March was the strongest month yet for heavy metal CDs. All 5 of these releases received 4.5 out of 5 stars. There hasn't been a 5 star album yet, but I have a feeling it won't be long before we see the first one of the year.
The album is a return to the intensity we've come to expect from Sepultura. There are some strings and other ambient sounds in some of the songs, but they bring the thrash at full blast. The different sections of the album are separated by instrumental intros, which act as a cleansing of the musical palate before diving into the next course of brutality.
Cannibal Corpse delivers under pressure, and their latest release ranks right up there with their best. They don't break out a whole lot of new tricks on this album, they just bludgeon you with what they do best. Devastating riffs, blistering solos and maniacal drums are played with technical precision.
In addition to being able to play at breakneck speed with waves of riffs flying at you and a barrage of double bass, Dismember also is able to slow down the tempo and showcase their musicianship. There's even an instrumental track called "Phantoms (Of The Oath)" that has some incredible guitar work that's both diverse and creative.
This is a well rounded and diverse album. Thrash riffs are front and center with Jensen and Richard Corpse. They also get the opportunity to display their soloing ability with several really good ones. You'll also hear some symphonic black metal style keyboards on a track or two. The tempos are also varied and include mid-tempo death metal songs along with fast thrash metal songs.
Each song is a mini-epic that's at least five minutes long. They play melodic death metal that's flavored with doom. You'll even hear some progressive touches and even a bit of goth mixed in. The tempo of the songs is usually slow to medium, and the atmosphere and mood are dark.
