Catching Up With the Dr. #2

By Dr. Monkey • July 2, 2008

Get this at the TMB Store!

Official Bar Score:

Abysmal Dawn have returned with their second album and their debut for new lablel Relapse Records. Honestly after seeing these guys play on the Krisiun and Decaptiated tour I really wasn’t too impressed with their performance. I mean they weren’t bad but they really didn’t seem to fit on that tour and they didn’t do much to further sway my opinion of their first album which was decent.

However now that the guys have signed to Relapse I expected the sound to change and basically expected big things, I mean look at Carbomb and talk about a big turn around.

The album itself has it’s ups and downs but at times it seems too much like the guys are throwing ideas to the wall and hoping a few of them stick. The vocals range all over the place which works at times but other times the vocals seem under produced and come off as a weak point for the newly slickened music.

Programmed to Consume is about three steps forward and two steps back for the band and even though it has it’s moments when the album is finished you really aren’t left with much reason to want to rush and give it another spin.

Get this at the TMB Store!

Official Bar Score:

For those unaware, The Bakerton Group is Clutch without vocals…literally.
It consists of the entire band of Clutch minus Neil Fallon. With that in mind it’s hard to enjoy one and not the other unless the biggest selling point for you is Neil.

It’s the same Southern Style rock you’ve come to expect from the guys though you can’t help but wait for Neil to come in almost on extinct. Still if you are looking for an album to put on to just chill out to, this one should do just don’t expect to be blown away.

Get this at the TMB Store!

Official Bar Score:

A reissue of the Colorado grind band’s first release Conforming to Abnormality is as raw as things get in the land of grind. Relentless blast beats, insane gut wrenching death metal growls, the random sound bytes, and of course some songs that only last seconds. This is far from their most polished release but it’s always fun to relish in the chaotic past of one of the most insane and respected bands in grind today.

This is a perfect example of why this music isn’t for everyone as this is as abrasive an album as you’ll find, but those who have a passion for this type of stuff will be in heaven.

It’s like opening a time capsule and getting your ass kicked.

Get this at the TMB Store!

Official Bar Score:

Out of the ashes of Nasum comes Coldworker (well sort of anyway.) Honestly their debut The Contaminated Void wasn’t bad by any means but it didn’t strike me as the type of album I went out of my way to listen to either.

Still it was a good enough release that my interest was peaked when I heard they were working on a follow-up entitled Rotting Paradise and the release was supposed to be embarking on some new territory for the group.

While The Contaminated Void was more geared towards the grind end of the metal spectrum Rotting Paradise has shifted slightly closer to the death and in a way broadened their horizons which of course translates into more fans being able to relate to the music. Don’t fret though because the band still doesn’t stray too far from their roots but it’s more like they’ve matured their sound.

The only downside is that as the album progresses the music starts to become a little repetitive. Still Coldworker is showing some potential and have headed in the right direction with their latest.

Get this at the TMB Store!

Official Bar Score:

What I’m about to say is going to lose me any metal cred points I have. The new Cryptopsy really isn’t that bad. Has the dynamic of the band changed? Yes. Vocally and musically and yes at times the band is very much deathcore. Even worse for some, the band now features very clean vocals during some of the tracks on the album. Though honestly while I was shocked at first after a few listens I started to appreciate the new sound.

I can agree that the Cryptopsy we’ve come to know over the years is officially dead, you’ll get no argument out of me over that. However does that mean that the album has to be bad? No, it doesn’t at all.

I took my time with listening to this disc to gather my opinion and I gave it a solid 4-5 spins. Really the only reason I gave the album 3 beers is because it’s impossible not to be affected by the obvious extreme change in the band’s style.

While the hardcore death metal/extreme metal community may reject the disc if you actually take the time to give it an unbiased listen you may be surprised. I expect by the time the next disc has come out and everyone has had time to let the changes sink in people will be more embracing of the disc.