Space Vampire VS Zombie Dinosaurs In 3D review

Man, isn't that title a mouth full. Well that's what we can expect from the humorcore metal band, Psychostick. Their third album takes them to another level.

Now to describe Psychostick, their like comedy metal. Their heavy, but the lyrics and skits in the album put a smile on your face and will make you laugh out loud. Let's put it this way, their a band who doesn't take themselves to serious, but they do it really well.

The album goes from spoofing a concert, talking about boobs (which will make you feel a little perverted, but oh well), to getting really pissed, meeting a Political bum, dealing with a clingy girlfriend and going to the dentist. Its one of those albums where you can listen to the whole thing from start to finish. Sometimes when I listen to this album, I wish that Psychostick was either a tv show or a musical, like dethklok.

The guitar riffs and the breakdowns in this album will melt your socks. Its some of the best comedy metal you will ever hear. Psychostick knows how to mix the metal we know and love with great laughs and just plain silliness. Highly recommend.

Cavalera Conspiracy Blunt Force Trauma Mini Metal Review

Max and Iggor have finally put out another record for Cavalera Conspiracy, called Blunt Force Trauma. There are no doctors here, just burtal and intense Groove metal. This album is more burtal and intense then Inflikted, blasting you with simple heavy riffs and banging drums.

It's a bit of a return to Sepultura, but it draws more from Max's project Soulfly and Nailbomb. In fact, if you mixed a playlist of all three bands, you may not even be able to notice the difference.

However, Blunt Force Trauma is still a great record, beating and tossing you around for the entire length of the album. Songs like Target and Genghis Khan have that watch out, shit's going down feel to them. While Rasputin and Thrasher have a little more melody to them. Overall, if your a fan of Max Cavalera or just some awesome groove metal in general, you gotta check this one out.

Cradle of Filth ~ Venus Aversa Mini metal Review

Oh no, look out, its Cradle of Filth. The Metal band that everyone loves to hate or love. Now, if you already hate Cradle of Filth, Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa won't change your mind much, but for fans of the band this may be their best record yet. A great one to check out if your new to the band to.

Darkly, Darkly, Venus Aversa goes back to Cradles early roots, sounding a little bit like a more polished squeal to Curtly and the Beast. It has that gothic castle haunting sound to it, but is the most burtal and heaviest album Cradle of Filth has put out. Making for one hell of a ride.

The vocalist of this band may put you off at frist, but give it some time, as I find that after a few listens it really matchs the sound, and there is no other vocalist like Dani. If you ever wondered what a demon sounded like, well look no further. I will say though, that his voice is not as crazy as it was on older albums though.

There are some times when the symphonies take front and center, which isn't a bad thing. But when the guitar is there, its really good. harlot on the pedestal is one headbanging good song, while Farther Forgive me I have sinned has a little more melody to it, and Beyond the 11th hour is a great epic symphonic metal conclusion to this epic record. Granted, it is a bit long and sticks within the same sound, but if gothic symphonic metal is your thing, you can't go wrong.

AleStorm Back Though Time Mini Metal Review

What do you get when you combine folk metal, pirates and epicness? You get AleStorm's Back Thorough Time. Alestorm's third album, and maybe most epic record to date.

The pirate elements are still here, so you can get our your pirate drinks and rock back and forth to a few songs like Scarping the barrel again (where they joke about themsleves) or Rum. Of course, they are epic pirate battle songs like Shipwrecked, and Battle of the Terrorsquid, which is one of my favorites. Have you ever heard a terrorsquid scream? Then get this album.

Alestorm doesn't do anything new or crazy here, but they do what they do best, and this is their most polished record. The folk metal elements are really strong on this album, so if you like pirates, or metal, you should go drink some rum and listen to some Alestorm.

Solsikk Mini Metal Review ~ Female Groove Metal?

When you think of Female Metal, you usually think about Gothic or Symphonic metal, but with Solsikk, a new band from London, they mix Groove Metal with some interesting vocals from Vykki. Its like Soul vocals meet metal. It may sound a little weird, but it def helps this band stick out from other female metal artists.

The self titled debut album is one to own, while only a short ten tracks, there is no filler and is great from start to finish. The album kicks off heavy, but then in the middle of a album you have a epic ballad, then the album finishes it heavy again.

