Slipknot - “All Hope Is Gone” [Roadrunner] … fifth album from the Iowan 9-piece finds the band embracing styles beyond the Nü-Metal foundation they laid about a decade ago (check the near Black Metal riffing on 12) … it’s unsettling to hear all these clean vocals (3, 5, 6), the balladry of 11, and Corey Taylor tentatively venture into new vocal ranges on 8 (Stone Sour residue?), but this does show that they want to avoid stagnancy … standout tracks would be even stronger without so much repetition … FCC Clean Disc … Try 2, 9, 12 … 2008Aug26 01. .execute. [...read more]

Motörhead - “Motörizer” [SPV] … here’s some numbers for ya: this is the band’s 24th studio album since its inception 33 years ago and Lemmy, now 62, is truly an elder statesman by anyone’s account … mostly balls-out-and-I-don’t-give-a-fuck (1, 2, 4, 7, 8 ) vs. some sharp social criticism, especially about war (3, 9, 11) … what’s really outstanding is this BAND though, who has really solidified over the past 15 years … notably, their last two albums had the same producer, Cameron Webb, and Mikkey Dee’s drum tracks were recorded at Dave Grohl’s 606 Studio … FCC: 2, 3, 4 … [...read more]

Don Caballero - “Punkgasm” [Relapse] … Damon Che may be the only remaining original member, but I’ll be damned if this isn’t the perfect combination of the groovy, quirky power of For Respect with the expansive creativity of American Don (it’s certainly a favorite for Best of 2008) … notably the first album to properly include vox, which sound good and come off with a QOTSA vibe (5, 6, 9, 11, 14–Damon and Eugene also swap drums and guitar here) … the opening track is as consistently interesting and dynamic as any in their 15 year history and overall, they sound like they’re having a good [...read more]

DragonForce – “Ultra Beatdown” [Roadrunner] Artwork can–and should–say so much about the album.  In this case, it appropriately says: ‘Awesome, but what the hell is it?’.  They have now and always comprised of a power metal backbone–albeit in hyperdrive–with Li/Totman’s vibrant, complicated guitar solos and the 8-bit fury of Vadim Pruzhanov spotlit. Yes, the lyrics are still nonsensical, with key words that sound good, but scarcely address any central theme.  And by the way, why does everything have to happen ‘tonight’ (32 instances; on all, including bonus tracks), last ‘forever’ (21 instances; on 1, 4, 5, 7, 8 and all bonus [...read more]

Pyramaze - “Immortal” [Locomotive] … this will likely be remembered as the album on which Matt Barlow returned behind the mic before officially rejoining Iced Earthafter a six year absence … the two bands are actually stylistically similar, except with this band you hear more European Power Metal, particularly with (sparing) use of keyboards … that being said, there are big hooks, sing-along choruses, the ballad (6), and in typical grand fashion, an instrumental intro and outro … FCC OK … Try *3*, 5, 7, 9 … 2008Aug12 01. Arise 02. Year of the Phoenix 03. Ghost Light 04. Touched by [...read more]

  Clutch - “Full Fathom Five: Audio Field Recordings” [Weathermaker] … Rock n’ Roll trailblazers release first album on their new label … full of money-shot live jams from four of their 2007-2008 tour dates, about 2/3 of the tracks can be found on 1999’s The Elephant Riders (1, 8, 9, 10) and 2007’s From Beale Street to Oblivion (2, 3, 13, 14, 15) … this is all good, as it’s nearly impossible to arrange a bad setlist for these guys; there’s just different levels of awesome … so start anywhere, pick yr faves and run with em, cuz there isn’t a wasted moment [...read more]

The Human Abstract – “Midheaven” [Hopeless] … there’s a few bands like this these days, creating what many call “thinking man’s Hardcore” (Between the Buried and Me probably does it best) … groups like THA and, say, Protest the Hero are technically sound, but come up short in terms of songwriting, and often feel like meandering patchwork … the first track is good, and they really nail it on ‘Metanoia,’ but odd moments round out the album, like track 9 (suffers from spoken vox) and 10 is so over the top, it feels like a joke … FCC OK [...read more]