JUSTIN’S METAL REVIEWS W/C 13/10/08

 

AC/DC / BLACK ICE

 

Technically speaking this is the first AC/DC album of the 21^st Century, it’s been a long 8 years since the last one, so are the still relevant and do they have a place in 2008! Stupid questions really because Classic Rock is timeless, genre’s come and go out of fashion but good Rock will always have fans.

 

Musically speaking AC/DC have carved out their own niche their unique sound is recognisable and distinctive and the fact that fellow Australian band Airborne have done so well this year proves people still want to hear new material from Classic bands.  You can’t fail to be impressed by tracks like “Rock N Roll Train”, “Big Jack” or “Spoilin’ For A Fight” or the blues laden “Stormy May Day”.  There are at least 6 tracks on this CD that will become classics in the not too distant future and even the more mediocre AC/DC tracks are better than some bands best ONES.

 

Classic Rock has made a bit of a comeback this year with Alice Cooper, Whitesnake, Def Leppard and Motorhead all putting out good albums in 2008 and I for one am glad the AC/DC are back in game the old dog can still cut it and will give some of the young pups a damned good run for their money.  Listen out for; “She Likes Rock N Roll”, “Anything Goes”, “War Machine”, “Rock N Roll Dream” and the slow bluesy feel of “Money Made”, its good to have the band back and lets hope its not 8 years before the next one, totally essential buy.

 

WEBSITE      http://www.acdc.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 56  mins + 15 ROCKING TRACKS

 

 

BLOODBATH / THE FATHOMLESS MASTERY

 

If you like Death Metal then Bloodbath are a super group, as this is a side project featuring members from Opeth & Katatonia and give the guys a chance to create some heaver traditional Death Metal outside their respective bands and this is why it works so well.

 

This is the bands 3^rd studio album and comes hot on the heals of their live CD/DVD earlier this year, the bands sound is as brutal as you would expect but you can hear their respective bands influences coming through hear and their especially the guitar solos by Katatonia guitarist Anders Nystrom and Mikael Akerfeldt’s vocals are entirely of the Death variety.  All the tracks on here are totally essential Death Metal listening from the stunning first track “At The Behest Of Their Death” to the last notes of “Wretched Human Mirror”.  

 

Also listen out for; “Slaughtering The Will To Live”, the devastating “Earthrot” and the devilishly good “Hades Rising” and “Treasonous”, you cant call yourself a Death Metal fan and not own this fantastic CD and definitely gets the Justin Case seal of approval.

 

WEBSITE      http://bloodbath.biz/ & http://www.peaceville.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 42 mins + 12 TRACKS

 

LORD BELIAL / THE BLACK CURSE

 

If you like Melodic Black Metal this latest CD by Swedish band Lord Belial has to be on the top of your wish list, this is without doubt the bands best albums and should be the one to break them big internationally.

 

There is nothing fantastically different on this album its just that all the elements of past efforts have come together to make a truly great album, the extra keyboard touches have added that extra dimension and although there is plenty of melody none of the heaviness has been lost, listen to the first track “Pazuzu” or “Trumpets Of Doom” for proof.  The one thing that does strike me is haw good the twin guitar work is, its simply stunning and you cant fail to be impressed with the technical ability as well as the stunning melodies they create with the Keyboards, “Sworn “being a prime example but the crushing blackness and crippling speed riffs are still driving the songs along like their lives depended on it.

 

There is not a bad song on this superb piece of Black Metal and if this doesn’t bring the band international critical acclaim there is no justice in the world, this is without doubt one of the best Black Metal releases of 2008, along with Moonspell, Dark Fortress and Venom, essential purchase and album of the week.  Listen out for: “Antichrist Reborn”, “Devilish Enlightenment”, “Soulgate” and “Ascension Of Lilith”.    

 

WEBSITE      http://www.lordbelial.com/ & http://www.regainrecords.com/

 

TOTAL PLAYING TIME = 53 mins + 10 TRACKS