The guitar work is also great, and great for those of the groove metal fandom. Its the kind of the riffs that are catchy, yet are still heavy and make you feel like banging your head.

Right now, not many people know of the band, so go check them out or buy their album on itunes. I recommend this for the cool mix of Metal meets Soul. Plus its the only female groove metal out there as of now. Think if 80's Avril Lavigne went metal.

Big Four Comes to America, for one show only

Metallica, Megadeth, Slayer and Anthrax are coming to America to do just one show near LA in Southern California on April 23rd. For those who don't know, these are the four best Thrash metal bands from the 80's. They did a seven show tour across Europe together in 2008. Now after much demand, they are coming to do one show in the US.

But its weird that they are doing only one show, and its on the west coast. Good for those who live in Cali, but sucks for those on the East Coast. Europe got seven, so why can't the US? Plus aren't the bands from here?  It confuse's me, but for those who are able to afford the 100 dollar ticket price and are able to get down there, I'm sure it will be one hell of a show. Also very crazy, according to the Youtube video that is advertising the show, it's a seven hour concert with full sets from each band.

Wish I could go, but it's a little to expensive. Anyway, for those interested, you should be aware that tickets go on sale on Jan 28th, so get your wallets ready. 

Why is mainstreamed metal flowed upon?

I mean really? It seem's like people love to bash mainsteam music these days. I mean, sure, a few mainsteam bands do sound like crap, but that doesn't mean all of them do. Metallica, Megadeth, and Slayer are excellent bands that still hold up very well today. Even some songs from Ashlee Simpson where pretty good and catchy. Yeah, I know I just switch genres there, but you still get the point.

There are some bands that I prefer their more mainstream sound then their old sound, which just goes to show you that anything can be good, no matter how popular it is. I always hate it when people hate a band just because its the cool thing to do. (Look at Justin Beiber, but I would have to agree that he sucks, but I gave his music a chance).

You can't have mainstream without the underground and vice visa. They both can suck and they both can rock. It just depends on the music itself. So next time your friend or people rants on a album, check it out before dissing it to.

Ram-Zet Neutralized Mini Metal Review

For those who like their metal music crazy epic and weird, then Ram-Zet is the perfect Advent Garde metal band for you.

Using a beauty and the beast type of vocals, you have the classical growling black metal type of vocals with the clean and enchanting female vocals. Which makes for a cool experience. The song "I am Dirt" uses this effect to create a great contrast in which it sounds like the female vocals are trying to battle her dark side.

 The music changes up a lot, but its always interesting. There are strings used, cool electro noises and classic metal riffs. The lyrical themes deal with being psycho and in a psych ward, which is pretty cool.

If your looking for something different from the normal metal, then be sure to check out Ram-Zet.

Cancer Bats ~ Bears Mayors Scrapes and Bones Review

If your a fan of Southern Riffs and punk like music, then Cancer Bats will be right up your alley. Cancer Bat's lasted album, Bears Mayors Scrapes and Bones is their heaviest and most intense.

The vocals do take some getting used to, as its mostly yelling, with some clean vocals here and there. But once your get into it, its awesome. The riffs and vocals  mix together to make a interesting metal mix.

The music is great driving music, as its fast pace with simple riffs. There are also some great headbanging riffs in the album as well. Overall, if you like metal mixed with some punk southern style, then Cancer Bats will be up your alley.

Plus the album art is pretty cool.

In This Moment A Star Crossed Wasteland Review

If your looking for a album that mixes things up, then In This Moment's A Star Crossed Wasteland is your album. It has heavy songs that have some great screams and great riffs like The Gun Show and Blazin. But then it takes things a bit slower with some Piano Ballads with A Star-Crossed Wasteland and World in Flames.

It's a album that makes you want to punch walls, but then tugs at your heartstrings. Its a great album that was made to be listen to in one sitting. It combines clean and yelling vocals, but the female singer can pull off both very well.

If you like Melodic metal that hits hard but then lightens up, then In this Moment is for you. Cause its not all the time we want to yell and scream.

Unsun The End of Life Mini Metal Review

For those who like clean vocal's power with guitars, then you will like UnSun. Unsun is a bit of a mix between Gothic, Symphonic and Alternative metal. Depending on the song.

