1. Candlemass - 'Death Magic Doom' (Nuclear Blast)
Nuclear Blast Records
Candlemass does a good job of mixing things up on Death Magic Doom. It kicks off with the uptempo "If I Ever Die," that's packed with hooks and really memorable riffs. That segues into the more traditional and aptly named "Hammer Of Doom," which is slow and alternates crushing riffs with lighter moments.
The rest of the album is packed with Sabbath influenced riffs and mid to slow paced tracks. Whether it's doing meat and potatoes riffs or showing off their solo skills, guitarists Lars Johansson and Mappe Bjorkman are up to the task. Robert Lowe's vocals are perfect for Candlemass. He sings with power and emotion, and his tone is flawless.
2. Isis - 'Wavering Radiant' (Ipecac)
Ipecac Recordings
There are that are easier to appreciate than to like. For a lot of fans, Isis is one of those groups. It's easy to appreciate their complex songs and musical chops, but connecting with the music may not be as easy. It's challenging and can be an acquired taste.
Their latest CD Wavering Radiant should convert some of that detached admiration to true fandom. The complexity is still there, but it's also more accessible than ever before. The songs on Wavering Radiant are long, ranging from 7 to 10 plus minutes. Each song has ebbs and flows of intensity and tempo. Heavy and sludgy riffs build up to a near oppressive state, then ease up and transition into a lengthy progressive instrumental section before amping up the intensity once again.3. Warbringer - 'Waking Into Nightmares' (Century Media)
Century Media Records
Sophomore albums are tricky. They can continue the momentum of a band's debut and show progression and improvement, or can go completely off the rails, relegating an artist to flash in the pan status. Thankfully, Waking Into Nightmares falls into that first category. With several tours now under their belt, Warbringer has really honed their craft.
Waking Into Nightmares features raw, intense and fast thrash metal. But instead of playing at maximum speed all the time, Warbringer dials it back a notch periodically, adding some variety. Tracks like "Scorched Earth" and "Abandoned By Time" are fast and furious, but include slightly slower and groovier sections. "Prey For Death" slows things down even more, but the intensity never wanes.4. Lay Down Rotten - 'Gospel Of The Wretched' (Metal Blade)
Metal Blade Records
It can be difficult to set yourself apart in a genre like death metal where so many bands sound exactly alike. Lay Down Rotten doesn't bring anything new to the table, but their style is very effective. Gospel Of The Wretched changes speeds often enough to avoid monotony.
There's no shortage of intensity as blast beats, squeals and powerful riffs smack the listener upside the head. Lay Down Rotten sometimes plays at breakneck speed with a thrashy sound, but they're equally adept at a crushing mid-tempo groove. Songs like "Altering The Whore" run the gamut from intense death metal to slower, more melodic sections.
5. SWWAATS - 'The Grand Partition' (Nuclear Blast)
Nuclear Blast Records
Success Will Write Apocalypse Across the Sky is a mouthful in moniker as is the title of their debut album. You can be assured their music is equally cumbersome and set to a relentlessly brisk pace with few deviations or allotments for mid-tempo pause, outside of the cryptic samplefest of “Retrograde and the Anointed.”
Quite possibly a contender for grind album of the year, The Grand Partition and the Abrogation of Idolatry will make you forget its vociferous barking and warping ludicrous speed. The sheer talent of this band lies within its guts and you will be spinning this one a few times in order to fully grasp its inherent treasures.