are also flexible enough to change with the differing styles of music from each song. This band is a real find, check them out.

My Dying Bride
Trinity
Fierce Recordings   

My Dying Bride has released Trinity, which compiles material from EPs released from ‘91 to ‘93. The EPs include their ‘91 release Symphonaire Infernus, their ‘92 release The Thrash of Naked Limbs and their ‘93 release, I Am the Bloody Earth. My mom turned me onto these guys. Nooo, not really. It sounds to me like the band has gone from a faster thrash sound to their more recent Gothic, doom-laden sound. Track number two, which is an earlier tune, reminds me a lot of the band Cancer. Fierce recordings had an October date for the release of the band’s latest full-length release, The Angel and the Dark River.   

Gwar
Ragnarok
Metal Blade   

What could I possibly tell any self-respecting lover of heavy music about the band Gwar that you wouldn’t already know? Nothing, I hope. We’ve all heard, and some of us have even seen their antics. Good God, their videos are even held in high regard by Beavis and Butthead. What more of an endorsement do you need than that to get you running to the stores to get Gwar’s latest release? Ragnarok, the new album by Gwar, was released on October 24. Get it, or you may find a pissed-off Oderus Urungus, Flattus Maximus or Sleazy P. Martini on your front door step.   

Stuck Mojo
Snappin’ Necks
Century Media   

Where have these guys been all my life? Uh, wait a minute, that didn’t come out quite right. Anyway, I had the greatest pleasure of catching Stuck Mojo’s appearance at the Sage last month, I had never heard of them prior, and the only reason I went was because Marco at Century Media told me I should. These guys are incredible live. They sounded great, and their honest, no B.S. approach really came across to the audience. You could really tell there’s nothing these boys would rather be doing. When I got their release, Snappin’ Necks, I was equally impressed. The album had been out since March, but there has to be someone out there that hasn’t checked these guys out yet. The band is by far the best metal/rap crossover band I’ve ever heard. The band isn’t plagued by sloppy, open-chord riffs which have been so common in attempts by other bands of similar style. The guitars are big, fat and will damn near stomp ya to death. The band is currently on tour with Machine Head. Latest info shows the tour will run at least through November and most remaining shows are on the East Coast. I was told the band will be back in Salt Lake at some point. I strongly suggest checking these guys out.   

Kreator
Cause for Conflict 
Noise   

Kreator have released their seventh full-length album, Cause for Conflict. When the band’s first album, Endless Pain, came out, I was thoroughly confused by it. Their early releases were way before their time. I remember taping Endless Pain, and then somehow returning it to the store. I just didn’t get it. Then, about a year later, I listened to it again and was blown away. I have since re-added Endless Pain to my collection. I’ve read people comparing Cause for Conflict with their earlier material, but I don’t buy that. The release sounds more to me like a progression from their last release, Renewal. Mille continues to sing with a more understandable style. You can understand every third or fourth word now, instead of maybe one word per song, like on their early stuff. The bio states that Mille and guitarist Frank Gosdzik are the only remaining original members. ERRRRR WRONG. Frank Gosdzik didn’t join until sometime after Extreme Aggression, which was their fourth release. Who’s writing these things anyway?   

Skyclad
The Silent Whales Of Lunar Sea
Noise   

YEESH!   

Sentenced
Love & Death
Century Media   

These guys are huge. This recording is a monster. Big, big, big!! Everything on the latest Sentenced release, Love & Death, comes across really well. It’s hard to believe this is the same band that just recorded North of Here  in ‘93. The band has really progressed by lightyears since their last release. The approach on Love & Death reminds me a little bit of Entombed. Check out their cover of Billy Idol’s “White Wedding.” I hope this is only a taste of what is soon to come. Love & Death, being just an EP, is only about 22 minutes long. More dammit!! 

Read more from the SLUG Archive here:
The Tragically Hip
Waterdog Interview