The band was founded by a ex guitar player Maurycy Stefanowicz of the death metal band Vader. Thus some of the music sounds a little bit familial to their work.

The vocals on this album are sometimes kinda pop like, but I think it makes a good blend with the guitars for some interesting metal. Some of the songs are fast and pretty heavy, then their are the slower songs which are more towards the alternative style. But when you listen to it all together, it makes for a pretty epic album.

The song "Face the Truth" is a slow song, but has a really cool epic part in the middle.

Why isn't there more Female Metal?

For those metal fans out there, you know how hard it is to find a metal band with female fronted vocal's. It seems that girls didn't want to jump on board when metal was rising though the 80's and 90's. But now as we roll into another decade, a few females have joined the metal revolution. But my question is why are there not more?

If you went back in time and ask for female fronted metal bands, people would think you where insane. But now in 2010, the decade of shaking things up, you think it would have catch on faster. Out of all the metal bands out there, about 2% of them is lead by a female singer. Now that is pretty small compare to Pop, Country, and Alternative female singer ratios.

Kittie, the only well knowen all female metal band

You'll find most female metal in the power symphonic metal genre. Most often Opera style is used.  But groups like Kittie, have shown that female vocals can make a good fit for heavy metal. Lucuna Coil uses female vocals in a Alternative metal style. I like the bands that use a mix of clean vocals and screams together. When done right, it can create a pretty awesome song. I would really like to see Female vocals in other less done genres like Thrash, Groove and Hair style.

Maybe girls avoid the metal genre because its to dark and scary. But I think metal is just another art form that any person can enjoy. There are quite a bit of female fans of metal, but the group is quite small when compared to the male fans. More people (females) should look into starting a metal band, it may not be the best paying gig in the world. But hey, you'll have a loyal fan base if your good (including me) and have a good time screaming. 

If you think about the guys that do Pop like music, then there are no excuses. Besides, you'll be surprised by how well female vocals and heavy guitars sound together. 

Korzus ~ Discipline of Hate Mini Metal Review

Korzus is one the bands that started the craze of Brazillain Thrash Metal scene back in the late 80's and early 90's. Finding some their older albums is a bit of hard work, but you can find their newest album on itunes or amazon.

Point is, if your like Thrash Metal, then you will like Korzus. In Discipline of Hate, the album is fulled with great guitar work and solos. Even some of the vocals are interesting, like when they sing the main verse in "Truth" or sing "Raise your Soul".

So be sure to check out this album if you like Brazillain metal or just fast heavy metal.

Metal Concert ~ A Trip into the City

So on Sunday night, me and a friend traveled up to the City of San Fran to see Dimmu Borgir in concert. Now let me tell you, I love and hate the city of San Francisco. For one thing, on our way to the building, it seems that everyone smokes. We would be walking and then end up behind someone smoking. I kinda wish that the city could be a little more smoke free.

Anyway, we get in line, and have to have X's on our hands because we are under 21. We also get patted down to make sure we are weapon free. The body guard thought my pen was a market and kinda freaked out, but it was good.

The metal concert was in a cool ballroom, it was not the fanciest ballroom ever, but it was decent.

The whole room went dark for when the concert started

One thing I really liked about this show was that it had some very cool light effects, and fog. The supporting bands were't all that impressive, expect for maybe Enslaved. For one thing, the crowd was pretty chill. Most of the people where just there standing. There was barely any mosh pit or much headbanging in the crowd. Maybe it was because it was on a Sunday night after the Thanksgiving break and every one was tried, but it was kinda weird. 

Another thing that interests me is that no one really dresses up, they all just wear black to a metal concert. One day, I should wear all white, and be a metal angel, just to see what people would do. 

Dimmu Borgir, was the main act, and it was worth it to see it. The light show was quite epic, and would almost put down Tran-Siberian to shame. A lot of the sound was on speaker, since Dimmu Borgir has a lot of symphonic stuff in their metal, but that just made it sound more epic. 

The Crowd liven up a little when Dimmu was on!

We had to leave the concert early to pay for parking. Otherwise after midnight they charge like 30 bucks. But outside the ballroom, it was great to listen to the low re-verb that sounded like the building was going to fall. The windows where taped up, so it looked kinda sketch. 

It was a great epic metal adventure, and now the only question is, what should I go see next?